Skier with red pack overlooking a vast glacier valley in the Ortler Alps, bluebird sky

South TyrolIn Development

Ortler Haute Route by Ski

Ortler Range

The Pitch

A hut-to-hut ski touring traverse through the Ortler Alps — Italy’s highest range outside Mont Blanc. Skin up glaciers at dawn, ski 2,000m descents, sleep in rifugios built into the rock. Rifugio Pizzini to Rifugio Branca, guided by International Alpine Guides who know every crevasse and couloir.

Activities

SkiMountaineering

Submitted By

Whit B.

Charleston

From the Field

Photos from this expedition

Switchback skin track carved up a steep glacier face in the Ortler Range

Two skiers crossing a glacier beneath dramatic mountain shadows

Rifugio Cesare Branca at 2493m with skis lined up outside

Rifugio Pizzini-Frattola at 2706m with red shutters and ski rack

Glass of tea on a wooden table with Ortler mountain panorama behind

Alpenglow on an Ortler peak at dawn with Austrian flag

Skier skinning toward snow-covered peaks under dramatic clouds

Approaching a mountain hut on a skinning track, overcast skies

Sunset over the valley from a mountain hut terrace

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