The Ortler Traverse in the Italian Alps
Join Mark Klassen for a guided skiing or splitboarding adventure to the Italian Alps!
We are returning to the Alps in March 2027 for one of the classic hut to hut trips in Europe.
Reaching a high ridge in the Alps
THE schedule
We start in the town of Sulden. Hotel accommodation is included for the night before the first day of the trip.
The next 6 days are spent exploring the Ortler region. We begin by taking the gondola out of the valley and heading for Marteller Hut. One night is spent there before moving on to the Branca Hut for 3 nights. Then we finish off with a night at the Pizzini Hut.
The trip ends in Sulden again, where another night’s hotel accommodation is provided.
An April powder day
THE Touring experience
Although this is a hut to hut trip it is more than a traverse. The distances between most of the huts are short and this combined with the extra days at Branca allows us to get some good skiing and peak objectives in along the way.
Expect trips that involve an average of 1200 m elevation gain over the day and 6-8 hours in duration. This usually will include good ski runs and perhaps some summits.
The April dates mean spring skiing: warm temperatures and often lower avalanche hazard.
The Marteller Hut
THE Huts
The huts are of the highest standard in the Alps.
Although located in the high alpine they offer exceptional food and drink. Rooms are often semi-private with a toilet and shower down the hall.
We find that the hut experience is one of the highlights of these trips!
THE NITTY GRITTY
PREREQUISITES
To enjoy this trip you should be:
Fit for ski touring uphill with a 10-12 kg backpack for 1000-1200+ m per day. 6-8 hours per day of skiing up and down, for 6 days in a row.
Be able to ski downhill in any snow condition. This doesn’t mean you necessarily have to look pretty doing it, but you need to know how to deal with everything from crust to deep powder snow.
Be able to ski downhill on a variety of terrain in an uncontrolled environment. This includes steep terrain up to 40 degrees.
Be familiar with ski touring equipment. You need to understand how to utilize clothing systems to stay at an optimum body temperature. You need to be able to put your skins on and take them off efficiently in all weather conditions.
Have a fundamental familiarity with avalanche safety equipment. This means having a basic understanding of how to search for a single buried avalanche victim with a transceiver and probe, and how to dig them out with a shovel. Rescue training is provided at the beginning of the trip but you need to know the basics coming into it. These skills can be self taught, or better yet you can take an avalanche course before the trip.
You need to know there is an element of risk to backcountry skiing. You need to acknowledge this risk and sign a waiver before the trip. Go to the Waiver and Acknowledgment of Risk page to get a better understanding of the risk involved.
In short, this is not a beginner’s trip but you do not need to be an expert ski tourer. You do need to know the basics, otherwise you will not enjoy yourself.
DESCRIPTION
An all-inclusive 6-day hut to hut ski traverse in the Italian Dolomites.
LOCATION
The trip starts and finishes in Sulden, Italy.
DATES
March 30: Meet in Sulden.
March 31: Gondola transport and ski tour to Marteller Hut.
April 1-3: Tour to Branca hut and stay three nights.
April 4: Tour to Pizzini Hut.
April 5: Descend back to Sulden.
April 6: Depart Sulden.
PRICE
Pricing is divided into two parts. You will pay a fee up front, then pay your own way for some of the expenses during the trip. This is how it works:
You pay us a fee of C$3400. This fee includes:
Guiding (1 lead guide and one assistant guide)
All guide’s expenses
Your hotel accommodation in Sulden (1 night pre-trip, 1 night post-trip)
Guide's liability insurance and permits
Pre-trip logistics
All taxes
On top of this fee you can expect to pay about €700 (C$1100) for the following on-trip expenses (the actual amount depends on your personal tastes of course):
Your meals in Sulden.
Your hut accommodation on the traverse (this includes breakfast and dinners). Payment is normally by cash payable on departure from the hut.
Your lift ticket.
Your lunches, snacks, beer, showers, etc.