Villages and Rifugios - Skiing in the Brenta Alps of Italy
Join Mark Klassen for a guided skiing or splitboarding adventure to the Italian Alps!
We are returning to the Alps in March 2027 for a classic European skiing experience.
Ski touring in the Alps
THE schedule
We start in the village of Madonna di Campiglio.
This trip is a mix of staying in hotels in the valley, taking ski lifts to the start of our tours, and nights in mountain huts in the high alpine. We spend two nights in Madonna di Campiglio, one night in the resort town of Passo del Tonale, and three nights between the Madrone and Adamello Huts.
The trip ends back in Madonna di Campiglio, where another night’s hotel accommodation is provided.
Transitioning for another run
THE Touring experience
On the days we spend in the villages we will take lifts that enable us to start our tours at a high elevation. Tours from the huts start right from the door!
Expect trips that involve an average of 800-1000 m elevation gain over the day and 6-8 hours in duration. This usually will include good ski runs and perhaps some summits.
The tours are designed for a mellow ski experience where we can enjoy the mountains at a relaxed pace.
The March dates mean spring skiing: warm temperatures and often lower avalanche hazard than in mid-winter.
The Madrone 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 800-1000 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 Alps.
LOCATION
The trip starts and finishes in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy.
DATES
March 17: Meet in Madonna di Campiglio.
March 18: Ski tour utilizing lifts to get us up high in the morning.
March 19: Lifts, ski touring, and a bus ride bring us to the town of Passo del Tonale.
March 20: Lifts and touring bring us to the Madrone Hut.
March 21: Tour to Adamello Hut.
March 22: Day tour from Adamello Hut.
March 23: Ski descent to Passo del Tonale, shuttle to Madonna di Campiglio.
March 24: Depart Madonna di Campiglio.
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$3550. This fee includes:
Guiding (1 lead guide and one assistant guide)
All guide’s expenses
Your hotel accommodation in the villages, including pre- and post-trip (4 nights)
Guide's liability insurance and permits
Shuttle from Passo del Tonale to Madonna di Campiglio
Pre-trip logistics
All taxes
On top of this fee you can expect to pay about €800 (C$1200) for the following on-trip expenses (the actual amount depends on your personal tastes of course):
Your meals in the villages.
Your hut accommodations (this includes breakfast and dinners). Payment is normally by cash payable on departure from the hut.
Your lift tickets.
Your local bus transport between hotels and the lifts.
Your lunches, snacks, beer, showers, etc.