Brenta trip information
This information package is for guests who have already booked a trip. If you have landed on this page via an internet search then you may contact me for information about this trip or others like it.
If you are signed up for the trip please read the following information carefully. It should answer all of the questions you may have.
If you get nothing else from this information package, please do the following:
Read and understand the waiver and acknowledge the risk ahead of time. You don’t need to sign the waiver now, you will do that once you arrive for the trip.
Have a look at the gear list and make sure you are able to bring everything on the list.
The following information is included in this package:
Risk Discussion
Mountain Rescue and Rescue Insurance
Medical Insurance
Food and Medical Issues
What the price includes and does not include
Important Dates and Times
Delays and Trip Interruptions
Travel Considerations
Staying Connected
The Skiing and Terrain
Staff
What you need to do before we meet in italy
Read this information package carefully. Understand the risk involved on the trip.
Look at the gear list carefully and bring everything on the list.
Understand that the two nights at the Adamello Hut are at 3000 m elevation. We will be touring at higher elevations before those nights, including a night at 2450 m at Mandron, but it is still quite high to sleep. It may be worth talking to your doctor about taking acetazolamide (Diamox) prophylactically to aid in acclimatization. Have a look at this article for more information.
Arrive at our pre-trip meeting with at least one lunch ready for the next day. I recommend having a couple of days lunch food ready so that you don’t need to bother going to the store every day. Your ski touring pack should be loaded and ready for inspection by me.
Understand what expenses you will need to pay for as you go. Ensure you have €400 cash on hand for the huts.
Load WhatsApp on to your phone as we will use that as a group chat pre-trip to aid in organization.
Risk Discussion
It is important to understand that no matter how well prepared we are there is still an element of risk to backcountry skiing. These risks are shared by both the group and the guides. Some of these risks include:
snow avalanche
cornice fall
falling into a crevasse
falling while climbing
falling while skiing
collisions while skiing
rockfall
icefall
weather events
You will all need to sign a waiver at the beginning of the trip. Please read the waiver before the trip so you understand what the risks are and what you will be signing when you begin the trip.
Safety is our number one priority. You trust the guides to be dialed in and able to rescue you in case of an accident, but it goes both ways. Our risk is shared and we need to trust you to do the same for us!
The most important person in managing your personal risk and the risk of the group is YOU. If you prepare even just a little bit beforehand it is very helpful and the families of both the other participants and the guides thank you. There are a variety of ways you can help manage risk on this trip:
Be physically fit and rested when coming into the trip.
Listen to the guides’ instructions and if you are uncertain of what is expected of you please ask!
Be aware of the situation around you. As you travel through the terrain think of what you can do to reduce risk for yourself and the group (EG place yourself in a safe spot at regroups in avalanche terrain, keep the glacier rope tight, place yourself in the best position to avoid rockfall etc).
Speak up. If you see something you feel is hazardous, mention it to the guide. If you feel uncomfortable with what you perceive is a risk, mention it to the guide. We can discuss your concerns and change what we are doing if necessary.
Take an avalanche course. I can provide a private course for you or your group, or you can find a list of scheduled courses with other providers here: AST courses
Take the online avalanche course at the Avalanche Canada website.
Practice avalanche rescue prior to the trip. At the very least understand all of the functions of your avalanche transceiver and how to search for at least 2 burials. We would really appreciate if you practice with the entire kit before the trip: transceiver, shovel and probe. A full rescue practice where you work as a team and recover a couple of buried packs with transceivers in them would be best, but even working in the backyard doing a simple transceiver search, and making sure your shovel and probe are in good working order is helpful.
You are an integral part of the rescue team. Please practice before the trip, the safety of your fellow skiers and the guides rely on YOUR skills.
The ONLY way an avalanche incident will have a positive outcome is if you are practiced with YOUR skills.
You don’t need snow to practice. We often practice transceiver searching in a field in the dark, sometimes laying out several hats and hiding transceivers under two of them. It can also be beneficial to practice finding transceivers that you can see as it helps you understand how your transceiver responds to different configurations.
For the probe, practice assembling it. Start by having your pack on. Take your pack off, assemble the probe, and get your pack back on in 12 seconds. Do the same for the shovel.
Traveling in the mountains together as a group is all about having trust in each other’s abilities. In over 30 years of guiding I have only had to deal with three minor incidents requiring an immediate evacuation. We do not expect an accident but we need to be prepared in case there is one. The more we trust each other the more we will all enjoy our time in the mountains together because we know we are able to take care of each other in the unlikely case there is a problem.
SAFETY PLAN
Our safety plan is as follows:
The guides will carry cell phones and satellite communicators that we can use to call for outside help if necessary.
If anyone else has a satellite communicator please bring it.
The following safety gear will be carried by the guides and the group: extra clothing, first aid kit, repair kit, ropes, crevasse rescue kit, avalanche rescue equipment, emergency shelter, inflatable sleeping pad, heated blanket.
Self-rescue is essential in emergency situations. We will have safety briefings before and during the trip so you can work as part of the rescue team.
Outside help may be required for evacuation. Professional rescue services are fast to respond but only if the weather is good enough to fly a helicopter.
Mountain Rescue and Rescue Insurance
In nearly thirty years of guiding I have had only two guest evacuations from the field for minor injuries and one for a medical condition. The probability that we will need a rescue are low but if we do need one the financial cost could be high.
In Europe we may be charged for a rescue. This could amount to many thousands of dollars.
I recommend you purchase an Austrian Alpine Club membership, which includes rescue insurance for this trip. It will also significantly decrease the cost of your alpine hut stays. Membership will cost about 70 Euros.
If choosing a different rescue insurance provider understand that some may include “air ambulance” services, but this may not mean “mountain rescue” involving a helicopter. Research any insurance options carefully as to what they do and do not include.
If you want to research other options please go to my Mountain Rescue page for more information, but I recommend the Austrian Alpine Club insurance for this trip.
Medical insurance
Travel health insurance is ESSENTIAL as your Canadian plan will not cover all your expenses in case you need medical attention. Even a simple hospital visit will incur thousands of dollars in bills. Beware of plans that claim to cover mountain rescue as they may have a different definition of the term, make sure you question a representative carefully.
See options on my Cancellation Insurance and Health Insurance page.
Food and Medical Issues
If you have any food allergies or strong preferences or any pertinent medical issues that you did not indicate on your guest information form please make sure you let me know me as soon as possible.
What the trip price includes
The price includes:
One lead guide, one tail guide.
Guide expenses.
Hotel accommodation while in the villages, including the night before the trip starts and the night after the trip finishes.
Breakfast while in the villages.
It does not include:
Your transport to and from the start and finish of the trip.
Local transport during the ski days. This may include public transport and ski lifts.
Hut accommodation and breakfasts/dinners at the huts.
Lunches.
Alcohol.
Poor weather or conditions may interrupt all or part of our trip. You are responsible for any expenses incurred for yourself and the guides if we need to change plans.
Important Dates and Times
March 16
Margie and Mark arrive in Madonna di Campiglio to begin pre-trip prep.
March 17
Everyone else arrives at the Hotel La Baita in Madonna di Campiglio. You should plan to arrive in the afternoon. We will meet there at 4 PM, sign waivers, discuss equipment and conditions, and have a safety briefing. Please arrive at our meeting with a lunch ready for the next day and you ski touring pack loaded so we can make sure you have the correct gear.
March 18
Up early and have breakfast at the hotel. The plan is to do a day tour utilizing the lifts to get us up high to start. A few minutes on a bus gets us to the lift. The plan is to tour on the east side of the valley around the Cima Brenta area. We will continue our safety briefing in the field. Back to Hotel La Baita for the night.
March 19
Today we move to Passo del Tonale. We can walk to the lift that gets us started. Up the west side of the valley, a tour, then back to the lifts which take us to a piste run down to Marilleva/Mezzana. From there we take a bus to Passo del Tonale and Hotel Piandineve. This is a larger hotel than I am used to using but the price was right and it is very conveniently located close to the lifts we want to use the next day.
March 20
Breakfast at the hotel and then hop on the gondola. We are headed to the Refugio Mandron. We will do a tour along the way. The hut is very comfortable with good food, a shower and indoor toilets. Rooms are shared with the group (bunks).
March 21
No lifts this day! We tour to Rifugio ai Caduti dell'Adamello. This is a high altitude hut (3000 m) but is similar to the Mandron in comforts. It is about 5 km and 600 m elevation gain to this hut, so we will do an add on tour in the afternoon if the group is willing. We spend two nights at this hut.
March 22
A day tour from the rifugio. One option is to cross the Adamello Glacier, one of the largest in Italy, and ski up a peak. Other tours are available as well.
March 23
Last day! We tour across the glacier to Passo de Venezia (4 km/450 m elevation gain) and drop down the north side. We ski down a glacier, past a lake, and then a long randonee down a valley leads us back to the village of Ponte di Legno, a short ways west of Passo del Tonale. Here we will be picked up by a shuttle and take that back to the Hotel La Baita in Madonna di Campiglio (about 1.5 hours). This shuttle is included in the price you paid me.
March 24
We go our separate ways after the included breakfast at the hotel.
Paying for your expenses on the trip
You will need to pay as you go for some expenses on the trip. In the villages you should be able to use credit cards. At the huts you will need to pay in cash. These are the expenses you should expect:
Depending on your tastes, expect €800-950 in expenses during the week. Bring about €400 in cash for the huts.
Lunches and dinners in the villages. It depends on your tastes but I would expect €60-70/person/day. Four nights, so about €240-280.
Local transport. The local ski buses to get us to the lifts should be free but there may be times where we need to use paid buses or taxis. The shuttle from Ponte di Legno to Madonna di Campiglio is included in the price you paid me.
Ski lifts. Expect about €300. We will discuss ahead of time which tickets you will need, paying online ahead of time is usually best.
Hut accommodation and food. Half board at Mandron is €61/person (1 night), Adamello is €80 (2 nights). So about €221/person if you are an alpine club member (expect about €100/night if you are not an alpine club member). Half board includes dinner and a light breakfast (usually including hot water for a thermos).
Lunches, snacks, drinks (including water), and showers at the huts are all extra and usually we can expect another €30-50 per day (3 days).
GETTING TO Madonna di Campiglio
The closest major airport is Milan.
I have not mapped out the public transport options in detail but it looks like it will take about 6 hours by train and bus.
There is also a shuttle service direct from Milan. Public shuttles only seem to run on weekends, €50/person. A private shuttle that takes up to 6 people plus all the baggage will cost about €600 so this could be an option if some or all of you want to share this.
Delays and trip interruptions
Delays with international and/or domestic travel are always possible. Please be prepared for this possibility by giving yourself time to get to Europe and do not schedule important events right after the trip.
Poor weather or conditions may interrupt all or part of our trip. You are responsible for any expenses incurred for yourself and the guides if we need to change plans.
Travel Considerations
Ensure passports are up to date with the expiry date well after the trip ends.
Although most airlines will allow the canisters and batteries for avalanche airbag packs on the aircraft there are special regulations involved. Please check with your airline well before you arrive at the airport.
Although credit cards are accepted for most payments in towns ands cities, you need to have some cash on hand for the huts.
I advise getting €400 from your bank at home for the cash payments required to avoid ATM fees.
Staying Connected
The simplest thing these days seems to be to get an esim for your device. We have been using Ubigi successfully.
Many phone plans in North America allow roaming overseas. It can be expensive, especially if you don't organize it ahead of time. Consult your local carrier.
There are numerous other options, do some Googling to see what you come up with.
The Skiing and terrain
As with any trip in any location we may get the best or worst week of skiing of the season but it will probably be something in between those two extremes!
We can expect early spring conditions for weather and ski conditions but we do need to be prepared for cold temperatures and storms as well.
The terrain is almost exclusively alpine and we can expect to get to elevations well over 3000 m. The Adamello Hut is at 3000 m.
There will be a significant amount glacier travel. In poor visibility travel can be slow or impossible and we may need to adjust our route and timing. We need to be prepared for avalanche conditions that may limit where we can go or weather that may create some poor skiing. This holds true for any ski trip in any mountain range in the world.
I can't guarantee the snow or weather conditions, but I can guarantee that I will provide a unique mountain and cultural experience that should include some good skiing and often includes fantastic skiing! If we go into the trip with the expectation of an enjoyable week spent in the mountains with friends we will not be disappointed.
Some LOGISTICS
Here are a few comments that should help you get organized:
Hotel rooms in the villages are double occupancy:
Diane and George
Dave and John
Nigel and Patrick
Margie and Mark
For the first three days of touring you should have lunches and snacks prepared ahead of time. We can make a grocery store run before we head to the huts. We will not have time to buy food on our first touring day.
I recommend bringing lunch food for the hut days as well. Pre-made lunches may or may not be available from the hut but I have found they are on the light side and expensive. If you are on a budget bring your own lunches and snacks.
There are snacks or late lunches available at the huts in the afternoon when we arrive, €10-20+. Beverages are available for €3-6, you may need to buy water. Good wine costs €20-35 per bottle. The water at the huts is officially not drinkable, whether it actually is will vary from hut to hut. Budget €50 per day.
When showers are available they cost around €5-7.
Bring a pair of compact and lightweight hut slippers. They don’t need to be warm down booties, just something to keep your socks clean. Some huts may have these available but some not.
Bring ear plugs.
A lightweight sleeping bag liner is required.
Bring a small amount of toiletries and a tiny camp towel. Shower towels are usually available for a fee.
See the gear list for more details.
The two nights at the Adamello Hut are at 3000 m elevation. We will be touring at higher elevations before those nights, including a night at 2450 m at Mandron, but it is still quite high to sleep. It may be worth talking to your doctor about taking acetazolamide (Diamox) prophylactically to aid in acclimatization. Have a look at this article for more information.
Rifugio Mandron
2450 m
Shared rooms of 4-6 beds
Indoor washrooms and showers
Rifugio Adamello
3000 m
Shared rooms of 4-6 beds
Indoor washrooms and showers
Equipment List
Staff
There are two guiding staff for the week:
Margie Smith: Margie will be tail guiding for the week. She will help out at the back of the group, help break trail when the old mountain guide gets tired, and generally just keep me in line. Margie has been a ski patroller, paramedic and emergency room nurse and presently is the Site Administrator for Banff Mineral Springs Hospital. She has completed her Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 course and the CAA Avalanche Search and Rescue course. She has extensive backcountry skiing experience. Margie still rolls up her sleeves and helps in the ER when it gets busy and is also an accomplished mountain bike racer.
Mark Klassen – That’s me. I’ve been working as a ski patroller, avalanche forecaster and guide since the mid 80’s. In the summer I guide mountaineering and rock climbing. I’ve been a fully certified ACMG/IFMGA mountain guide since 1996. Click here for my bio.
Questions?
If you have any questions let me know! Email me.
The bottom Line
If you get nothing else from this information package, please do the following:
Read and understand the waiver ahead of time. You don’t need to sign the waiver now, you will do that once you arrive for the trip.
Have a look at the gear list and make sure you are able to bring everything on the list.