Ortler Ski Traverse: The Skiers Traverse

Types: International, Ski and Snowboarding, Touring, Traverse

Region: International

Ortler Ski Traverse: The Skiers Traverse

A skier’s traverse more than a “ski touring” traverse because of the abundance of good ski descents and, even better, high quality lodges with great food, coffee and beer on tap.

Next Trip:
Leaving Mar 30 2025 from $2,399.00

Ortler Ski Traverse: The Skiers Traverse

Known as more of a “skier’s traverse” than a “ski touring” traverse because of the abundance of good ski descents and the fact that we start out quite high on a gondola in the quaint town of Sulden / Solda. This town is both our start and ending point and is situated right below the mighty Ortler Peak which gave the range its name. The Ortler Range boasts some of the largest glaciers in the Eastern Alps with peaks rising to 3900 meters (12,800 ft). The trip is also of interest from a cultural and historical view, as we travel both through the German speaking South Tirol and the Italian speaking Trentino and Lombardia Provinces. The front lines of WW1 ran straight across the highest ridgelines with remnants from the war still visible high on the glaciers today.

What also puts this trip ahead of many ski traverses in the Western Alps is the high standard of the huts. While located well above tree line next to the glaciers, the huts always offer excellent food, beer on tab and often double or 4 bed rooms with showers / toilets down the hall. Of course the landscape is breathtaking and the descents are long. Most runs are northerly aspects which preserves powder well into May.

From a logistics standpoint we've got you covered. You'll get a package that will include information on a hotel to book in Munich. That's where you will meet your guide who'll travel with you to the hotel in Suldan/Solda. While we're on the traverse you can leave any extra baggage at the hotel in Suldan/Solda as we'll be checking back into the same place once we're done the ski trip. The next morning your guide will accompany you back to the train station in Bolzano and get you set-up for your ride back to either Munich or onto Venice... or anywhere else you're visiting.

Waiver & Risk Management:

As you know, outdoor activities involve numerous hazards including, but not limited to, avalanches, crevasses, rockfall, slips and falls, equipment failure, poor weather, etc. And while we do our best to anticipate and mitigate these hazards we cannot completely eliminate them. So, as with anything fun, you will be required to sign our Participant Release to take part in one of our courses or trips.

Custom Dates Available

Just let us know what dates will work for you and we will put together a custom package.

March 30th to April 4th, 2025

Deposit Required: $1,000.00

6 spots remaining
Group Size6 persons
Pricing
Adult: $2,399.00

Fine Print:

  • Lifetime deposits (deposits never expire)
  • Canadian trip prices are in CAD
  • International trip prices are in USD
  • Canadian trips subject to 5% GST (tax)
  • Payments made by credit card are subject to a 2.5% credit card fee
  • Be sure to look over our Booking Policies
  • Participants will be required to sign a BlackSheep Participant Release

Typical Itinerary:

Day 1: Meet in Munich and travel to our hotel in Sulden / Solda. First to Bolzano by train followed by a taxi for the final leg of the trip. Once at the hotel we will review equipment and prep for the start of the tour.

Day 2: Breakfast at the hotel before taking a series of lifts up to about 3,100 m. From there it’s a short climb to the Hintere Schoentaufspitze followed by a descent to the Zufall Hut at 2,265 m. We’ll stop for a short break or maybe some lunch before skinning up for 1-2 hours to reach the Marteller Hut at 2,600m where we’ll spend the night. Depending on how people are feeling there’s often time for a ski lap on Cima Marmotta before dinner.

Day 3: There are a few route options to reach the Branca Hut but we typically reach it by climbing up the Monte Cevedale (3,760 m), past some an old WW2 gun, ski down the Cedec Glacier before climbing back up again to the Monte Pasquale Col. From there it’s a short ski down to the Hut, our home base for a few days.

Day 4 & 5: Perched in a glaciated cirque, Branca boasts some of the best skiing in the area with plenty of long, north facing runs with snow that’s generally cold and well preserved well into the spring.

Day 6: Time to head on up the next valley to the Pizzini Hut (2,700 meters) which has a sauna and showers! If the coverage is good we can skin back up to the Cevedale / Pasquale Col and onto the summit of Monte Pasquale (3,553 m) for a nice long run down to the hut. The other option is to wrap around the shoulder of Pasquale and skin up the Cedec Valley to drop our gear at the hut before some afternoon corn skiing on the sunny slopes above.

Day 7: Climb up past the old Casati Hut, going right by some trenches and barbed wire fortifications from WW1 to reach the ridge above the Suldan valley. We then rip our skins and ski all the way down to our hotel.

Day 8: Breakfast at the hotel before starting the journey home.

Ortler Ski Traverse: The Skiers Traverse

Highlights

  • Amazing Glaciers & Granite Spires
  • Comfortable Huts with great beer, coffee & food
  • Iconic Traverse
  • Light Packs
  • Visit some amazing European Cities on the way in & out
Types International, Ski and Snowboarding, Touring, Traverse
Region International
Season March & April
Next Departure Mar 30 2025
Prices From $2,399.00

Difficulty: Difficulty: Intermediate Intermediate

Good fitness and the ability to ski black diamonds is needed.

What's Included

  • 8 day trip including European travel
  • 6 days skiing with an IFMGA guide
  • Pre-trip logistics and support
  • 5 nights accommodation in alpine huts
  • 2 nights accommodation in Sulden/Solda
  • All breakfasts & dinners in alpine lodges
  • Breakfast at hotel in Sulden/Solda
  • BlackSheep Swag

What's Not Included

  • Snacks and alcoholic beverages
  • Meals not identified as included
  • Gondola tickets & train tickets
  • Personal ski and avy safety equipment
  • Room upgrades
  • Trip interruption, travel & medical insurance

Prerequisites

  • Ability to ski Black Diamond ski runs
  • Previous ski touring experience
  • Moderate fitness

Personal Equipment

  • 40L Pack
  • Skins, Skis & Poles
  • Helmet (ski or mountaineering)
  • Sunglasses & Goggles
  • Sun and Lip Cream
  • Camera (optional)

Clothing:

  • Wool and/or Synthetic Socks
  • Base Layers
  • Mid-Insulation Fleece or Puffy Jacket
  • Gore-Tex or similar ski jacket
  • Gore-Tex or similar pants
  • Warm Outer Puffy Jacket
  • Toque – Wool or Synthetic
  • Brimmed Cap
  • Face Warmer – Scarf, neck tube, Buff, etc.
  • Light Gloves & Insulated Gloves or Mitts

Hut Gear:

  • Sleeping Bag Liner (silk ones are ideal)
  • Ear Plugs
  • Toiletry Kit
  • Hut Cloths (shorts & shirt)
  • Light Camp Towel (optional)
  • Wallet (need to buy beer, etc.)
  • Insurance Documents
  • Battery Pack
  • Headlamp

 Ski & Safety Equipment

  • 3 Antenna Avalanche Transceiver
  • Shovel & Probe
  • Touring Skis, Skins & Poles
  • Ski Boots
  • Ski and Boot Crampons
  • Glacier Harness & 2 Locking Carabiners
  • Mountaineering Axe

 Food:

  • Lunch & Snacks for each day
  • 1L of Water or Tea
  • Dinners & Breakfasts are provided

Notes:

  • The huts have crocs for use so you won’t need any shoes
  • BlackSheep has some rental equipment available, let us know if you need anything

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes they can! However, split-boarding can be a little harder ski touring on some of the traverses that have to be crossed.
Although most of the terrain would be considered "Blue Square" there are a few steeper pitches that are in the "Black Diamond" + range.
A decent level of fitness is needed as there are a few longer days. The biggest day requires 1200m of climbing at an elevation in excess of 3000m.

You might also like...

Winters
RegionWhistler
Length 3 Days
Difficulty Difficulty: Intermediate Intermediate
Prices From $1,999.00
August to October
RegionInternational
Length 13 Days
Difficulty Difficulty: Intermediate Intermediate
Prices From $4,999.00
January - February
RegionInternational
Length 11 Days
Difficulty Difficulty: Intermediate Intermediate
Prices From $3,249.00