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Ski touring and Freeride in the European Alps - Discover Ortles in South Tyrol

Healthy mountain air, a little wind from the glaciers, wild forests and authentic people: Ortles in South Tyrol (Ortler in German) is the heaven for Ski Touring in the European Alps!

At 3,905 meters, Ortles is also called "King Ortles”, the highest mountain in South Tyrol (Italy). Located in Upper Venosta Valley (Vinschgau Valley), consists of numerous peaks and ridges. It is also home to a glacier as part of the Stelvio National Park. Legend has it that the mountain is actually a crouching, petrified giant between the villages of Solda and Trafoi.

Let's look at the main areas where skiers can enjoy Ski Touring or Ski Mountaineering at its best:

Ski Touring & Freeride in Solda Glacier (Sulden)

Located in the Ortler Group in the Stelvio National Park, the Solda glacier ski area offers 44 km of slopes for experienced skiers, winter sports enthusiasts and beginners alike.

Thanks to its location, Solda ski area offers powder slopes for extreme skiers and freeriders while lovers of unspoiled nature can enjoy ski touring among the three-thousand-meter peaks until late spring.

Leaving the trail on the untouched mantle or descending into deep snow from a summit - that's life for freeriders, backcountry skiers and snowboarders! For ski mountaineers, the area on the glacier offers the best: exciting routes through forests and isolated landscapes and exceptional descents in deep snow.

For freeriders: don’t miss out on the opportunity to descend from Punta Beltovo (3,250 m) to the valley station at 1,900 m.

But it doesn't end there. The most famous are the panoramic Gran Zebrù as well as the narrow and challenging Kanonenrohr slope.

A particularly rewarding tour is the ascent to Cima Solda at 3,376 m above sea level. Once you reach the summit, the breathtaking views of the Alps, Cevedale and Gran Zebrù make up for all the effort!

Ski Touring & Freeride in Val Senales (Schnalstal Valley)

With the imposing Palla Bianca and numerous other peaks above 3,000 meters, the Schnals Ridge is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating environments in which to practice ski mountaineering / ski touring in the Alps. Indeed, the Schnalstal valley offers favorable and safe snow conditions. The glacier cable car makes it possible to gain altitude quickly in order to reach the imposing summit in the surrounding area in a shorter time.

Experienced mountain guides organize ski mountaineering tours in the Schnals Valley and the neighboring Austrian Ötztal Alps, also offering routes other than the most popular ones. The two most important support points for ski mountaineers, namely the Similaun and Bella Vista huts, remain open until early May.

Ski Touring & Freeride in Resia Pass (Reschen Pass)

The side valleys of the Passo Resia vacation area, such as the idyllic Val Roja and Vallelunga, at the foot of the imposing Ötztal Alps, will leave ski mountaineers speechless. There are several popular destinations in Val Roja, among them the Dosso di Fuori and the demanding Cima di Grion.

In Vallelunga, however, ski mountaineers will enjoy a hike to Cima Salèz or Glockhauser, both located on the southern slopes.

Ski mountaineering at Passo Resia requires experience, local knowledge, equipment and information on weather and snow conditions. To play it safe, ski mountaineers can join one of several tours with experienced South Tyrolean mountain guides.

How about planning a guided Ski Touring & Freeride Camp in Ortles Area?

Check our Ortler Freetouring Ski Camp: Three days of Freetouring (Freeride and some ascents with ski skins) between the Oetztaler Alpen, Passo Resia and Ortles.

The essence of Freetouring is to use ski lifts combined with skins to reach less frequented routes with the best snow. It’s the ideal combination of Ski Touring and Freeride: the goal is not to reach a summit like in ski mountaineering, but to use our strength to take us to the top of the most beautiful lines to ski.

We will use ski lifts to take us to altitude; in some cases the descent lines will not require further ascent, while in other cases we will face a further ascent or a crossing, (these generally never exceeding 500 meters in altitude) to reach the best terrain.

Related trips: discover other Ski Touring & Freeride Camps

Keep reading: The best Destinations for your Ski Touring Holidays