Crossing on Ortler Cevedale glaciers

Hiking tour on Ortler Cevedale through glaciers and trails in Stelvio National Park

A guided hiking tour in the heart of Stelvio National Park, ranging between Ortler and Cevedale, among the mountain groups with the widest glacier areas in the central and eastern Alps, as well as some of the highest ones in the entire Italian Alps.

After reaching Rifugio Vioz – the highest mounain hut in Trentino at 3.535 m – the itinerary of the hiking tour continues to the homonymous summit which has been the frontier guarded by the Austrians during the World War I. From here one of the most exiting high altitude glacier crossing begins. You first reach the imposing Palon de la Mare peak (3.703 m) and then descend in Val Venezia and proceed through plateaus dotted with alpine lakes, glaciers and sparkling waterfalls until reaching the characteristic Val di Rabbi.

A glacier crossing that offers breathtaking and ever-changing views: from blooming nature and alpine meadows until the vast moraines at the foot of glaciers and snow-capped peaks.

Program details: 

• Day 1 - PUNTA LINKE
  Ascent: +1320m. Descent: -100m. Distance: 7km. Hiking time: 4h30.
  At 08:30 meeting with the Mountain Guide and equipment check. Private transfer to Peio and ascent by lifts to Rifugio Doss dei Cembri (2.315 m). Departure towards the highest hut of the eastern Alps, which was the headquarters of the Austrian command during the Cold War. From here you continue to Punta Linke where the remains of what was the operational heart of the Austrian arm in the Ortler-Cevedale sector testify the life and events of the war fought up in the mountains. Return to the hut (3.535 m), dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 2 - CEVEDALE CROSSING
  Ascent: +450m. Descent: -1400m. Distance: 10km. Hiking time: 8h.
  After a short ascent to the summit of Monte Vioz, you start walking on the glacier crossing and proceeding with crampons and roped together you go along the ridge on the border between Lombardia and Trentino until Palon de la Mare (3.703 m) and from there to Bivacco Colombo. The glacier crossing offers scenic views on Forni Glacier and on several peaks over 3.500 m including San Matteo, Cevedale, Ortler and Gran Zebrù. Continue downhill along Vedretta de la Mare and walking along large valleys you reach the hut. Dinner and overnight stay in hut (2.607 m).
   
• Day 3 - CARESER GLACIER 
  Ascent: +550m. Descent: -1650m. Distance: 17km. Hiking time: 7h30
  Walking among an area dotted with numerous alpine lakes, you reach Lake Careser (2.603 m). The route continuous with moderate slopes in a barren environment until reaching the last extremities of Careser Glacier which will be crossed from north to east. Once reached the eastern edge of the glacier (3.121 m), you descent towards the green pastures of Rifugio Dorigoni (2.436 m) and from here proceed along Val Saent passing by the homonymous waterfalls. Short transfer back to Malé and departure. 

Additional clarifications

The program could be changed at the discretion of the Campo Base Team / Mountain Guide (UIAGM certified) based on weather conditions and snow levels, maintaining unaltered, however, the basic structure and the aims of the proposal.

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