Ski touring in the Alps offers the unique advantage of being able to ski with light packs and arrive at a well-provisioned hut for the night. While food and blankets are provided at the huts we are still in the high mountains and must bring clothing to deal with any weather conditions. We can be baking in the hot sun or on a windy ridge in a blizzard. Many days in the spring start with cold mornings and icy snow, then turn hot as the day progresses especially when we ski down to a low valley.

One of the keys to enjoy ski touring in the Alps is to make sure that your pack is light, preferably under 20 pounds. While the weather may be severe, we are seldom standing still in cold weather and the huts are warm. Try to minimize the amount of extra gear that you bring.

The Ortler trip has huts that are much nicer than others in the Alps. The huts all have showers and there are less people to a room. You can drive or take a taxi to our first hut. There is a room where you can leave luggage that you will not be taking on the tour however I would not recommend leaving valuables.

The ski between huts is relatively short on this tour (2-3 hours), so weight is not as much of an issue, but it is still best to have light packs

Technical Gear

• skis with alpine touring bindings
• alpine touring boots with walk and ski mode, they must be able to fit crampons. Make sure you have worn your boots on several tours before this trip and that they are comfortable. If you have a problem with blisters make sure that you bring moleskin or second skin and apply it before problems develop.
• ski poles
• climbing skins, make sure they are cut to your ski
• avalanche transceiver (457 KHz), these can be provided, just be sure to let me know before the trip
• shovel
• probe
• backpack, medium size about 35 litres
• light weight ice axe with no wrist loop
• crampons, lightweight models are preferred
• ski crampons
• harness, lightweight without padding is best
• locking carabiner

Note: People often ask whether they can do the trip with telemark gear. While it is possible for a very strong skier to do the trip on telemark gear, it is not recommended. The sometimes difficult snow conditions, deep heavy snow or windcrust, make it much more difficult without the heel locked down. It can be done if you are a strong skier but it takes a lot more energy, especially with your pack. Another difficulty is finding ski crampons to work with a telemark system. Ski crampons are necessary on steep icy slopes especially in the morning when the snow is still frozen hard. Manufacturers do not make ski crampons for telemark systems. The ski crampons for telemark that I have seen are adapted from alpine touring systems. One possibility is using a Dynafit binding plate on your ski, which will fit Dynafit ski crampons. I have yet to see a telemark ski crampon that works as well or is as easy to change over as an alpine touring system.

Personal Equipment

• sunglasses
• sun hat
• warm ski hat
• water bottle or thermos, minimum 1 liter. The huts will sell bottled water or tea for your thermos.
• goggles
• sunscreen and lip protection
• ski gloves
• scarf or neck gaitor
• long underwear tops, this should be synthetic and lightweight for the hot days
• lightweight fleece jacket
• medium weight fleece jacket
• cotton t-shirt, luxury item for wearing around the hut. Many huts also sell these.
• windproof jacket, lightweight is best, it does not have to be Gortex, but should be breathable and water resistant.
• Windproof pants, for when the weather turns foul. Again they should be lightweight, breathable, and you should be able to get them on over your ski boots.
• ski pants, something that is not cotton, offers protection from wind and snow but is not too hot when the sun shines. Patagonia, Mammut and Schoffel all have excellent pants.
• gaitors, unless integrated into your pants
• socks, 2 pairs
• earplugs, the huts can be noisy
• lightweight cotton or silk sleeping bag liner for sanitary reasons, wool blankets are provided at the huts
• headlamp, small lightweight such as the Petzl Tika
• camera and film
• personal items toothbrush, toothpaste, medication, contact lenses etc. Try to keep it too a minimum, for instance buy a smaller tube of toothpaste or share with a friend.
• small towel
• money (euros)
• snacks, chocolate and sandwiches can be purchased in the huts
• lunch food, this is less expensive if purchased in town but you can also get it at the huts

Bugaboo Alpine Adventures
Mailing Address: PO Box 8
Revelstoke, BC, Canada  V0E 2S0
Telephone: 250 837 0898
Cell: 250 814 9516
In Switzerland: 41 (0)79 731 8301
Email: info@bugabooalpine.com

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