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Updated: 2010 program datesThe high alpine charm of the Italian AlpsCevedale - Ortler: Sulden to Santa Caterina - Bormio, north-eastern Italy
The Cevedale - Ortler area is located in the Eastern Alps of north-eastern Italy, in between the Bernina mountains of St. Moritz, Switzerland and the Dolomites of Italy. I generally don't believe in following the famous ski-tours, as there are often more interesting tours to be done that are less known, however the Cevedale - Ortler area is a true exception. These mountains have earned their right to be among the famous ski-touring peaks of the Alps, mostly because of the large and interesting glaciated terrain, the high and scenic alpine peaks of up to 3905 m. elevation. An area where ski-mountaineering and a deep mountain-culture meet and where the beautiful charm of north-eastern Italy is evident where ever you go. Though this ski-touring area is called the Cevedale - Ortler area, the Ortler with an elevation of 3905 meters is a very technical peak and all ski-tourers visiting the Cevedale - Ortler area prefer instead its neighboring peak the 3851 meters high Konigsspitze. The Cevedale - Ortler program is part of our bi-annually program in the European Alp's... ski the Alps. Last year's tour to this incredible area was a huge success, great weather, superb snow conditions and a quickly sold out program. One of the great things about this program is that we don't have to move each day with heavy packs from one mountain hut to the next as we will stay several nights in each of three huts (Refugio Marteller, Rifugio Branca and the Refugio Pizzini... all with showers), allowing us to experience most of these amazing ski-tours and peaks with a lighter pack. We start our Cevedale - Ortler program in Celerina - St.Moritz, Switzerland. Meeting in Celerina - St. Moritz gives guests the opportunity to arrive three days early to overcome the jet-lag from the flight and to acclimatize for the Cevedale - Ortler program. Skiing in the nearby ski-areas of the Corvatsch and the Diavolezza, two superb high-alpine ski-areas located in the heart of the Piz Bernina (the highest and only 4000 meter peak of the eastern Alps) and the Piz Palu, is a great way to warm up for the Cevedale - Ortler program. Both ski-areas offer big vertical with large terrain to be skied and an impressive scenery. After we meet in Celerina, Switzerland, we will take a taxi and drive via Ofenpass Pass into the South Tyrol, Italy and further to Sulden. From there we are going to take the aerial-tramway and several chair lifts to Passo Madriccio. After a final 20 minute walk to the actual pass we get to ski the long valley of Valle Madriccio to the Zufallhuette. From there a final 400 vertical meter climb will bring us to the new and scenic Refugio Marteller. Then the tour moves on with the most amazing tours in the Italian Alps, such as Cima Venezia, Monte Cevedale, Palon de la Mare, Punte San Matteo, Koenigs Spitze, just to mention a few of the many peaks in this grand area. During this program we are planning to change huts two times, in order to accommodate the best ski-tours in the area. At the end of the program we will drive back to Celerina, Switzerland with a taxi and enjoy our last evening with a fine dinner. I am looking forward to guide you in the Cevedale - Ortler mountains and share with you the adventure of incredible skiing, the amazing terrain and the pure air of high mountains and the deep tradition of these mountain villages.
Ruedi Beglinger 
Dates and Prices
Date: Wednesday, April 21st to Thursday, April 29th 2010, 8 days Included in the price:
Not included in price:
InsuranceWe strongly recommend that you purchase the following insurances. If you have difficulties in finding these insurances, we ask that you contact our office.
Guests from the USA:
Guests from Canada:
GuidesRuedi Beglinger will be your main guide on this ski-trip. He has extensive experience in guiding mountaineering and skiing expeditions in Canada, Alaska, the entire Alps and other parts of the world. Ruedi has been certified by the Swiss (SBV) and the International Guide Association (IFMGA) in 1977. He is an active and professional member of the Canadian Mountain Guide Association (ACMG), the Swiss Mountain Guide Association (SBV) and the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA). If we need a second guide, then it will be our senior guide Dan Madell. In addition to guiding at Canada's Durrand Glacier and in Alaska's St.Elias - Wrangel Range, Dan has been guiding several times in the Alps, including the Cevedale area. For your safety the guide carries the following items
Program
Ability level:
This program takes place in steep and very rugged high-alpine terrain, which has many crevassed glaciers, glacial seracs and other natural skiing challenges. Some of the ski-ascents and ski-descents lead through exposed and technically difficult terrain where safe and efficient ski-techniques and ski-discipline are required. For this program each guest has to be an accomplished alpine skier who can ski, efficiently and safely, steep mountain slopes (as found on Black Diamond downhill ski runs in major ski-areas of North America) and in all kinds of snow conditions with a heavy pack of about 20 lbs. Snow conditions in the Alps can be at times much more challenging than what we usually ski in North America. Often the snow is hard frozen, can have dangerous boiler-plates (formed by high wind), further it is possible that you might encounter breakable crust. On the other hand it is also common, because of the frequent snow-storms and high elevation, in April and May to experience powder-snow. Whatever snow-conditions this tour has to offer, we ask that all guests can safely and efficiently ski a perfect fall-line under good control and link a minimum of 30 short-radius turns. Further it is important that every guest can safely control their skis in difficult terrain and can execute efficient and safe kick-turns in steeper terrain as found in "black diamond runs", side-slip on skis and execute efficient plow-turns. It is important that everybody on the tour enjoys good health and has no difficulties to acclimatize to higher elevation. Every guest has to be physically in good shape. We recommend that everybody is doing active out-door endurance sport (ski-touring, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, biking, long distance jogging etc.) on a regular basis and during the entire year. It is important that you can comfortably ski-climb with a pack of about 20 lbs. for an entire day of 8 hours and that you can cover daily ski-climbs of up to 1300 vertical meters (4300 vertical feet). It is important that you are able to follow instructions given by the guide. Further we recommend that you have skied with Selkirk Mountain Experience in previous programs, either at Canada's Durrand Glacier or on any other program in Canada or the European Alps. This will give you the valuable opportunity to get to know your guide, how Selkirk Mountain Experience runs their programs in achieving the set goals and in reaching a high level of safety. If you have any questions regarding "Ability Level", please do not hesitate to contact Selkirk Mountain Experience. Booking ConditionsPlease check the booking conditions on the Reservations & Cancellations page before you book a trip. Waiver of liabilityAll guests who ski with Selkirk Mountain Experience Ltd. are asked to sign the form RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT. We ask you to read and sign it and send it together with your registration back to our office. If you have any questions please feel free to phone our office at 250 837 2381 or email us. Detailed ProgramPlease call or e-mail our office to receive a hard-copy of the detailed program which includes all needed information for your ski-trip with us. For this we do need your mailing address. Unfortunately we are not able to e-mail the exact detailed program. Selkirk Mountain Experience 
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The Italian Alps, Cevedale - Ortler