Mountain Spirit Guides: South Tirol, Italy

What the midwestern hospitality is to America, the Italian South Tirolian warmth is to Europe. It has a friendly character which is unique to this Austrian Italian mix of Culture. The population of this area has retained the conservatism of Austria, but adopted the more easy going ways of the Italians since its annex to Italy in World War I. This trek covers the heart of the South Tirol which can be divided in two main areas on either side of the Brenner A utobahn. To the east is the Dolomite region, which is world famous for its spires and rock walls in the Rose Garden, the Sella area and near Cortina. This is the driest of the Alps' alpine terrain which hosts canyons similar to the American West. To the west, are the mellow valleys and peaks of the Sarthein Valley, and beyond to Merano. We will stay in Cabins on the high levels and in three or four star hotels/pensions in the vallies. We will take an ultralight tent or two for spur of the moment bivouacs,if desired.

Mountain Spirit Institute Climbing programs offer something a bit different than other services. We believe the "freedom of the hills" comes with the responsibilty to get involved in what is around us, not only by taking in the environment, the sights and sounds, but learning about the land use issues and culture of the mountain environments we visit.

We travel in small groups with experienced local certified guides with whom we team up. They are also skilled facilitators who have a passion for sharing their local knowledge, history and love of the mountains they guide.

Getting involved in our surroundings means doing some small service project associated with the region or land agency who hosts us. This takes place near the end of the program. Also learning a bit of the local language and something about the mountain cultures through which we pass is an integral part of our programs.

Routes, Dolomites, (East)

  • Ascend Frollspitz to Enzian Hutte, or van to Klausen, rest after flight
  • Drive to Villnoss rest before trek
  • Ascend to the Geisler Range to Schluter Hutte C.A.I.(Club Alpino Italiano)
  • Traverse S to Grodner Pass, Clarke Cabin, C.A.I.
  • Ascend the Mesdi Plateau to Pisciadu Hutte, C.A.I.
  • Traverse to Boe Hutte, C.A.I., ascend Piz Boe next day
  • Descend to Pordoi Pass, traverse to pass, Frederola Cabin, C.A.I.
  • Hike to Fedia Lake to Marmolata Cabin, C.A.I.
  • Cortina

Routes, Sarnthein, Meran (West)

  • Ascend to Latzfons by van, overnight
  • Ascend to Latsfonser Cross or Klausener Hutte,C.A.I.,ascend Lorenzispitze
    and Schrotthorn
  • Ascend Ritzlarspitze
  • Descend by Getr Valley or to Steffhutte
  • Descend to Schwarzer Lake then to Sarnthein, Sarner Ski Hutte
  • Ascend to the Auer Pass, head N, to the Meraner Cabin, C.A.I.
  • Descend by foot or tram to Hafling and then Meran
  • Dorf Tirol, the small village above Meran where large castles
    overlook the valley below.

Details

Travel Connections and Details:
Connections to Austria are usually through Zurich International or Munich. To Chile or Argentina through Santiago, Chile. Connetions for skiing the Haute Route are through Geneve.

TRAVEL CONNECTIONS:

AIRPORT ARRIVAL: MUNICH INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT DEPARTURE: SAME
TRANSPORTATION: COMPANY VAN
FIRST NIGHT'S HOTEL: KLAUSEN, ITALY
LAST NIGHT'S HOTEL: MERAN , CORTINA OR OPEN

Rating:
Basic hiking for 85% of the route. Other sections in the Dolomites offer no real difficultly except in their steepness in one or two sections where a hill walker in good condition will have no problem. Again, there can be variations on the theme. Clients should be in good physical shape with basic hiking experience.

Optimal Seasons:
Varies with snowfall from winter season. A heavy winter will leave snow in the higher passes through the spring and early summer. This can be irrelevent, however, if party is prepared for occasional snow crossings on moderate terrain. Late spring through middle of October.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

CLIENT SUPPLIED: Basic hiking equipment,for overnight use. Sleeping bag, good boots, prefdrably of leather, sun screen, shorts, etc. Please refer to or request the list of suggested basics.GUIDE SUPPLIED: Tents, cooking supplies, safety and first aid equipment, maps, compass, common supplies for the trekking party

VARIATIONS:

Many, in terms of time and route, and pace of travel. ' The basic. route outlined above may be traveled in either direction, in segments or in whole. Additionally, there are many side routes and extensions of the above format, if desired.

Randy Richards

Mountain Spirit Institute’s Executive Director and Head Guide Randy Richards has been a backcountry ski mountaineering guide since the early 1980's when he lived in Lech and Zurs, Austria and South Tirol, Italy. His early ski-guiding carreer started in the Austrian Arlberg and the Classic Haute Route from Chamonix to Saas Fee. He was certified PSIA Level-III Alpine ski instructor at age 18 in 1976, and a certified Level II Backcountry Ski Guide since the early nineties. Randy has also served as a ski-guide for Alan Bard in the High Sierra Nevadas and as a senior mountaineering guide for Alpine Ascents International in South America on high altitude expeditions such as Aconcogua in Argentina, and Peru's Huascaran, the volcanoes of Ecuador, as well as on the North Cascades' volcanoes. He has had extensive emergency medicine training and has held his EMT continously since 1985, and participated in the American Mountain Guides Association Ski Guides course and American Avalanche Institute Level II program.

Local permit holding guides will be working with Randy and Craig in the South Tirol.
MSI is a fully insured non-profit educational organization

Craig Cimmons
South Tirol Italy/Woodstock, VT

Craig is spending the 2008 spring season in South Tirol. Craig has a solid wilderness leadership and program management background mainly from Green Mountain College in Vermont where he ran the outdoor program. Craig has a passion for connecting people with nature and draws upon his breadth of natural history knowledge as well has his spiritual connection. His position on the board brings needed focus to our Northern New England outdoor programs.
Craig is currently putting the finishing touches on his masters at Antioch New England.

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If you're interested in experiencing this program or want more details, please contact MSI.

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