Ortles

Mt. Ortles, the main peak of the homonymous Ortles Alps, has got three ridges: the North Ridge, the South Ridge and the East Ridge. Located in the south-west of South Tyrol in the upper Val Venosta valley, Mt. Ortles is not only the highest mountain of South Tyrol, but also of the entire Tyrol region. The mountain, called Ortler in German, mainly consists of Main Dolomite, a considerably solid type of rock tending to form deep crevices, and is heavily glaciated. The Ortles North Face is considered to be the largest ice face of the Eastern Alps.

In 2004, King Ortles celebrated its 200 years' anniversary of the first ascent: In September 1804, Archduke John of Austria ordered to explore it. It was Josef Pichler from the Val Passiria valley to be the first alpinist on the peak. He climbed Mt. Ortles via the difficult north west flank, the "Hintere Wandeln", starting from Trafoi. Today this ascent is considered to be one of the most remarkable successes in alpinism in the opening of the Eastern Alps. Numerous routes snake to the top of the Ortles, several of which, however, have not been repeated after their first ascend. The normal trail begins at the Payer Mountain Hut at 3,029 m a.s.l. and follows the North Ridge. Another common route is the East Ridge, which is scenic, but more difficult than the normal route.