Simplon Pass to St Gothard: 31st March 2012

Stunning glacier decsents, optional summits for 'peak baggers', great huts. A classic ski tour.

Transfer using the Swiss rail and post bus services

This tour crosses two of the most famous passes in Switzerland. In the middle of the Alpine arc the Leopontine Alps rise in the South West of the Valais region at the Col de Simplon and end not far from the col de Saint Gothard. These mountains grow on the Swiss side up from the high Rone valley and on the Italian side from the valley of Ossola.

The higher reaches of the Ossola Valley are known as the ‘val Formazza’ but this route is known in Italy as the ‘Haute Route d’Ossola’.Surprisingly little known, this is a big route linking two great alpine cols, but it is of only average difficulty. However you’ll find an interesting mix of terrains and so tourers need to be experienced

Ski Touring Itinerary
DAY 1 - Fly to Geneva and Transfer to Hospice de Simplon
From Geneva you take the train to Brigg and transfer to the post bus service to the Hospice de Simplon (the old monastry /rest house) where we will spend the night. At this point you will meet your guide, be briefed and given time to prepare for the tour.

DAY 2 - To the Refuge Cittadi Arona
Today's route takes us on a traverse west of Monte Leone on fairly steep climbing to cross Chaltwasser Pass before we ski down a superb descent undernest the Wassenhorn to the hut. The refuge is unguarded but comfortable.

DAY 3 - To the Refuge Castiglioni
We leave the refuge early to climb first to Hameau de Balma (a small hamlet), then the le Pian Sass Mor and the passo di Valtendra before skiing down to Bondolero before climbing steep slopes to the south east to Scatta d'Oragna and down to Alpe Devero and the hut. On this on day we climb 950 metres and ski down 1200 metres.

DAY 4 - to the Refuge Margaroli
We pass a small hamlet and then skirt round the Devero lake (or across if it is frozen) before climbing a small valley to get to a dam and turn east to Scatta Minoia and ski down 200 metres to another lake before climbing another south facing slope to Busin, slightly exposed following the west ridge, Clogstafel 2967m, and heading north to another lake next to the refuge.

DAY 5 - Refuge Maria-Louisa
This is a long and challenging day because we need to climb 1955m and 1890m of ski descent. There is an optional climb during the day to Punta Arbola (3600m) at the begining of the day - or if feeling very challenged this can be left out, making the day shorter. Our journey takes us over the Passo Nefelgiu via a steep gulley before we ski down to the hamlet if Nefelgiu and the lake Morasco and onto the refuge.


DAY 6 - Basidino
From the refuge we climb some steep west facing slopes to access the glacier Basodino, leaving the skis at the foot of the rock for an easy climb to the summit of 3272m. Then we ski down the centre of the glacier to the hut.


DAY 7 - Basidino to Ossasco
We climb to the Cristalina pass and via the Val Bedretto down to Ossasco - a ski descent of 1200 metres. For those with energy to spare there is an optional climb to the Cristalina. From the Ossasco we take a bus or the train to St Gothard and a nighht in a small hotel / pension.

DAY 8 - Fly back to UK
From St Gothard we take the post bus or train back to Brigg before catching your train back to Geneva.

Please Note: This itinerary may be altered if conditions, weather forecasts or the overall fitness of the group are judged to put the safety of the group at risk. Pyrenean Mountain Tour guides and instructors reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary without notice. These changes will be explained to the group if they occur.

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING NEEDED FOR THIS TREK
We recommend that people joining this trek are equipped with the following:

Technical equipment
Ski Touring Skis with Touring Bindings
Ski Poles
Skins (with good glue!)
Ski Crampons
Crampons
Ski Strap (for tying top of the skis together when carrying on rucksack)
Avalanche Transceiver
Climbing harness
Snow Shovel

Clothing suggestions
Thermal underwear- 1 set as a base layer
Fleece
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof over trousers
Warm hat
Warm gloves
Warm walking socks
Sun hat or peaked cap
Sunglasses/Goggles

Other useful items
40-60 litre rucksack (needs side straps so that you can carry skis)
Head torch and batteries
Sun block for face and lips
Personal First Aid kit (plasters,compede, paracetamol)
Water bottle or Platypus
Penknife

Optional items
Change of clothing to include: underwear,tracksuit bottoms/ long-johns,dry shirt, spare socks.
Camera and film
Paperback novel
Maps
Ear plugs(there is always one snorer)
Snack bars/dried fruit/chocolate
Sheet sleeping bag (if you like them...)

Ski Touring Equipment Hire
Pyrenean Mountain Tours offer a full equipment hire pack. You can hire everything you need for this tour or individual items at the costs shown in the table below. Costs shown are per week. We are unable to provide equipment "last minute" so you need to book what you need well in advance.

Please remember to carry as little gear as possible. A heavy rucksack will make the trip hard work and less fun.