Mountain tour to the glacier at Mt. Cevedale

This little mountain tour in the rear Valle di Martello valley takes us to the Nino Corsi Mountain Hut and via the Martello Mountain Hut to the edge of a glacier snout of mighty Mt. Cevedale

Map See map
video : Val Martello
At the parking space of the Rif. Genziana, we draw our attention to the glacial educational trail, which in part coincides with our route.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The first destination is the Rifugio Cevedale, which is visible already from the starting point and seems at our grasp from the beginning of our hike.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The path no° 151 is considered an easy mountain trail.
Foto: AT, © Peer
In August, the heather flowers are in full blossom and colour the yellow ochre mountain slopes.
Foto: AT, © Peer
At the Rifugio Nino Corsi (Zufallhütte), there is also this mountain chapel.
Foto: AT, © Peer
View of the Rifugio Nino Corsi mountain hut and the Valle di Martello.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The path no° 103 leads our way up the mountain.
Foto: AT, © Peer
This dam wall was built to protect the Val Venosta from inundations.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The pinebarren gentian in full blossom already at the end of August.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Numerous watercourses take the melting water down to the valley.
Foto: AT, © Peer
A rather steep section up to the Rif. Martello follows.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The Rif. Martello is the last possibility to stop for eating and drinking and is also the starting point for Alpine tours in the Ortles area.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Many people come here to simply enjoy the sun and the refreshing climate.
Foto: AT, © Peer
View from the Rif. Martello mountain hut.
Foto: AT, © Peer
A mountain made of ice: the 3,757 m high Monte Cevedale in the Ortles mountain range divides the Valle di Martello from the Valle di Peio and the Valfurva.
Foto: AT, © Peer
On the way to the glacier.
Foto: AT, © Peer
From all the glacial snouts, the melting water rushes down to the valley.
Foto: AT, © Peer
At the final destination: this is how the Vedretta della Furcola glacier looks like from up close.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Also stones and earth are part of the glacial material.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Thaw: later we come to know that this day was the hottest day of the summer season. No wonder that the ice melts.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Back to the Rif. Martello. In order to reach our starting point, we walk the same way back.
Foto: AT, © Peer

On hot summer days you long for a cool place. This tour in the Martello Valley promises to meet this demand. From the parking space at the Rifugio Genziana mountain hut (Enzianhütte, subject to charges) at 2,055 m a.s.l. we take the path no. 151 to the Nino Corsi Mountain Hut (Zufallhütte).

The beautiful mountain hut with mountain chapel is also a station of the Glacial Educational Trail, which has been established by the administration of the Stelvio National Park and the Alpenverein association CAI. In part our tour aligns itself with the educational trail. From the Nino Corsi Mountain Hut we continue, following the trail no. 103, which first takes us to the big wall, which is a barrage constructed at the end of the 19th century in order to protect the valley from inundations which were quite common in that period. The path parallels the walls and stretches to the Martello Mountain Hut (Marteller Hütte) at 2,610 m a.s.l.

In front of us, there are the Ortles Alps with the 3,757 m high Mt. Cevedale (Zufallspitze) in the middle. As it is only midday, we decide to walk on to the Vedretta della Forcola glacier snout. For the high temperatures of these days, we can watch the glacier melt in this place. In full spate, the glacial water rushes towards the valley and hollows out the eternal ice from inside. For the way back, we take the same route.

Author: AT

difficulty: moderate