Alpine Hiking Switzerland, Austria and Italy

Giogo della Stelvio to Plockenpass

A description of the route taken from Giogo della Stelvio, around the Ortler to Bolzano,through the Italian Dolomitti, and along the Austrian/Italian border ending near Solvenia at Plockenpass.

Giogo della Stelvio to Plockenpass

June 29, 2008 I spent the night of the 28^th at the Hotel Lorenzo at Giogo della Stelvio and left the next morning at 7:20a. I took the trail across the road up the slope to the ridge crest below the Rotlspitze (3026m – 9928ft) and continued on the trail along the ridge crest, passing several World War I fortifications. About 8:15a I passed below the Fukelspitze (3054m – 10,020ft) and then across open slopes where I made the descent down to the top station of the Trafoi tram (2153m – 7064ft) (10:00a). This entire section was dominated by grand views of Ortler (3905m – 12,812ft) and the deep valley below the ridge with the incredible winding road leading up to Giogo della Stelvio. After riding the chairlift down to the village of Trafoi (1532m – 5026ft) I hiked up the trail just below the road for three kilometers to the trail (ca. 1600m – 5249ft) leading up the south side of the valley to the Rifugio Borletti. The trail ascended up the slope out of the valley through forest and rocky terrain to the Rifugio Borletti (2188m – 7178ft). I checked in with the Rifugio guardian and settled in on the deck for a few beers and a big lunch. I spent the afternoon reading and studying the route from there up to the Payerhutte.