Saldurkamm : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost

1 - Overview

Saldurkamm seen from Matscher Tal

If you talk of the Ötztal Alps you usually have an Austrian mountain range in mind with glaciated peaks, lots of hiking and skiing possibilities, deep valleys and high mountains. On second thought you'll realize that the main ridge of this important range makes up the border between Austria and Italy between Reschenpass / Passo Resia and Timmelsjoch / Passo del Rombo. And finally you'll find three of the subgroups completely on Italian ground: Planeiler Berge, Saldurkamm and Texel Group / Gruppo di Tessa. All three are different in character from their northern counterparts but also very different from each other. This page deals with the southernmost of the three: Saldurkamm.

I am not sure whether there is an Italian name for the subgroup, it would be something like Cresta Saldura, leaving the impression that the group consists of a single ridge. It doesn't. Rather it seperates in two main branches, a western one between Matscher Tal / Val di Mazia and Schlandrauntal / Val di Silandro and an eastern one between the latter and Schnalstal / Val di Senales. To the north the group is connected to the Weißkamm Ridge with Steinschlagferner, a glacier between Innere Quellspitze and Äußere Quellspitze serving as separator. The group has been named after Saldurspitze / Punta Saldura, the highest mountain in the central part of the group.

Saldurkamm seen from Grawand / Croda delle Cornachie (by Sebastian Hamm)

The northern summits, down to Rappenscharte / Forcella Corvara, all still have glaciers on their north and west faces, while the main bulk of the range, located in the south, is already devoid of them. However, there are quite many glacier lakes, commemorating icy times. In the south-western part of the range - around Litzer Spitze / Punta d'Allitz and Hochalt / Monte Alto, tthere are only few hiking trails, most of which end at one of the lakes. In winter, however, some of the more impressive 3000ers can be reached by ski-tours. The south-eastern part of the range, on the other hand, is much better developped. Thanks to its location between Vinschgau / Val Venosta and Schnalstal / Val di Senales trailheads are easily accessible and many of the summits can be rached by hiking trails. Here the ski-tour routes mainly follow the same tracks as the summer trails. The most popular part of the range, however, has nothing to do with any of the summits. On the southern slopes of the range, called Vinschgauer Sonnenberg / Monte Sole between Tanas in the west and Trumsberg / Monte Trumes in the east you find a big choice of panoramic hiking trails. They are located about 1000m above the Vinschgau Valley and offer wonderful views towards the mountains of the Ortler Group beyond. The trails can be reached by either road or cable-car and will be crowded on any fine day. The local farms serve as "Jausenstation", offering food and drink and are the base for any climb of the mountains above. Apart from these farms (alms) there are only two mountain huts in the group: Oberetteshütte and Lazaunhütte to both sides of the northern main ridge of the group.

2 - Saldurkamm on SP

Saldurkamm seen from Hochjoch / Giogo Alto

3 - The Summits

Schematic map of Saldurkamm

The following listing follows the Alpenvereinsführer (German Alpine Club guidebook , see list of books below), which counts Innere Quellspitze to the Weißkamm Ridke, while counting its counterpart, Äußere Quellspitze already to Saldurkamm.

3.1 - Main Ridge

Lazaunspitze (3218m, 3313m), Saldurspitze (3433m), Lagaunspitze (3439m)

Äußere Quellspitze / Cima di Sorgente di Fuori (3385m)
Schwemser Spitze / Punta d'Oberettes (3456m)
Saldurspitze / Punta Saldura(3433m)
Lazaunspitze / Cima di Lazaun (Also Lagaunspitze, 3439m)
Oberer Saldurkopf / Monte Saldura (3421m)
Innere Saldurspitze / Punta Saldura di Dentro(3189m)
Kortscher Schafberg / Monte delle Pecore (3103m)

3.2 - Mastaun Group
Berglerspitze / Punta del Monte (3019m)
Gerstgraser Spitzen / Punti di Cortiserrade
- Western Gerstgraser Spitze (3100m)
- Eastern Gerstgraser Spitze (3089m)
Mastaunspitze (3200m)
Malander / Malandro (3173m)
3.3 - Vermoi Group

Malander (3174m), Wiegenspitze (3109m), Zerminger Spitze (3109m)
Zerminger / Monte Zerming (3108m, 3059m)
Wiegenspitze / Cima Culla (3109m)
Schwarze Wand / Croda Nera (2982m)
Hohe Wiegenspitze / Cima Culla Grande (2978m)
Kleine Wiegenspitze / Cima Culla Piccola (2743m)
Rosskopf / Monte Cavallo (2891m)
Graue Wand / Croda Grigia (2772m)
Vermoispitze / Punta Vermoi (2921m)
Grubenspitze / Punta delle Fosse (2899m)
Trumser Spitze / Punta di Trumes / 2912m)
Gamseck / Monte dei Camosci (2552m)
3.4 - Litzer Spitze / Hochalt Group
Ramudelkopf / Cima Ramudla (3357m, 3314m)
Rappenspitze / Punta Corvara (3187m)
Upiakopf / Monte Upi (3174m)
Hochalt / Monte Alto
- Southern Summit (3285m)
- Northern Summit (3265m)
Weisse Riepl / Costa Bianca (2950m)
Litzer Spitze / Punta d'Alliz (3205m)
Remsspitze / Punta di Remes (3205m)
Madratschknott (3081m)
Hohes Kreuzjoch / Monte Croce (3054m, 2986m)
Schwarzer Knott / Rocca Nera (2807m)
Köpfelplatte / La Lasta (2410m)

4 - Getting There

Saldurkamm seen from the Furcletta saddle in the Silvretta Group

Main access to the group is from three sides: Vinschgau / Val Venosta in the south, Schnalstal / Val Senales in the north and Matscher Tal / Val di Mazia in the east. The latter two valleys can be reached from different points in Vinschgau / Val Venosta.

From Austria

Take B180 from Landeck, which at the border turns into SS40 / SS38.
Follow the road through Vinschgau / Val Venosta and both Schnalstal / Val Senales and Matscher Tal / Val di Mazia turn off to the north from it.

From Italy

Take SS38 from Bozen / Bolzano passing Meran / Merano into Vinschgau / Val Venosta

From Switzerland

Take B28 across Ofenpass / Pass dal Fuorn and through Münstertal / Val Müstair.
At the border it turns into SS41 to Glurns / Glorenza.
There turn onto SS38 east into Vinschgau / Val Venosta.

5 - Accommodation

Saldurkamm above Matscher Tal

6 - Red Tape

There is no red tape I'm aware of.

7 - Weather Conditions

8 - Maps and Books

Maps

Digital Maps

http://www.pcn.minambiente.it/GN/index.php?lan=en

Regular Maps

Vinschgau / Val Venosta
Kompass Map WK52
1:50000
ISBN: 978-3-85491-058-9
Alta Val Venosta / Vinschgauer Oberland
Tabacco Map 43
1:25000

Books

Ötztaler Alpen
W. Klier
Alpenvereinsführer
Rother Verlag
ISBN: 3-7633-1123-8
Vinschgau
Rother Wanderführer
Rother Verlag
ISBN: 978-3-7633-4204-1
Vinschgau / Ortlergruppe
Kompass Wanderbuch 950
Kompass Verlag
ISBN: 3-87051-404-3