Between rocks and glaciers in Italy – Tour of Ortles by MTB

At 3,905 metres (12,811 ft) above sea level, Ortles, which lies within Italy’s Stelvio National Park, is the highest mountain in Trentino-Alto Adige. It’s the highest point of the southern Rhaetian Alps and was the tallest peak in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the past. Part of the Ortles-Cevedale group, this relief is also historic for mountaineering: Johannes Nepomuk Gebhard, a botanist from Salzburg, and Joseph Pichler, a hunter from the Passeiertal Valley, reached the Ortles summit for the first time more than 200 years ago, in 1804.

If you follow the routes in this Collection, you’ll never go as far as the Ortler summit, but you’ll come close to it four times and hike up to over 3,000 metres (9,842 ft). You won’t climb with your bare hands, but it’s good to dispel any doubts now – you’ll have to put your bike over your shoulder over and over again. You won’t encounter snow or cold weather, but you’ll be surrounded by rocks, glaciers, streams and lakes for most of the way. That's mountain biking, baby.

First of all, as you’ll notice just by looking at the elevation profile, this is no beginner's ride. More than 300 kilometres (186 mi) and over 12,000 metres (39,370 ft) of elevation gain are not exactly a walk in the park. Many trails are technically difficult, as you would expect mountain biking at these altitudes. You'll need good trail technique on the descents and a good leg on the climbs, to avoid descending and pushing every 500 metres (1,640 ft).

But, it’s not too extreme; you'll ride along a couple of cycle paths and, by riding the Tour over seven days, you'll have excellent and well-deserved recovery time. In addition, you can avoid some points – I’ll write more about this in the description of each stage – by using a lift or taking a train. If you’re an experienced MTBer and are looking for a challenge, you could try to complete the route in just four days.

The start and finish point is Ponte di Legno, a famous tourist resort in Val Camonica, which can only be reached by car: from Valtellina via Aprica or Gavia, from Val di Sole via Passo Tonale and from Val Camonica via Edolo.

I recommend doing this route in the warmer summer months, between July and early September, to avoid low temperatures and snow-covered trails. As far as your bike is concerned, you should ride a full suspension mountain bike. Your choice of footwear is also crucial: you’ll need comfortable shoes that you can walk in when you’re carrying your bike on your back. Bring everything you need for repairs and mechanical failures (chain links, multi-tools, clamps for all eventualities, etc.), because you won't find cycle shops at an altitude of 3,000 metres (9,842 ft). Don't forget that you’ll spend some nights in high mountain huts where many comforts, like internet connection, are non-existent.

I don't want to scare you or encourage you to take risks: with calm and preparation you can do everything, even in a relaxed way. This ride is incredibly beautiful: you get a taste of it in the photos in the Collection Highlights. If you’re looking for a mountain bike challenge, this is the best.