Day 5: Piansecco to Rotondo Hut, via Witenwasserenstock

Statistics

4 - 5

hrs

1,057

m

473

m

39

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Severe

Description

There are 2 variations for today, both start the same way.

One is suitable for good skiers in good conditions, the other route is the standard itinerary involving less climb and less steep slopes. Skin up behind the hut on increasingly steep slopes, particularly traversing R underneath pt 2349m.

Beyond here it is easier angled leading up to the Rotondo Pass at 2754m.

From here you are aiming to traverse around Piz Rotondo on your R.

This involves losing a small amount of height to a snow covered lake at 2673m.

It is easier angled to lose a little more height from the lake to the N, before heading NE to get onto the Geren Glacier near pt 2763m.

Now head more gently across and then up the glacier to the NE then E, aiming for pt 3024m, near the summit of the Witenwasserenstock.

The true summit is close by and very spectacular but is more technical and most avoid the true top.

In addition pt 3024m is where you ski down from and is the tripoint border between the cantons of Valais, Uri and Ticino and the triple watershed of the Rhine, Po and Rhône basins, draining into North Sea, Adriatic Sea and Mediterranean respectively.

From this point ski down steeply to the NE then N on often powder snow to the Rotondo Hut at 2570m.

If you are uncertain about the snow conditions you can avoid this by traversing the Witenwasserenstock to the W via the Witenwasserenpass at 2806m, to access the hut more easily.

This is the line marked.