Are you a passionate hiker and perhaps have been travelling to South Tyrol and the Alps for a long time? Then a tour on the Val Senales Glacier should definitely be on your bucket list. But even if you already have some experience in the mountains, there are a few additional things to bear in mind when glacier hiking. We'll enlighten you!

The seasons on the glacier

The Val Senales Glacier is covered in snow and ice all year round, albeit to varying degrees. If you want to visit the glacier, summer, autumn or winter are the best times to do so, as the Val Senales Glacier Cable Car will take you effortlessly from the village of Maso Corto up to 3,212 metres above sea level, where your adventure begins. In winter, you share the area with numerous skiers carving down the scenic glacier slopes. A white glittering mantle covers the mountain landscape as far as the horizon, but at this altitude, temperatures can drop into the double-digit minus range in the cold season. But you can also visit our glacier in summer: during the warm season, the glacier ice is covered by so-called “geotextiles” – white sheets that help reduce the shrinking of the ice. In July and August, temperatures on the glacier rise to a maximum of around 15 degrees - a real relief compared to the heat in the valleys! At this time of year, hikers have the area all to themselves.

How to be safe in the mountains

A day in the mountains is wonderful - provided you know what to bring on a hike. For every tour, it should be a matter of course to find out in advance about the difficulty and duration of the hike, the ground and weather conditions and to equip yourself accordingly. The most important thing is to bring enough warm clothing or a change of clothes, food and water, and of course sun protection. A first aid kit is also recommended.
Under no circumstances should you light a fire in the mountains, make excessive noise, leave rubbish behind, pick flowers, disturb animals (including grazing animals) or leave the marked paths. It is always safer if you do not hike alone, but if you must do so, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return. In the event of a thunderstorm, you should seek shelter in a mountain hut if possible or otherwise move to a less exposed area.

Equipment for your glacier tour

In summer, the glacier ice on the Val Senales Glacier is located on its northern slope, i.e. behind Hotel Grawand. In winter, however, the entire surrounding area is buried under a more or less thick layer of ice and snow. If you want to glacier hike there, it is important that you have the right glacier equipment with you.
In addition to the items mentioned above, which you should think about on every hike, this also includes crampons, an ice pick, harness and helmet, depending on the tour and ground conditions. Ropes and carabiners are for your safety and can save lives in emergency situations. By the way: solar irradiation is particularly strong at high altitude, which is why sunglasses and sun cream are an absolute must at any time of year! Also remember to pack suitable clothing for all temperature conditions.

Before your first glacier tour, it is best to ask about the right equipment at a specialist store or have a professional guide accompany you. If you want to hike on the Val Senales Glacier, the best thing to do is participate in one of the guided high-altitude tours – to the Similaun peak or to the place where Ötzi, the Iceman, was found.

If you've now got into the mood of visiting your first glacier, then off you go to Val Senales! You can even purchase high-quality glacier equipment for your glacier tour in Maso Corto at the foot of the glacier. Your adventure starts at the valley station of the Val Senales Glacier Cable Car!