Murmentenblais / Monte Murmenta

Approach

Trailhead is Bad Salt ( Bagni di Salto) in Martell valley. You reach the valley from SS38 (Vinschgauer Staatsstrasse) by turning off at Goldrain. Bad Salt is located some 5km into the valley after the first serpentines on the road.

Route Description

Alltitude difference: 2100m
Difficulty: I (ascent to Blaue Schneid, final ascent to Hasenöhrl)
Duration: 6h
Trailhead: Bad Salt / Bagno di Salto

A long ascent which can be cut in two parts by using Morter Alm as a intermediate stopover place. Above the Alm the trail is a panoramic climb above the Vinschgau valley revealing better and better views of the Ötztal Alps. Reaching Blaue Schneid / Cresta Azzurra you get your first views of the western Dolomites.

Start out from Bad Salt on trail No 14 which you never leave (except for maybe sidestepping onto Zwölferkreuz) until you reach the Hasenöhrl summit. The trail first follows a forest road which halfway up to Morter Alm turns into a regular hiking trail. It winds through densely populated fir forrests until it gets to the Alm (1908m).

From here on you leave the trees behind and turn south over meadows, then steeper to the east around Zwölferkreuz. You can climb this side summit by scrambling along trail 14A for some 15min. Back to the main trail which now leads again southwards under the western faces of Murmentenblais directly heading for Hasenohrferner glacier. You meet the ridge between the two Hasenöhrl glaciers at Blaue Schneid / Cresta Azurra.

After the crest turn upwards towards the ridge between the two glaciers (Kuppelwieser Ferner left (east), Hasenöhrlferner right (west)). The ridge becomes clearly sharper. The first upswing is circled to the right - secured by chains. Now follow the highest part of the ridge first in a scramble (I) which later turns int o a hike as the summit flattens. Enjoy the views towards Dolomites and Ötztal Alps.

Essential Gear

Hiking gear is sufficient, additional crampons in winter.