In some places, the veil just drops. The veil of civilization. The veil of distraction. Of past and future. In a state of complete clarity, one is led towards a feeling of being connected to the environment. Live in the moment. Recharge your batteries atop the Schnalskamm Ridge in the Ötztal Alps.
The ski runs and snowy trails that lead to and from Bella Vista, right along the Hochjochferner Glacier, are ideal for ski tourers. Whether as a pit stop or overnight accommodation, Bella Vista has served as a stage goal for countless ski tours and descents.
At this elevation, the snow remains longer. The refuge is ski-in, ski-out along one of the runs that forms part of the Senales Valley Ski Area. It’s easy to reach Bella Vista from the mountain station of the cable car. Once at the top, the ancient landscape can be enjoyed from November to late spring, whether on skis or – for those who want a more leisurely experience – with snowshoes and solid equipment.
Trekkers, climbers and mountain bikers stop to rest here, where South Tyrol meets North Tyrol, where you can reach out and touch three-thousand-meter peaks. Bella Vista Mountain Refuge is conveniently integrated into a vast network of well-prepared hiking trails. The E5 long-distance trail leads from Obersdorf into the Senales Valley via Vent, and to Merano from there.
The most important glacier mummy, known as Ötzi, was discovered at the Hauslabjoch Pass in the Ötztal Alps. In summer and winter alike, the ArcheoParc archaeological open-air museum in Madonna di Senales offers a guided tour to the locality.
