At 3,905 m, the Ortler is the highest mountain in South Tyrol and the Tyrol region. The heavily glaciated mountain is the main peak of the Ortler Alps in the southern Eastern Alps. Its first ascent in 1804 on the orders of Archduke Johann of Austria is one of the most important mountaineering achievements of that time.
The Ortler is now considered one of the most important summit destinations in the Eastern Alps. The normal route leads to the summit via the north. All ascents of the Ortler are demanding alpine tours. The Ortler north face is actually the largest ice wall in the Eastern Alps. Other ascents are the Hintergrat, the normal route from the Payerhütte and the Hochjochgrat.