Passo dello Stelvio/Stilfser Joch
	Height	Climbing height
	2758m	1845m (Prato); 1541m (Bórmio) 1383m (Sta. Maria im Müstair)
	Difficulty	Beauty
	4 (5)	4 (5)
How to get there	The classical and hardest approach is from Prato to the east. It is actually more or less a constant climb all the way from Merano (323m) on this side. From Prato it is close to 9% on average with a maximum at around 15-16%. There are 44 numbered hairpin bends on this side and 42 from Bórmio in the west. The pass can also be climbed from Sta. Maria im Müstair in Switzerland but is not really easier that way. The Swiss side takes in the highest paved Swiss pass – Pass Umbrail/Giogo di Sta. Maria/Wormser Joch (2501m). The Swiss climb is more irregular and still has around 2 km of gravel road (which is no problem as it is not steep in that section and the road quality is good). (Apparently they pave it a little more every now and then as they get money for it, so it may be fully paved by the time you get there.)
Other comments	This is probably the most classical and popular of all mountain climbs in the world, and there are good reasons for it. The approach from Prato is something you will remember! Just when you think you must have climbed a very large part of the climb and passed some really steep sections, then you reach the first hairpins. After struggling up past the first 2-3 steep bends, you find a marker stating it is now 10 km left (well I did saw such a line on the road anyway) and you bend your head up and see in the sky what is all too obvious the place of arrival. It is really impressive and you feel the work needed to get there will have to be equally impressive on your part. The Prato side is the most beautiful one. The Swiss side is the most quiet and lonely one. Fill up water bottle before the climb on each side (there may be some water at one or two places on each side along the way). [IT-BZ-2758;o588]