@beester1976, thanks, only if you think of it, I'll be leaving Venice around lunch so don't worry. I'll use the websites and maybe ring some of the numbers in San Pellegrino.
Go via trento. I was in civetta this morning and from cencenighe on there were signs saying to put on snowchains. O the local radio they said they will close the road from falcade to passo san pellegrino for 30 min at a time to allow the snowplows to do their work.
So better safe than sorry.
On the bright side i was skiing on knee high fresh powder this morning and it kept snowing and is still snowing... so we can really speak about a nice little dump.next week looks dolomiti sunny!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Just on the general question " How much has it snowed?"
Then check how much snow is sitting on the top of the 'hotelplandegralba' sign !!!
But, I did prefer the 'old webcam' view !!!
"Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid !!!"
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Went via Passo San Pellegrino as road cams were clear and rang the lift station and they said it was fine. Wouldn't even have needed winter tyres to be honest, waste of about €150! But better safe.
Went via Passo San Pellegrino as road cams were clear and rang the lift station and they said it was fine. Wouldn't even have needed winter tyres to be honest, waste of about €150! But better safe.
It is like a Nordic war movie here - lots of snow
All good to hear! Heading to Falcade in a couple of weeks, so may be using the San Pellegrino pass road a few times.
Thankfully because of the lifts and hotels up there, they do keep it ploughed as a priority.
Its back to sunny, dry and this time cool. Could be the best week of the season so far?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Probably the best piste skiing conditions I've skied in twenty years. Soft grippy snow everywhere and despite coming off the end of peak season barely experienced any hardpack at all, remarkable. Usually would just be soft powder on top of scraped stuff.
Guides theory is the snow that fell is quite humid and bonded well with the piste. Makes sense as 40-60cm of powder off piste but it is medium heavy. Best snow was side piste of marmolada.
Anyone out is in for a treat.
Last time I was here I thought corvara / colfosco part of sella Ronda was unbeatable but alleghe with the trees laden with snow and cinque torre today were to die for, just unspeakably beautiful. What an area.
After all it is free
After all it is free
8611 wrote:
Last time I was here I thought corvara / colfosco part of sella Ronda was unbeatable but alleghe with the trees laden with snow and cinque torre today were to die for, just unspeakably beautiful. What an area.
Most of my wipeouts in the Dolomites have been due to admiring the views and not concentrating on the skiing
It is hard to convey how stunning it can be to people that have not been.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
I've only been moved to tears once by mountains, and it was the Dolomites. I like all mountains, but these are not like the others.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Called into Polse (Bressanone) for a few hours ski late pm today and the conditions were good. Plenty of fresh snow around the edge of the piste, snow line just below the bottom gondola station, interestingly they were snow making near the bottom of the black that goes down to that station. Was breezy on the top so was hard packed in very exposed places but that was after 3pm. Also very quiet, no queues, no sharing of lifts. Great conditions to get your legs back.
Plenty of fresh snow on the trees but seems less than we saw driving through Austria.
Our first trip to that ski area, great views fortunately no wipeouts @Garfield.
Hot chocolate at La Finestra 6/10, real cream but a bit powdery.
Off to Madonna tomorrow, the Fortini webcam showed a parked van with a foot of fresh snow on its roof so we can’t wait.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@8611, that’s interesting about the new snow. Humidity is currently showing 100% at Canazei so that fits. I had assumed that new snow in the Dolomites tends not to bond well to the ‘technical snow’ that they make because it was too wet, but it sounds like the opposite May be the reason? conditions look great. So jealous
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Well last year I skied la thuile with 60cm fresh and the pistes were a scrape fest. The off piste, however, was sublime and like goose down even after being tracked out the next day.
I asked on here about it and the theory was whether it was windy when it fell, the new snow would be blown off the hardpack of steeper pistes, which also made sense.
Got me thinking what made for perfect pistes (I think I even put a thread up on it here or maybe hijacked the weather thread with it).
Humidity and bonding two variables that weren't mentioned though so we can add that to the list.
Now I do apologise, but you'll have to excuse me, I have to go and open up the hidden valley. To think some people are at work today!
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@8611, It seems to be the case that the Dolomite ski runs resist becoming hard packed much longer than the western alps. I’ve assumed it’s because of a combination of (largely) man made snow, nightly grooming, drier air and lighter winds maintaining a more aerated and softer surface?
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@8611, go straight to hell and have a great time!
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Peter S wrote:
@8611, It seems to be the case that the Dolomite ski runs resist becoming hard packed much longer than the western alps. I’ve assumed it’s because of a combination of (largely) man made snow, nightly grooming, drier air and lighter winds maintaining a more aerated and softer surface?
Aren't all - or virtually all - pistes in every resort groomed nightly?
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@buchanan101, certainly not in many French resorts. Usually all greens, most blues, some reds and the odd black get groomed each night.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
denfinella wrote:
@buchanan101, certainly not in many French resorts. Usually all greens, most blues, some reds and the odd black get groomed each night.
Only some blacks don’t get groomed in Austria.
Blues - always. Reds - almost without exception (Red down into Schuttdorf is the only one I recall not being groomed.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@8611, lovely stuff, can you post a daily fix for me please while I count down the days
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@Peter S, possibly, who knows? I always thought things drier and colder here, but this last storm medium heavy powder, mate across the main alpine ridge in obergurgl says it's super light?
Two different fronts this time I think. I would really like to know as the quality of the powder is more important than the amount.
@geoffknight, unlikely as prob have to attend to junk once off snow tomorrow but might ask the AI bot to put together something for you
Either way, you will be most happy when you get here I suspect. If nothing we else the snow adds chocolate box charm to everything.
Hardpack update - a bit more today, perhaps because I was closer to Sella Ronda traffic and yesterday's locations more off beaten track, but still very pleasant. The world cup run (la Riza?) for instance was excellent despite presumably heavy traffic and (relatively) recent icing.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Both the Gran Risa and the Saslong were perfectly skiable a couple of days after the races pre Christmas. I have no idea how they managed it?! The Streif was a complete death trap!
After all it is free
After all it is free
Spent the afternoon skiing Madonna di campiglio, piste conditions excellent, really lovely with lots of powder still around. Just off the piste still had plenty of fresh snow and hasn’t been tracked out. Looks like a good foot of fresh snow from the weekend.
Shame the weather was bad, low cloud and very flat light. Visibility down to maybe 5 metres at times but then we had a nice half hour when you could actually seen what you were skiing on.
Had to queue for a minute or so a couple of times but maybe because many folks were staying lower to avoid the worst of the fog, us included.
Stopped at Al Forte at the bottom of Fortini, hot chocolate 9/10, real cream and no powder had been involved in the making of that drink.
Rifugio Viviani, hot chocolate 8/10, real cream but tasted a just a little of powder.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
@geoffknight, here you go
Phone did this for me in about 15 seconds
Complete with boppy music to do your squats to
Once this technology targets my work there ain't gonna be any more ski trips but at least I'll have the boppy memories
Great conditions on piste in Madonna this morning, lots of powder still floating around perfect for my 9.am lesson. Popped over to Folgarida late morning, great skiing through the trees but as the day went on the powder collected in either pockets or formed moguls so some places were very tricky from mid pm especially red 10 back to Madonna which gets high volumes. I have a bumps lesson Friday pm and guess that might be the destination…
One queue of about minute all day when everyone was heading back from Folgarida, otherwise virtually straight on every lift. Quite a few slow chair lifts around Folgarida and Marilleva that need an update. Some low cloud in the valleys but didn’t cause problems on piste and make for fantastic views.
None snowy stuff
Guilty pleasure of the day was watching various skiers start down the little bear black run and then realise that they had taken on too much. Either trying to side step back up or side slip down, a sobering lesson that good conditions can flatter but steep slopes always win (it’s a short steep slope of 70% in a very busy area so lots of people give it a go). We decided to give it a miss, my wife would have been fine but I might have ended up on my backside, or nose.
Hot chocolates
Chalet Spinale (no longer sponsored by Fiat) 9/10,
El Mas, nr Folgarida 7/10, but lovely spot in amongst the trees so we always stop there
Baita Natalia (top 5 laghi lift) 8/10
Dinner last night at The hungry wolf in MdC nice gluten free pizza and beer, good ambience but service a bit slow.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@8611, funky beats!!
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@richb67, liking the hot choc ratings, you must be a connoisseur!
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Skied Lasties yesterday. Mistake. Snow heavy even at 3000m and effective combat skiing the whole way down, particularly in tight exit couloir with previous tracks and a lot of only slightly covered rocks. Very few skiers off Pordoi (two ahead of us and four on Mesdi) possibly told its own story. Lunch after in Refugio Carlo Valentini made up for it though. Snow possibly better on Mesdi but doubt it would be worth it either.
Pistes still glorious. Had forgotten how beautiful views around Canazei were. Would also have loved to spend an hour or two doing Arraba's steep and beautiful pistes.
Anyone out in next while should have a great time.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
8611 wrote:
Anyone out in next while should have a great time.
That will be us
Two days and counting
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
We arrive on the 27th so hopefully the conditions will hold up until then. Although some of the long range forecasts suggest more snow w/c 20th...
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Garfield, counting down with you. First ski day for 4 years on Sunday!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Conditions in Madonna area fantastic all day today, even late on pistes much better than late yesterday.
We popped over to Pinzolo late pm. It was very busy. There is a new gondola to replace the old chairlift up from Pra rodont to Dose del sabion which looks good, most of the building at the top of Doss Del Sabion has been updated and it looks great. We normally stop for a drink there and have lunched as the views are amazing but unfortunately there were way too many people and massive queues so we moved on. Both blacks to Pinzolo were closed and so was the Tulot gondola so maybe that concentrated people. We normally stay for half a day but basically just headed back with one drink stop. We witnessed several serious wipeouts, saw a couple of emergency skidoos and someone close to me described the pistes there as “full of nutters”!
Oh, the Groste snow park was part open today. They seem to have extended it and are still making snow, there are a couple of part built jumps which tbh look scarily massive.
Back in Madonna we had a great afternoon but still saw a few people being taken down the mountain by sled. Maybe by Thursday people have become over confident?
Not snow stuff
Hot chocolate at the Patacoss Rifiguo 9/10, tasty and bonus half point for the size.
At Malga Cioca, Pinzolo, 7/10, nice enough and still better than almost anything in the UK.
@luigi, My hot chocolate expertise is like my skiing, enthusiastic amateur with no expertise.
Personally - had a good lesson this morning, this combined with the great conditions resulted in me really felling like today I skied the best I ever have, this if course is all relative but seriously the difference that a couple of private lessons have made is amazing, reminded me what I’d forgotten in 2 yrs and then added improvements. I’ll probably have forgotten it all by tomorrow
Last day in Madonna tomorrow then over to Alta Badia, last time we were there I broke my wrist so fingers crossed all goes well this time…
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Yesterday I skied from Pralongia to Santa Croce and back, and today I spent the day in San Pellegrino. Absolutely perfect piste conditions, cold, sunny and hero snow.
@Hurtle, did you drive or bus? I'm there in March and wondering how much hassle it'd be to take one or more of the kids elsewhere. Will have car mind.
@richb67, @luigi, we really need to start some bombardino ratings also? And grappa too perhaps. Had some amazing stuff a few days ago, really changed my impression of grappa. I always thought it was cheap moonshine type booze but this stuff (Refugio La Viza) was really really good, maybe I should try it more often.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@8611, we're staying in Alleghe, with cars. Yesterday we drove to Pralongia and parked there. Today was a day trip by car to San Pellegrino. I think that it would be a hassle trying to use buses in both cases.
@Hurtle, would be interested in your thought, we’re thinking of going but I don’t know if I can be bothered driving 1hr 20 each way
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Yeah, toss up between that and the hassle of taking boots on and off to drive I suppose. Taxi sounds enticing in those circumstances! Alleghe was beautiful the other day, we got the most unpleasant bus from the resort on the other side (is it Pecul?) up to Cinque Torre. Bus was rammed, holding skis and poles and there must have been 21 hairpins on way up. Not nice.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Sorry @8611, I used to have occasionally have one alcoholic drink on the slopes but don’t anymore. My wife says she doesn’t want to carry me home!
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Maybe its behind all the accidents so not a bad idea. I have come to like one or two during the day though...
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@8611, that was the legendary Passo Giau of Giro D'Italia fame! It is obligatory to suffer whilst ascending that climb and carrying ski equipment on a bus is deffo easier than cycling up it ! Handy that they number the hairpins for you, isn't it? If it's any consolation, it's worse coming up from Cortina.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
Watch this video on Facebook 
! Handy that they number the hairpins for you, isn't it? If it's any consolation, it's worse coming up from Cortina.