 Poster: A snowHead
|
@richb67, you're doing quite the tour, working your way right across the area?
I didn't know there was apres ski in the dolmites beyond tasting menus and glorious obscure wines
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@luigi, we are at the Oswald end.
Thank you for your advice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Thats some trip sir, enjoy
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@CP, The company we normally use hiked their prices up so we now use LD Transfer which was recommended by a fellow snow head. Used them last month and have booked them for next month too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
@richb67, I’m so jealous of your trip. Where are you staying in AB this time?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@richb67, I’m so jealous of your trip. Where are you staying in AB this time?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
hi guys! heading to Val Gardena a week on Friday and I cannot bloody wait! first time in the area too. Previously I have been Val D'isere, Meribel, Courchevel, Zermatt, bad gastein, Saalbach so looking forward to seeing what the Italians have to offer!
We are flying on the Friday into Venice, hiring a car, staying one night en route in trento.
How is the resort doing for snow? hoping for a big dump of the stuff next week at some point before we arrive! then blue sunny skies for the whole week....too much to as1? haha!
We are staying at the Granvara Relais hotel which looks insane, how easy is it to ski too and hows its location in terms of the village etc?
we are intermediate skiers, what should be our first days skiing direction?
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Hello, I think your hotel is in S Cristina rather than Selva. You will either have bus shuttle from the hotel or you need to catch a ski bus number 352, 353, you can find the timetable online. (Sorry I am an old fart and I don’t know how to attach an image). If I were you on the first day I would go to Ortisei and do la longia first as a warm up and the gorgeous Fermeda, my favorite piste, which starts at the top of seceda and finishes in S Cristina.
Hope you have a wonderful time
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@peterhughes88, looks like a bit of a dump of a place that..... It's a bit out of the village (up the hill!), so ski in/out down the Saslong B which is a decent red run.
First day? Col Raiser/Seceda or head up Dantercepies and over to Alta Badia. Val Gardena and Arabba are the steeper areas but nowhere is too challenging! Have a great time!
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| Harrow lady wrote: |
Hello, I think your hotel is in S Cristina rather than Selva. You will either have bus shuttle from the hotel or you need to catch a ski bus number 352, 353, you can find the timetable online. (Sorry I am an old fart and I don’t know how to attach an image). If I were you on the first day I would go to Ortisei and do la longia first as a warm up and the gorgeous Fermeda, my favorite piste, which starts at the top of seceda and finishes in S Cristina.
Hope you have a wonderful time |
Thank you! yes the hotel has a ski shuttle so can pick up and drop off at will i believe which is great. Ortisei looks brilliant thank you for the recommendation. how 'easy is Fermeda' for a first ski run?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Klamm Franzer wrote: |
@peterhughes88, looks like a bit of a dump of a place that..... It's a bit out of the village (up the hill!), so ski in/out down the Saslong B which is a decent red run.
First day? Col Raiser/Seceda or head up Dantercepies and over to Alta Badia. Val Gardena and Arabba are the steeper areas but nowhere is too challenging! Have a great time! |
Thank you.... yes the hotel is a little shabby....I believe Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso of Formula 1 fame were staying there last week. it looks amazing!
thanks again!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@peterhughes88, the Fermeda is a red that becomes a blue, it is quiet long and a total joy. Check the video: Ski the sunny side, Dolomites best ski slope by Inspired Italy, they are doing the Fermeda from top to bottom.
I will arrive on Saturday and we are planning to do the seceda runs on Monday. On Sunday we are in the alpi di suisi, it is a blue wonderland , we want to start slowly . Enjoy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
@peterhughes88, the Fermeda is a red that becomes a blue, it is quiet long and a total joy. Check the video: Ski the sunny side, Dolomites best ski slope by Inspired Italy, they are doing the Fermeda from top to bottom.
I will arrive on Saturday and we are planning to do the seceda runs on Monday. On Sunday we are in the alpi di suisi, it is a blue wonderland , we want to start slowly . Enjoy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
@stellaps We have slightly convoluted arrangements, currently in an apartment in La Villa for a week, then one in Corvara for 2 weeks (where we’ve stayed before), then we have friends coming over so we move back to La Villa but a small hotel.
We tried something similar last year but on day 2 I fell during a ski lesson and broke my wrist so it was cut short 
This year fairly last minute we tagged a few days in MdC at the start because we really like it. I have used the same instructor for all of our 5! trips there and wanted someone to help with getting my confidence back. Also the marginal cost of a few extra days is pretty low, the DS season ski pass includes 5 days in Madonna, this season we have our own gear so it was “just” the hotel, food and lessons.
We are not working atm so are making the most of having extra time. Being time rich and cash poor we’ve come now because it’s less busy and therefore cheaper. I would imagine we will do 4 weeks in AB for the same price a family of 4 will do a one week package trip here in a hotel at half term.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
@richb67, Living the dream! How wonderful. V handy using the same instructor - I’m trying to do the same for my son - we’ve booked him for the 3rd year running. Just wish he would meet us near our hotel instead of at the ski school
How’s Alta Badia today? We’re counting down the days. Can’t wait to be back!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Today was perfect piste skiing
Blue skies, good conditions all day, we did the Sella Ronda clockwise (orange) with a diversion around some Selva pistes, set off late morning after my lesson and there were no meaningful queues all day. Usually we went straight on a lift. Still powder on the pistes late in the day. We did a couple of blacks this pm which were appropriately bumpy on the steep parts but the reds were only a bit cut up.
It is very cold so if coming in the next week or so bring extra thermals.
Hot chocolate scores
Rifugio Cherz, top of the eponymous chairlift 8/10 but there was only one ladies in use so mid morning it took my wife 15 mins to visit.
Baita Pastura, in Selva, 7/10
There was Apres ongoing with a DJ at the top of Piz Sorega when we skied past ca 3:30.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@richb67, agree
Excellent today and much quieter than Sunday
We headed over to Pozza from Arabba today.
Nothing very demanding just easy blue and red cruising
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Mon 15-01-24 20:30; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Amazing conditions in Kronplatz today , great snow , super cold but sunshine all day.
Quite busy on the slopes I thought , but no queues to speak of.
Super lunch at Oberegger Alm - ricotta ravioli in rabbit ragu and slow cooked pork ribs with sauteed potatoes , sauerkraut and a speck dumpling.
First calimero of the trip.
Going to drive to La Villa tomorrow - sella ronda anticlockwise I think , lunch in alta badia and maybe hidden valley run
Anyone done hidden valley in last few days ? My ski buddy wants to know what the condition is like ?
And settle an argument - is it piste bashed or not?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
on that last one: yes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@sheffskibod,
| Quote: |
ricotta ravioli in rabbit ragu
|
Yum!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@sheffskibod, sorry I don’t know how much you know the area so please ignore if this is of no value…
coincidentally I discussed SR with an instructor today who regularly takes groups around it, he recommended clockwise, more good length runs, less short lifts. The only decent run you miss is into Selva but you can always do that and come back up Dancerpies. Clockwise the only faff is if you want to avoid the long slow blue between Canazei and Selva, the other way there are a few short lifts. Also cw at Arabba just take the cable car up and ski down, easier than messing with two lifts.
We’re in La Villa ATM, it’s surprising how long it can take to get to the SR, for your itinerary maybe park at Armenterola or even Lagazoui? From the former you could jump on one of the first taxis and it would save you some time, from the latter you’d need to get a taxi late in the day which might be tricky.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conditions are good. It dumped last weekend (5-7 january) and last week was quite cold. This week will be warmer, but better than in France/Switzerland where they'll be getting rain up to 2000m.
Enjoy your holiday!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Scooter in Seattle wrote: |
| on that last one: yes. |
Appreciated - I knew it was ! Settled an argument!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Hurtle wrote: |
@sheffskibod,
| Quote: |
ricotta ravioli in rabbit ragu
|
Yum! |
Indeed and for a reasonable price too I thought
It had fresh cubes of pear and some thin sliced of dried fruit (plum maybe).
Here is a photo.
The dolomites is of course awash with very good table service refugios and huttes and Kronplatz is no exception.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| richb67 wrote: |
@sheffskibod, sorry I don’t know how much you know the area so please ignore if this is of no value…
coincidentally I discussed SR with an instructor today who regularly takes groups around it, he recommended clockwise, more good length runs, less short lifts. The only decent run you miss is into Selva but you can always do that and come back up Dancerpies. Clockwise the only faff is if you want to avoid the long slow blue between Canazei and Selva, the other way there are a few short lifts. Also cw at Arabba just take the cable car up and ski down, easier than messing with two lifts.
We’re in La Villa ATM, it’s surprising how long it can take to get to the SR, for your itinerary maybe park at Armenterola or even Lagazoui? From the former you could jump on one of the first taxis and it would save you some time, from the latter you’d need to get a taxi late in the day which might be tricky. |
Appreciate the time taken - this just shows how brilliant a resource SH is.
We are fairly familiar with SR and most offshoots having stayed in selva (3 times) , arabba , san cassiano and la villa.
Our day may depend on how busy it is - if queues are minimal we will easily ski the SR in 3-4 hours as I know the routes well in both directions and we ski quite quick…
Hope to be on gran risa lift no later than 9 am.
Its now a toss up between hidden valley which my pal would like to do again (honestly not my fave as I hate the queues - at armentarola for taxi, for laguzoi lift and chuffing about with horse tow) or diverting to seceda and james bond run to ortisei before carrying on round SR …
I prefer anticlockwise as I hate the narrow crowded red from belvedere (red 6 del bosco). Always feels like an accident waiting to happen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@sheffskibod, lol, I like the red 6 (was quite quiet today) and hate pissing about with the lifts from Corvara to Selva Pass! 100% agree re both Hidden Valley and the Ortisei run though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[quote="peterhughes88"]
| Klamm Franzer wrote: |
.I believe Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso of Formula 1 fame were staying there last week. it looks amazing!
thanks again! |
Thats mad I thought I saw Leclerc lout there ast week, without hearing he was there. Wasn't wearing snazzy gear so I presumed not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Hi @defnekasrat, welcome to SnowHeads!
Currently the different forecast models are tending towards the next couple of weeks will be warming up with little or no snow falling...
However depending on the exact location of other systems, it's looking like either a warm+dry or cold+snowy, with no 'between' option. We're all holding our breath, although I'm afraid it probably wont be until this time next week that the forecasts will have any higher certainty
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
@defnekasrat, you are in for a treat! The piste skiing in the Dolomites is excellent and the scenery is breathtaking. However, the Dolomites are located in an area which is naturally dry compared to the French Alps or Austria..... Off piste is not what the area is famous for but that's not too says that it doesn't get big dumps of snow, it's just that they are generally less frequent. Fingers crossed for you.
As an aside, the Birthday Bash will be in Arabba that week and there will be 150+ Snowheads in the area. Look out for Orange buffs and say hello! If there is snow, expect some Snowheads to find it so it might be worth posting on the BB thread.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Hello @@EarthWindandWater,! Thanks, happy to be here!
I agree, in all of my previous experiences I've seen the most certain forecasts up to 8-10 days before the trip. But I've been surprised to find out that the Dolomites have erratic-ish snowfall, especially after seeing most of the resorts in the Dolomites listed among the best ski resorts in the world. I assume that the snowmaking facilities and piste upkeep are top-notch. We'll need to research more next year for sure for the off-piste crew.
Weirdly enough, I'm seeing a pattern of warmth hit Europe between the 24th and 26th of Jan. Funnily enough, the Dolomites seem to stay cooler than most places (for ex. I've seen 6-7 degrees in Lech). Hopefully, we'll get a dump while we're there so we can enjoy some fresh snow.
@Klamm Franzer, Wow! Super pumped to read this positive reply! I'm very excited to practice and get better at carving on well-kept pistes! Luckily enough, this year we are getting quite good snow here in Turkey so the powderheads can enjoy some pow here at home 
So excited to hear about the Birthday Bash! I will definitely keep an eye out!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@defnekasrat, you're headed for the perfect place for you! Your hubby might not achieve perfection, but fear not, he'll be fine. Everybody here has strong views about the places we go, but I cannot remember ANYONE here dissing the Dolomites. The things they deliver as well or better than anywhere are plenty good enough. I'll bet you a Benjamin you return...with the same husband! I bounce around the Alps to try new places, but the D's are always on the itinerary. I stay in SC too. Very quiet & quaint. Just big enough for a little grocery store, and a bakery with gelato for my 3pm snack. The Rosa Alpina has a killer family restaurant (in addition to their Michelin 3*). You're gonna love it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@Scooter in Seattle, great to hear! I'm also quite sure that the week is going to be a great opportunity for me! Last year we went to Lech and got great snow, so we got into the bad habit of comparing. but I can see that the Dolomites have a unique atmosphere on it's own. And yes, the food scene was one of the biggest aspects that pushed us to go there this year! I'm bummed that the Rosa Alpina is closed this year as apparently, it's converting into an Aman hotel, fancy!
I'll find another thread to ask and talk about restaurants, instructors, and other recommendations, so I can leave this thread for the snow reports. I'll be checking back to see how people are enjoying their time in the snow!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Just on day 3 of the first trip to the Dolomites, staying in Selva.
Will do a full trip report on return but the summary is...this place is amazing.
Everything you hear about the Dollies (great piste skiing, brilliant food and breathtaking scenery) is true!
The snow is very good and the people in the bars, restaurants, and cafés etc are lovely. Good value for money too imo. If you're out here soon, you're in for a treat! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
I'm super happy about the things I've been reading about the Dolomites Also, I just checked the most recent update on the GFS model and it seems like the warm weather that was forecasted for the 24-26th seems to be going away, so that's also good news!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@defnekasrat, forecasts are really only reliable about 3-4 days out. Occasionally you can get an impression of a broader trend 7 days or more out
Dolomites in general gets less snow but is colder than the rest of the alps and they thus have very good snow making. Really the place is about the views and the eating, but the piste skiing is excellent also, and piste skiing is really about views. Its kind of like skiing through the Grand Canyon at times.
The off piste is poorer in terms of the amount of snow fall but the plus side is that because of the rock formations there are exceptional couloirs all over the place. There is also its own version of the Aiguille du Midi / Mont Gele, ie, a life with no piste off it, on the Sella Massif itself and loads of classic descents down it in different directions back on to the Sella Ronda.
At moment there is still a bit more snow needed for these descents but hopefully your group will get that in the intervening period.
Finally, don't worry about asking about restaurants etc on this thread, really most people come on to share their love of and knowledge of the area as well as the occasional snow update. You'll get great info here from the regulars.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi, quick question: is there a way to get from Seceda to Dantercepies without going through Santa Cristina and up Saslong? Doesn't look like it on the map... We're going to be there the week before the BB, very sorry to miss it
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@DPL, Can only think of skiing la longia from seceda to Ortisei and get the ski bus from s Antonio square.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hello all,
Currently have Corvara booked from Jan 23-29 and this looks to align perfectly with the forecast of warmer weather. I see the coldest day just reaching freezing and the rest of the days going as far up as 4-5 C. Never been to the dolomites and luckily no rain is forecasted, however I am considering making a drastic switch and heading somewhere colder (Zermatt??). Would love to get some thoughts on how the weather would affect the experience.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
However, my husband and some of our friends enjoy off-piste much more, so they started panicking a bit 
They also booked a guide for Marmolada and Val Mezdi.
