@jtr,@jtr,
We were at Corvara and La Villa as well today. Great red and black dropping back down to La villa from the Col Alto.
We then headed off to see that little church under the cliffs at Santa Croce past Badia
All in all a fantastic day..
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Hoping to get across to the hidden valley tomorrow while the weather is still clear..
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?
Temperature rose a few degrees today, sun came out and so did the crowds. Only made it as far as Arabba from Vigo di Fassa, looked like all the Sella Ronda pistes were extremely busy, much quieter on the ones off the circuit. A few big queues this afternoon, notably the Lezuo chair back up to Belvedere which needs an upgrade.
Heavy traffic left a combination of bumps and scraped off areas on many pistes but the cold temps have left the underlying snow conditions still very good, the wide cruising areas are still great fun.
Another excellent value lunch, this time at Mister X in Arabba. Can't get used to paying less than 50 euros for four main courses including drinks. Also a shoutout for the Baita el Brodol just above the Pecol cable car station, great ribs & schnitzel yesterday. Also wondering why it has taken me all these years to discover the Bombardino...
One minor complaint about fake news on the 'real time' ski bus website, the promised number 5 never arrived this morning, check the printed timetables at the stops!
Had quite a big day going from Arabba - Marmolada - Arabba - Hidden Valley - Arabba all on skis today (apart from the short taxi hop from Armentarola to Passo Falzarego). Stunning scenery in the sunshine at both locations, super cold up Marmolada though. It was probably sub -20C but very little wind so didn't feel that bad, as long as no skin was left exposed while skiing down.
Hidden valley was busy this afternoon. Had to queue about 30 minutes at the base of the cable car, and then had a bit of a wait at the horses and queues for the lifts back out of Armentarola and San Cassiano. Made it to the last lift back to Arabba with 13 minutes to spare...
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
We went to the hidden valley today. I'm afraid to say I wasn't sure it was worth the effort with the queues to get on the bus to go there then the queue at the bottom of the cable car. It's very pretty but it's all pretty round here. Also there was too much polling involved near the bottom...
Completely put away by the Bergfex weather forecast of another sunny day. Cloudy first thing and now snowing steadily since about 9am in Vigo at 1400 metres. Yet to venture out, will likely stick to the tree-lined runs above the village today.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
head_like_a_rock wrote:
Completely put away by the Bergfex weather forecast of another sunny day. Cloudy first thing and now snowing steadily since about 9am in Vigo at 1400 metres. Yet to venture out, will likely stick to the tree-lined runs above the village today.
Not only is Bergfex but GFS-Meteociel totally missing it too. I presume it becomes a flip of the coin under such cold weather. Ortisei still claims no wind on its webpage, which I guess is not correct either.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Thu 1-03-18 17:18; edited 1 time in total
After all it is free
After all it is free
FrequentFaller wrote:
We went to the hidden valley today. I'm afraid to say I wasn't sure it was worth the effort with the queues to get on the bus to go there then the queue at the bottom of the cable car. It's very pretty but it's all pretty round here. Also there was too much polling involved near the bottom...
I've done the hidden valley 4 times since 2013 and last March was the first time I experienced the queues as you describe. I guess it's not so hidden any more.
Getting there early would probably help but then by the time you'd skied back down to the bottom of the cable car (spectacular red run) and done the lovely Cinque Torri area you'd hit the queue for the HV at the cable car again
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@FrequentFaller, I'd second your thoughts about the Hidden valley - I'd only say it's worth doing if you can somehow avoid the queues (perhaps on a particularly quiet week). Then you could combine it with the run back down the front and Cinque Torri before going down the Hidden Valley run.
Cloudy in Arabba this morning with light snowfall. Hazy sunshine came out around lunchtime so had an unexpectedly nice afternoon around Arabba and Alta Badia. Only about 3cm of accumulation but it freshened the pistes a little.
Yr.no and ARPAV were pretty accurate on the forecast for today.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Weather cleared from lunchtime so we had a fun couple of hours on the runs off the Pra Martin chair above Vigo, small area but decent variety and freshened nicely by today's snow. Skied the Tomba black, possibly not in the style of La Bomba himself. Actually felt warm by the bottom of the Thoni home run, for the first time this week.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Weather not so good today
Although slightly warmer the visibility wasn't that good.
Anyway everybody in this chalet feel we've had the best skiing holiday. The food, scenery and the condition of the slopes.
Will be back next year although maybe not to Selva. More likely to Corvara with a mixed ability group. Selva is fairly hard to get back into at the end of the day with all the steep reds and black's chopped up.
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.
Had a great week in the Dolomites. Thanks to everyone for the ongoing info in this thread. The piste conditions are still very good with full coverage everywhere. We had our last day skiing around the Civetta area on the drive down to Venice on Saturday - which also forms part of the WW1 skiing route. It's low down (almost all below 2000m) and fully below the treeline so probably a good option for when it's snowing and cold. Unfortunately it was foggy yesterday so we couldn't see the views. Mostly easy pistes and a few too many flat areas. The trees are mostly quite dense but did see a few steep and less dense pitches that would be good for tree skiing. It was very quiet compared to the Sella Ronda!
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
Advice appreciated please. We want to spend a day doing hidden valley and cinque torri next week. We are staying in armenterola so shouldn't take us long to get there. Which is better to do first cinque torri or hidden valley? How many hours skiing is there? Lunch recommendations also welcomed! Is it quieter on week day than a saturday?
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@Holidayqueen, If there's no queues you'll have it all done in an hour or so
. As for lunch I'm not so clear. There is a place to eat at the top of the Cable car and there is a place half way down the hidden valley but we only had a Hot Choc there. Having said that we haven't had a bad meal anywhere in the Dols so eat where you like.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
FrequentFaller wrote:
@Holidayqueen, If there's no queues you'll have it all done in an hour or so
. As for lunch I'm not so clear. There is a place to eat at the top of the Cable car and there is a place half way down the hidden valley but we only had a Hot Choc there. Having said that we haven't had a bad meal anywhere in the Dols so eat where you like.
Cinque Torri and Hidden Valley in an hour? Even if you could, why would you?
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Holidayqueen,
There are several rifugios in the area. The ones I’ve visited are Scoiatolli near the Cinque Torri, Laguazoi at the top of the cable car and Scotinis about 3/4 of the way down the HV. I’ve only eaten in Scotonis - the mixed grill is famous and brilliant.
I suggest that you make an early start, get the bus up to Falzarego, take the cable car up an then the red back down towards the bottom of the cable car, turning left at the fork for the Cinque Torri. Ski that area, have a coffee stop, enjoy the views, make your way back to the cable car and then do the HV. If you get to Scotoni early enough have lunch there, the only problem is that it’s so popular that you can find yourself waiting a while for a table. You have the advantage of staying in Armentarola to get a good head’s start on the crowds.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@agw, Yeah, I was only really thinking about the hidden valley...
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?
2 awesome days
Bluebird yesterday am and some cloud later ... went to ortisei via James Bond and an anticlock sella Ronda.
Today Santa Croce ... cloudy all day but viz ok below 2500m so pretty much everywhere ! Finished with a few portovescovo blacks ... superb and empty.
Light snow now.
Good but slightly challenging day today ... light snow overnight and pretty much through the day ... few cms building to maybe 8 cms by close.
Some glimpses of the sun to start but then cloudy ... viz generally OK ... cloud level c. 2,400m so not much of a problem.
Pretty warm so below 1800m snow getting sticky and wet seats on chairs.
Skied clockwise sella with detours at Colfosco and then afternoon off piste in the trees towards LaVilla.
Still snowing very lightly.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Another awesome day - contrary to forecast sunny until 11 and then light snow for rest of day. Viz challenging above 2000m but great snow.
Advice appreciated please. We want to spend a day doing hidden valley and cinque torri next week. We are staying in armenterola so shouldn't take us long to get there. Which is better to do first cinque torri or hidden valley? How many hours skiing is there? Lunch recommendations also welcomed! Is it quieter on week day than a saturday?
Saturday is changeover day on the Sella Ronda, so likely quieter. You will still get locals and weekenders though. It's busier when the weather's fine, particularly on the first fine day after some bad ones, then everyone piles up there. Don't bother on a cloudy day. It will be empty, but you won't get the views and viz at the top could be bad.
As others have said, staying at Armentarola, you will get a head start on any crowds. To make a day of it, get a taxi-bus up to Falzarego Pass, go up the cablecar, do the front face red, hang left, cross the road and join the flattish blue to access the Cinque Torri/Averau circuit. Good stops are Rifugio Scoiattoli and Rifugio Averau at the middle & top of the Cinque Torri area. You might want to repeat the lovely quiet runs here a few times before heading back over to Falzarego. There are plenty of other huts to stop at all around this area.
Head back to the cable car up to Lagazuoi. If it's now late morning there will likely be a queue. Go up the steps to the Rifugio terrace for an even higher panoramic view. Ski down the Hidden Valley. About 2/3 of the way down is Rifugio Scotoni which is a busy & popular lunch stop. Grilled meats are the speciality, but other items are available. There is another less spectacular Rifugio at the bottom of the run if the crowds at Scotoni are too much. If it's sunny, sit it out on the terrace at Scotoni, they are pretty efficient.
At the bottom, take the horse-tow most of the way back to Armentarola. Finish the day with a few runs off the San Cassiano/Piz Sorega gondola.
As to timings, the Hidden Valley run itself can be skied at a leisurely pace in 30-45 mins, but the queues waiting for the cablecar can sometimes take as long.
Though he gets it wrong about the Dolomite rocks being formed from Sandstone, it is actually Dolomitic Limestone (Calcium Magnesium Carbonate)!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Surely it would not have been possible to script a better season than this one. I can imagine there are already a lot of booking for next season.
After all it is free
After all it is free
We’ve booked for new year. There are 16 of us. I just hope that the weather gods deliver as I am the one that’s recommended Dolomites over the Alps.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Peter S wrote:
Surely it would not have been possible to script a better season than this one. I can imagine there are already a lot of booking for next season.
Just one more chapter needed, in which the weather gods decide to turn the expected heavy rainfall this Sunday/Monday to snow
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Odysseus wrote:
Just one more chapter needed, in which the weather gods decide to turn the expected heavy rainfall this Sunday/Monday to snow
Yes can't agree more I just had a look at the forecast for Badia and its looking a bit worrying for the weekend at base level. Although I suspect there is a decent enough base there now to endure some rain. I am pretty sure that this time last year the pistes were just white ribbons among the brown fields especially lower down. Having said that we went out for the last week of March and had a great time.
Going out on 25th March to Pedraces again so fingers are crossed.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
I would imagine that by now the pistes will be bomb proof. they are probably more concerned about how to break it up in April
Really envious....although I intend to ski in some rain a bit closer to home this weekend
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.
OMG what a day
Absolute bluebird with perfect pistes and 20cm plus off piste.
Did 2 north face of marmolada down towards the lake ... WoW absolutely superb despite the queues at the bottom.
Back over to Pordoi and a couple of Portovescovos.
Simply the best 😃
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
Awesome day on Marmolada
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Why can’t I post image ?
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Marmolada north face
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@mini_mo, I think you’re pretty safe for next new year. Snow making and management so excellent, even if the natural stuff doesn’t arrive in tons.
Relax and wait for the accolades to pour in during early January.
Out of interest, which village for your base?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
CP wrote:
Odysseus wrote:
Just one more chapter needed, in which the weather gods decide to turn the expected heavy rainfall this Sunday/Monday to snow
Yes can't agree more I just had a look at the forecast for Badia and its looking a bit worrying for the weekend at base level. Although I suspect there is a decent enough base there now to endure some rain. I am pretty sure that this time last year the pistes were just white ribbons among the brown fields especially lower down. Having said that we went out for the last week of March and had a great time.
Going out on 25th March to Pedraces again so fingers are crossed.
We’re going out to Corvara this Sunday when the rain is forecast for the valley so I’ll let you know
As Peter S says- it will take a lot of rain to seriously affect this much compacted snow
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?
The Bergfex forecast has improved a bit for next week- snowline down a touch and a mixture of sun and clouds with a bit more precipitation on Thursday overnight into Friday. I’ll take that
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Amp
Ther great day - sunny with a few clouds. Do sella anti with extras at Corvara colfosco and a trip to ortisei for late lunch. Bit of a rush coming home ... over 10,500 m of descent today 😃
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@mini_mo, great to see you returning. We are aiming for Feb half term again next year ...
After all it is free
After all it is free
@Holidayqueen, leave early when hopefully no queues at Armentarola, head straight to 5 Torri and finish with long descend via Hidden Valley. On a beautiful day it is worthwhile though slopes tends to be rather easy. I made a lengthy video in Feb 2017, have a look:
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.
Just spent the last two days in Cortina. Loving it so far although the weather wasn't great today. Thick cloud at the top, light snow in the middle and drizzle at the bottom. Still had a lot of fun.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@PeakyB, we are staying in La Villa with same hotel as previous. I called them to book and they recognised my voice from 2017!
@SteveM, Hi Steve hope you and family are well? Looks like week commencing 9th Feb is the more uncommon UK half term plus Fasching and Carnevale are towards the end of Feb, so a very good choice. We would have gone over half term but one family were not able to go then. Either UK half term should I think miss the holidays above so a good choice!
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
