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 bottom stations in the val di fassa are fine -- IF you avoid ski-school times !! ; start before 9/9.15 or have a lie in and go after 10....
One thing to watch for would your return to the valley. Campitello, you have to download : Canazei, it is possible to ski to town but many people download :
Valley bus service is very good and even includes a 'Noddy' train..
@albob, brilliant.. the noddy train sounds right up my street
We're in Alba, so Ciampac is right there on the other side of the valley I believe.
And a snowheads video?I couldn't ask for better!
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@Robin Agogo, You will be absolutely fine on everything Val di Fassa can throw at you, piste wise. The Alba black is not that black, but you can scope most of it from the cable car anyway and download if you don't fancy it. It is worth noting that the piste back down into Canazei does not finish anywhere near the lift, so if you come down during the day you'll have a little stroll or ride on the train to get back up again.
It's a while since I've been, but there was a shop in the centre of town that sells lots of local produce like honey. If you go through into the back, there's an old wine store room stocked with mostly local wines that you won't see outside of Italy and probably not outside the region. Enjoy
Edit: Sorry, I assumed Canazei rather than Alba, but Alba is pretty small so you'll probably head into Canazei anyway at some point. It's not far.
@Robin Agogo,
It's a while since I've been, but there was a shop in the centre of town that sells lots of local produce like honey. If you go through into the back, there's an old wine store room stocked with mostly local wines that you won't see outside of Italy and probably not outside the region. Enjoy .
Excellent, I do like an interesting bottle of wine!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I stayed in Alba probably the week before yours about 4 years ago and then again in Pozza a bit later the following year.
When we went in January queues generally were not a problem at all, in February they were significant in places.
Alba is at the bottom of the steepest bit of the valley and doesn't get a lot of sun in January.
The black run down from Ciampac is well pisted and not mogulled there are two variants part way down one doubling back on itself is a bit more straight forward. As with most runs down to the bottom it is a lot easier earlier in the day when freshly prepared than when it has been compacted at the end of the day when good edges come into their own. The skiing round Buffaure is sunny and very pleasant indeed.
The valley bus pass is cheap and allows you to return home if you ski down to Canazei or back from Pozza or you need to get the linking bus up at Pozza to ski to Vigo. Depending on where you are based in Alba it may also be handy for getting to and from the cable car in the morning and evening.
If I was taking skiers new to the Dolomites I would consider a trip to the Marmolada a must for the views and general experience and also a trip up to Saas Pordoi for the views.
The only difficulty maybe if your black run shudderer gets a bit anxious on long days the trip to and from the Marmolada involves quite a lot of skiing on red runs some of which can get a bit cut up as the day progresses.
Another great day is heading over towards Santa Cristina and then heading over via Seceda to Ortisei lovely long sunny runs.
Edited as one sentence seemed to have jumped places
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Fri 10-01-20 19:24; edited 1 time in total
After all it is free
After all it is free
@T Bar, lovely, thanks for the ideas
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.
Which hotel are you in? We stayed in Cesa Rotic which is last stop on the bus before Alba base station so getting a bus in the morning was tricky as they were full from Canazei.
Conversely bus back or to Canazei was fine.
From memory, nearest shops in Canazei
The Alba and Pozzo areas were lovely!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Hi all,
Jumping in as we are off to Val Di Fassa in 2 weeks. We are in Penia/Alba. Is the bus down to Canazei or from Penia to the Alba lifts included on the lift pass or do we have to pay each time we use?
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
From recollection we had to pay, but it was a few years ago, so hopefully someone with more recent experience can help
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.
The bus is no longer free.
Some hotels etc do a reduced rate ticket - 6 euros vs 12
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
@Marjon, we're also in the Cesa Rotic
Thanks for flagging the morning bus situation.
6 Euro, or 12 Euro even, isn't too bad
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@albob, thanks, hopefully ours does the discount
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Nice comfy hotel, owner is nice and a little eccentric, it was my mates birthday so she put on full local garb and serenaded him. By accordion!
Nice restaurant / bar a short distance away or a longer walk towards Alba lifts where a couple of hotel bars. For real nightlife it is Canazei and a taxi back.
Disclaimer it was about 5 years ago, so any of the above may have changed!
My view on the Alba black - probably a steepish red really, but very good when pisted in the morning. Consistent gradient all the way but is broken up by ledges (road?) On the way down.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Thanks for the info. 12 Euros for the week is absolutely fine!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
We spent Christmas week in Penia at the Neilson Chalet Hotel. We were given a ticket for the valley buses, although I was never asked to produce it.
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?
NeddySkiGoon wrote:
We spent Christmas week in Penia at the Neilson Chalet Hotel. We were given a ticket for the valley buses, although I was never asked to produce it.
@Robin Agogo, it is worth going up ciampac and following the skitour panorama to Pozza. If you do then note the long red leading down to the village has a long flat run out at end, not popular with boarders. Which means the alternative is the black at that end as well, the Vulcano. Again not a really challenging black. A pity about the long flat end to the red as it is nice before that as it winds down through the trees.
On the way across there is also another fairly flat run along a valley. Probably ok for boarders if you can carry some speed. Personally I enjoy pushing off from the top and doing the whole thing on skis with no turn, in general at some point JK goes past me in the tuck along the flat
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Robin Agogo, As @SteveM says the Vulcano run avoids the long run out on the red. There are a couple of steep sections but they are fairly short sections and the rest is not very challenging.
After all it is free
After all it is free
@Robin Agogo, have a great week. @FatGeorge and I will watch out for you. Try to resist the urge to sit down in the middle of a piste, just over the brow of a hill
Will there follow a Cesa Erotic video?
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.
There are other threads on the area on here, think one had refugio recommendations.
Agree Alba looked like it got very little sun as I went in and out the valley on the lifts ( I stayed in delightful Pozza, which is sunny, right by the Buffaure lift). Would recommend Pozza to anyone and will happily go back one day.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Loved the Vulcano run, managed to do it top to bottom without stopping. Brill.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Nobody appears to have mentioned the Hidden Valley which is a great day out & easily reached from Alba - getting there as early as possible avoids the Q's for taxis - you follow signs for "Grande Guerra" (great war) - I may have misspelled that!
We found Alba/Buffaure much quieter than anywhere on the Sella round trip (M25!)
Marmolada glacier is also within easy reach & another excellent day out
We stayed at Neilson Chalet hotel dolomites inn & they included the bus pass, but IIRC it was only about a fiver anyway
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.
@Fridge03, great hotel, good food even if the portions were to big, better than to small. The location isn’t the best, but a bus to the Alba lifts runs every 20 minutes, takes about 5 min. It’s about 250m to the terminus for the buses that run along the valley. Evo is a great instructor and guide, Kirsty, the Neilson rep was always up for a ski in the afternoon. We had an excellent Christmas. Hope you enjoy your week.
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
NeddySkiGoon wrote:
We spent Christmas week in Penia at the Neilson Chalet Hotel. We were given a ticket for the valley buses, although I was never asked to produce it.
Our hotel charged 6 Eur. We were asked to show the ticket by inspectors a few times so OP be warned, keep your ticket with you. It’s just a small piece of paper so by the end of the week is really scrappy...
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Thanks for all the lovely info!
We've done the Panorama tour ( lovely and quiet, wouldn't take a beginner boarder as some flats) , Marmolada ( epic), and also got stuck in Arabba as the gondola we needed back closed at 1530h for some reason! Cue breakneck shared taxi up the twisty mountain roads to catch the Canazei download gondola before it too closed ( a more reasonable 1700h) Alta Badia is pretty and cruisy as ever.
The ski bus in Val di Fassa is great, handy and a bargain at 6EUR
@PeakyB, ha! Not a chance, you'll just have to stay here yourself one day
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@NeddySkiGoon, we are in the same hotel in February. We are trying to work out the best option for ski hire. The shop at the bottom of the lifts in Alba is not taking reservations for February. What did you do?
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@DominicM, I also noted the Paolo Nollegio shop wasn’t taking internet bookings in Feb but Neilson use the same shop so I just booked mine via Neilson. Alternatively, the shop says ‘just turn up!’. Think the rep will give out the voucher on the transfer or at the hotel. Also staying in the Neilson Dolomites Inn from 1st Feb - which week are you there?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@damobloke1, you should try and meet up with one or more of the vast number of sHs who will be touring round the Sella Ronda area that week
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
(runs from Ciampac to Alba).
