 Poster: A snowHead
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@spencerfrater, I don't recall that we did them in any particular order. It just depended on where we were at the time.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I've done 7 out of the 8 and that was during general skiing not by design. If you came clockwise on the ronda the first one you'd come to would probably be falk, a nice tree lined run but quite short. From there it will be a bit of a faff and there are a couple of options. I would prob take the piz seteur gondola then ski to the comici lift and you can ski down to monte pana and do bravo, which is a belting run imo. From there you need to get to the top of ciampinoi via tramans lift and another i cant remember the same of and you can do run no3, can get choppy / tricky on there.
As I'm writing this I'm realising it's even harder than I thought it was to get to each of the 8 kind of in turn and these runs are best done as part of general skiing over a trip but I'll carry on anyway....
After coming down no3 keep right then you need to walk to a bridge to take you to the costabella lift, ski down to the Dantercepies bubble and cir is an easy black down to the bottom. Keep left, ski through the buildings in selva, cross the road on foot and up ciampinoi lift to do the sasslong. There's a travelator thing to take you to a short train to seceda, go all the way to the top and down la longia. You trek across town for 15 mins, there's some escalators in part so not all walking, to the life up to alpe di siusi, come straight back down on the pilat piste, do the return trek from where you came back to the top on seceda and come down gardenisma. Congratulations you've just completed the legendary 8!
There are several other ways you could do it but none of them particularly easy to navigate if you don't know the area well.
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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?
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Wow - this is great - thanks!
Just one question:
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There's a travelator thing to take you to a short train to seceda,
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Coming from Campitello, I've never been to and beyond S Cristina this way - but it looks like the map shows a bus not a train to get to Seceda in Ortisei..?
Also, what would be the quickest way back towards Val di Fassa from the end of Gardenissima? And do you think we can do it in a day from Campitello...?!!
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I'm not 100% sure what you mean but it's definitely an underground train. Only takes 2 mins or so at the most. It's obvious when you get there. Just take skis off at the bottom of the sasslong and follow the crowd.
As I said, I think the legendary 8 are best done over 2/3 days while doing other things as they are spread over the valley and not directly connected. They not really designed/marketed to be done in a day, unlike for e.g the sella ronda, which is probably why you can't find any info/directions on how to do this online.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I'm not 100% sure what you mean
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Sorry to labour this: on the piste map for Val Gardena - Seiser Alm, from the bottom of the Saslong in S Cristina, it shows a train, but this goes to Plan Da Tieja and the Col Raiser lift. There is only a road going to Ortisei, which looks quite far, and which is where the Seceda lifts are... What am I not seeing..?! 
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As I said, I think the legendary 8 are best done over 2/3 days
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Ah OK - I take your point.
Really appreciate this - thank you.
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@spencerfrater, Train takes you to Plan da tieja where you take the lift to Col Raiser ; ski down from there to the Fermeda lift (which takes you to the Seceda area)
From the top you ski the 'Gardenissma' - back up Fermeda and then ski the 'La Longia' down into Ortesei : cross town to do the 'Pilat'
Warning - Someone I know who skied Pilat last week said it should really be a Black....
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Aha! That makes sense now. I was thinking @slider24 meant the Seceda lifts, not area. Thanks both
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Sorry for the confusion. Pilat is the only one of the 8 I haven't done because it's never been part of the things I was doing that day. Probably best done as part of a day out on Alpe di siusi.
You could look into doing the val gardena ronda (info online) which would naturally take a few of L8.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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The Cable car on the way back up to Seceda (La Longia run) can get very busy at times, with long waits.
(the actual run goes all the way to the bottom).
As an alternative, I'd suggest going up to the top of Seceda, skiing down Gardenissma, then returning back to the top and then La Longia.
This will be much quicker than negotiating the escalators (x2), Gondola and Cable car to Seceda.
After Pilat, I'd get the local bus back up the valley from Ortisei.
It can drop you for any of the lifts, all the way up to Costabella and Dantercepies.
Depending on the size of your group, you might even get a taxi from the bottom of Pilat.
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That Val Gardena Ronda looks nice. Do you think it's do-able (timewise) from Campitello for intermediates? I think it probably is..
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Yes, 100%.
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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.
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After Pilat, I'd get the local bus back up the valley from Ortisei.
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Thanks - sounds like a plan
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| spencerfrater wrote: |
| That Val Gardena Ronda looks nice. Do you think it's do-able (timewise) from Campitello for intermediates? I think it probably is.. |
yes, we did this from Alta badia several times and one day also included the Sella Ronda. I wrote some tips up on the Dolomiti snow thread but the main thing is to get the bus timings right so you don't arrive there around lunch time when there is a reduced service and the buses therefore get busy. One day the bus was full and they were turning people away. Also, bus is 5Eur cash only, we saw people turned away who only had cards. Go anti clockwise, it's much better and misses out the queue at the Seceda cable car.
It's a nice trip and you have time to ski a few extra runs around Seiser Alm (which is pretty but can be busy) and Monte Pana (which is pretty and often deserted).
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You know it makes sense.
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Would both Gardenissima and La Longia be suitable for a slightly nervous intermediate? I'm trying to determine what would be manageable for a slower skier, so I’d prefer not to venture too far from Colfosco/Corvara, where I’ll be staying. I’ve been to Alta Badia a few times but usually ski only in the area and tend to prefer cruising blues over steeper reds. I just want to make sure I can get from Colfosco to Selva, ski a couple of the famous runs on that side, and return to Alta Badia without having to rush too much
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Both those runs should be fine, even for an nervous intermediate.
The toughest run on the route would be Sasslong B, down to St Christina, as that's the only way to get to the train and Seceda.
Black Sasslong A is an option.
Maybe try the route as far as that, then decide how much further you want to go?
It will take approx 40 minutes to get to the top of Seceda, and 20-30 to ski back down Gardenissima and through the train.
The return is via Sasslong Gondola and the Ciampinoi chair, then Ciampinoi red back to Selva. This can be busy, and get a bit cut up in the afternoon.
Back up and down La Longia will take another 90 minutes. Check bus timetables from Ortisei in advance. It can take you all the way up to Costabelo and Dantercepies.
The run back to Colfosco can be bumpy at the top, but then an easy red/blue run home. Take the blue 8 left option.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thank you @brianatab, that's very helpful. I'll aim for an early start on the day and try to head back before the busy routes get too cut up.
I would have to be very confident on the day to choose to go down the black Sasslong over the Red. That said, I have just seen a video on youtube and the black seems mostly fine, except maybe for the final descent which looks steeper than the rest. I'm sure it will feel different in person anyway.
I suppose another option would be to get on a bus from Selva to St Christina and skip this section completely? In this case I would ski from Colfosco to Selva, get the bus to St Christina, find my way up to Seceda (train + Col Raiser Gondola), and go down La Gardenissima 6 first. Then go back up to Seceda, and down La Longia 7 to Ortisei before taking the bus back to Costabelo and Dantercepies. Makes sense?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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That would make sense. You can get a day ticket.
But check the timetables. There is a ski bus, but also a local bus that will not allow skis. Not sure how often they both run.
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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?
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@maquibr, bus makes sense, it goes straight to Col Raiser gondola, so would skip the train altogether.
Sasslong B red is a lovely run through the trees though, although the final pitch is quite steep. La Longia and Gardenissima are amazing though and worth the trek.
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Thank you @dunc999, that's good to know. I'll check the conditions on a few easier reds on the way to see how I feel. There's a bit of fresh snow on the forecast for next week, with a heavy dump on Wed/Thu if the Bergfex forecast is to be trusted. Will need to keep an eye on the weather as well closer to the day.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Maybe it's just me but whenever I've skied it the red Saslong run has always been more difficult though less steep than the black. The bottom is shaded and frequently gets scraped and icy. I was down both at the beginning of the month and towards the bottom there were quite a few folk with little control on the red where it was icy. It might be different at different times of the year but that has been my experience of skiing it several times over the last 6-8 years, generally in Feb.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@T Bar, I'm in agreement with you - nice through the trees but the bottom section is horrible ; the black is arguably the better option
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| spencerfrater wrote: |
| Yeh I watched this. It has no explanation whatsoever! There's another YT vid that goes through the runs in detail, as does the Dolomiti website, but no explanation of how to get from one run to the next, and whether or not to do them in the order they're numbered (which, judging from the piste map doesn't look like the quickest way). I think we could do it over two days from Col Rodella... as long as we plan it properly! |
If you're quick, you could probably do them all in a day in this order, now there's a challenge!! 
From Col Rodella and back, using these 25 lifts...this might help: https://openskimap.org/#11.79/46.55369/11.76912
154 Grohmann, 48 Sole, ski Falk
45 Piz Seteur, 51 Comici I, 23 Monte Seura, ski Bravo
23 Monte Seura, 21 Tramans, 22 Piza Pranzeies, ski Saslong
11 Gardena Ronda Express, 14 Col Raiser, 8 Fermeda, ski La Longia
walk across Ortisei, 1 Mont Seuc, ski Pilat
walk back across Ortisei, 2 Furnes, 3 Seceda, then ski Gardenissima
11 Gardena Ronda Express, 17 Saslong, 18 Sochers, ski Ciampinoi
31 Costabella, 30 Dantercepies, ski Cir
From the bottom of Cir, you would need 25 Val, ski down to Selva village, across the road, 29 Ciampinoi, 45 Piz Seteur, 49 Citta dei Sassi, 55 Sasso Levante, 152 Rodella des Alpes up to Col Rodella and a nice cold beer at Rifugio des Alpes 
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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.
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Wow. Now that's a plan @luigi..! Strong legs AND luck with lift queues I guess...
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I've done most of those runs, but usually on the way to another destination. It might be interesting to see if I can get a couple of "volunteers" from next year's BB to try it from Arabba .
Don't think I've ever done Bravo. I've been past it on the way to the bus to Alpe di Suisi a couple of times.
The usual queue for Comici can be avoided by Bravo, the Piz Sella cable car, and skiing Tramas to Monte Suera, via the short black 5.
As another alternative, you could come back up Monte Suera, take Alpha to link down to the bottom of Sasslong, loop back for Sasslong before going up Seceda. 50/50. depending on how busy the area is
(Just out of curiosity, which Sasslong is the "official" route?)
From Arabba, you could ski Falke, Bravo, (Alpha), Sasslong, La Longia, Pilat, Gardenissimo, Campionoi, Cir, taking in a clockwise circuit of the SR on the way.
Just don't forget to turn on the App for each run.
As I see it, there are couple of issues:
1. The cable car queue back to Seceda,
and 2 (the major issue). the walk up to Mont suec for Pilat and back into Ortisei.
I've only skied Pilat twice, both times via Alp di Suisi. It's a nice run, but not really worth the effort to get there. You would need to allow the best part of an hour just to do that single run and back to the Seceda link.
Not sure if we'd have time for Rifugio des Alpes though. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Can anyone comment on the frequency and reliability of the bus service between Saltria and Monte Pana (to access the Seiser Alm area from Monte Pana)?
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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.
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I see on the openskimap @luigi kindly included, there is a dotted line for a gondola between these two stations...!? Is that planned, and if so is there a completion date anywhere..?
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| spencerfrater wrote: |
| I see on the openskimap @luigi kindly included, there is a dotted line for a gondola between these two stations...!? Is that planned, and if so is there a completion date anywhere..? |
If you click on the red line it tells you that it is a projected 16 person gondola.. (I haven't been able to find any other info..)
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@spencerfrater, peak hours, a bus every 20 min, lunch time only 1 an hour, last bus around half past four. Did not go to suisi this year, but last year the bus was bang on time. Return ticket around 8 euros, one way 5 euros
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Harrow lady wrote: |
| @spencerfrater, peak hours, a bus every 20 min, lunch time only 1 an hour, last bus around half past four. Did not go to suisi this year, but last year the bus was bang on time. Return ticket around 8 euros, one way 5 euros |
Thanks. I found the link to the timetable:
https://www.valgardena.it/dl/skibus/2024_25/2024_25_Monte_Pana_Saltria_bis16032025.pdf
However... this timetable is only valid until 16 March! That's when our week starts! 
Do you think this means there is NO bus after 16 March, or there is one but it runs on a different (leaner?) schedule..?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@spencerfrater, we only go ski in Jan , really don’t know
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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?
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I'd hazzard a guess that the ski bus timetable ends on that date as the snow is not reliable enough to maintain the pistes, or not enough business to warrant a service.
https://www.valgardena.it/en/bus-schedule/
Doesn't look as if they run a summer service on that route, but there is a contact number.
If you want to try to ski there, maybe it might be accessible from Ortisei?
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Yes Alpe De Suisi/Seiser Alm is accessible from Ortisei, but we were wanting to do the Val Gardena Ronda...
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FAQ
