Hello All. Hope holidays have been booked or are in the pipeline!! I have blasted round the Sella Ronda once and undoubtedly missed out a lot of decent skiing. So with this in mind which are the best areas for a 2/3 hour side stint? (happy to lap runs) (probably be based in Selva.... maybe Corvara) Thank you very much.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Being based in Selva my favorite runs around there were
La Longia
Bravo
Pilat
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?
Here’s one for you I’ll throw in for a bit of a laugh. Not for the faint hearted, though: Le Sella Crossa
Take the lift up to the top of Sass Pordoi then head northeast on foot (preferably not into a 100km/h wind driving straight into your face like we did) for about 45 minutes (your guide will say 10 minutes).
After a while you will take a pause to cover up the exposed bits of your face if you want to keep your skin. Ouch! That hurt.
Finally collapse into an exhausted heap with your gleeful guide and fellow masochists.
After you’ve recovered, however, you get to enjoy a glorious descent down through a dramatic couloir towards Corvara and a well deserved beer!
Images in order (I hope) The Sella Crossa into the wind; Narrow couloir to negotiate into valley; The main valley down; Looking back up from Corvara.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@dynastar84, what’s best depends what sort of skiing, terrain, conditions, etc that you like and dislike. So let us know?
Loved La Longia. Nothing too challenging at my current level although happy to step up to more challenging runs as skills improve through the week. Last time I was there I shied away from Pilat but I have had another week under my skis since then.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
rickboden wrote:
Here’s one for you I’ll throw in for a bit of a laugh. Not for the faint hearted, though: Le Sella Crossa
Take the lift up to the top of Sass Pordoi then head northeast on foot (preferably not into a 100km/h wind driving straight into your face like we did) for about 45 minutes (your guide will say 10 minutes).
After a while you will take a pause to cover up the exposed bits of your face if you want to keep your skin. Ouch! That hurt.
Finally collapse into an exhausted heap with your gleeful guide and fellow masochists.
After you’ve recovered, however, you get to enjoy a glorious descent down through a dramatic couloir towards Corvara and a well deserved beer!
Images in order (I hope) The Sella Crossa into the wind; Narrow couloir to negotiate into valley; The main valley down; Looking back up from Corvara.
You wisely employed a guide when venturing off-piste in the Sella/Pordoi area.
In 2009 two snowshoers were taken out by an avalanche and 4 mountain rescue guys who went to find them also perished on the mountain.
Huge tragedy for Canazei losing those brave guys due to some people taking risks they shouldn't have
Here’s one for you I’ll throw in for a bit of a laugh. Not for the faint hearted, though: Le Sella Crossa
Take the lift up to the top of Sass Pordoi then head northeast on foot (preferably not into a 100km/h wind driving straight into your face like we did) for about 45 minutes (your guide will say 10 minutes).
After a while you will take a pause to cover up the exposed bits of your face if you want to keep your skin. Ouch! That hurt.
Finally collapse into an exhausted heap with your gleeful guide and fellow masochists.
After you’ve recovered, however, you get to enjoy a glorious descent down through a dramatic couloir towards Corvara and a well deserved beer!
Images in order (I hope) The Sella Crossa into the wind; Narrow couloir to negotiate into valley; The main valley down; Looking back up from Corvara.
Wow! That is such a sad story. What a tragedy.
You wisely employed a guide when venturing off-piste in the Sella/Pordoi area.
In 2009 two snowshoers were taken out by an avalanche and 4 mountain rescue guys who went to find them also perished on the mountain.
Huge tragedy for Canazei losing those brave guys due to some people taking risks they shouldn't have
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.
Am I correct in my assumption there are three main routes from Pordoi: Pordoischarte, Val Lasties and Mittagstal? Can someone rank these in difficulty?
What and where is the Hidden Valley?
Is there an offpiste descent from Marmolada?
Thank you.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@Tristero, The Hidden Valley is reached by skiing to Armentarola and taking the regular fixed fare bus/taxi to the Lagazoi cable car to the start of the Hidden Valley run. It’s a very scenic run down with lots to stop and admire, including frozen waterfalls. There are a couple of Refugios on the way down if you fancy a stop. At the end of the run you can either get the Horse tow back to Armentarola or get a taxi back to San Cassiano from just below the second Refugio.
I believe there is an off piste run from Marmolada but I think it’s wise to do it with a mountain guide.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Hidden valley is between San Cassiano and Cortina - accessed from the Falzarego cable car the piste descends down the 'valley' to near Armentarola
==edit=
@geepee's explanation is better than mine !
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.
Tristero wrote:
Am I correct in my assumption there are three main routes from Pordoi: Pordoischarte, Val Lasties and Mittagstal? Can someone rank these in difficulty?
What and where is the Hidden Valley?
Is there an offpiste descent from Marmolada?
Thank you.
You have given German names on some of those, in Italian parlance Pordoischarte is Forcella Pordoi, this is the front face that returns back to the cablecar base station and is only skiable when there is sufficient snow, it has no artificial snowmaking and is on the south facing aspect, so that doesn't occur very often and Mittagstal is known locally as Val Mezdi, this goes to the north side of the Sella and finishes in the valley just above Colfosco. It involves a hike and is one of the best known routes on the Sella and is the one referred to as 'Sella Crossa' above by @rickboden in his post with photos.
However, there are more than 3 routes and variants off the Sass Pordoi down through the Sella Group, some involve hiking, here are some listed, described along with a difficulty score, it suggests that Val delle Fontane is the most difficult of those listed:
I don't even believe this an extensive list. There are numerous narrow couloirs in the Dolomites, another is Canale Holzer, also accessed from Sass Pordoi...
The first descent in the video is the Forcella degli Angeli in the Cadini di Misurina, another saw-toothed Dolomite range East of Cortina. Arrival at Pordoi base is at 3:13, Canale Holzer at 3:40.
Note that they have an expert guide with them!
This is another steep couloir, the Val Scura off the Sassongher above Corvara...
I'm no expert on these extreme descents, only what I have heard & seen from others, @horizon & @snowball were members here that skied some of these variants, maybe worth sending them a DM if they're still about.
The Hidden Valley is called pista Armentarola locally. It is a recognised pisted run that any intermediate skier can do. Accessed from the cablecar at Passo Falzarego https://maps.app.goo.gl/Chox7gNZXiLWhpb17
In the right conditions, it is possible to freeride the Marmolada...again you would need a guide to help you find a safe route that doesn't lead to a cliff and avoid avalanche-prone terrain...
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
dynastar84 wrote:
Hello All. Hope holidays have been booked or are in the pipeline!! I have blasted round the Sella Ronda once and undoubtedly missed out a lot of decent skiing. So with this in mind which are the best areas for a 2/3 hour side stint? (happy to lap runs) (probably be based in Selva.... maybe Corvara) Thank you very much.
Best - easy stuff, Corvara. Reds - Arabba
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
I think I need to work up to the Arabba reds! Looking forward to it t some point.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
dynastar84 wrote:
I think I need to work up to the Arabba reds! Looking forward to it t some point.
Go for it. Top can be a bit exposed, but they are excellent (as face north) and generally quite quiet. Another good easy area (with possibly my favourite red of all up lift 65) is Seiser Alm. The map shows mainly reds... it isn't.
LaLongia is great, but there's a cable car on the way back with 30min wait. Didn't do hidden valley in two visits as couldn't be bothered with the hassle getting there and back.
Try the Ronda both ways in one day...
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@geepee, @albob, Thank you guys, especially @luigi, those links are most helpful!
Upon reading a bit, I've got another question or two. We are going New Year's week and will be located in Penìa, next to Canazei, so normally going up FUF Alba-Col dei Rossi to join the fun. I'd like to do the Giro della Grande Guerra (Gebirgsjägertour). Kids (14&11) are strong skiers. But is that even possible that time of year? Snow we'll have to see, of course, but is there a problem with queuing time peak season? Would it be wise to go up Passo Fedaia by car and start from there?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I think you'd struggle big time to do the war tour from Canazei without queues and queues from Canazei at peak time in the morning can be very large.
I would definitely drive across.
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?
Tristero wrote:
@geepee, @albob, Thank you guys, especially @luigi, those links are most helpful!
Upon reading a bit, I've got another question or two. We are going New Year's week and will be located in Penìa, next to Canazei, so normally going up FUF Alba-Col dei Rossi to join the fun. I'd like to do the Giro della Grande Guerra (Gebirgsjägertour). Kids (14&11) are strong skiers. But is that even possible that time of year? Snow we'll have to see, of course, but is there a problem with queuing time peak season? Would it be wise to go up Passo Fedaia by car and start from there?
The WW1 tour generally opens New Year week. I can't find an actual expected date for 2025. The two buses that are needed and the Croda Negra chairlift in the Fedare/Cinque Torri sector will be the limiting factors.
You will miss the queues at Canazei that T Bar is referring to if you go up the Funifor to Col dei Rossi, but New Year week is super busy, Italians love to ski and party that week. All you can do is be patient and enjoy the fun!
The WW1 tour is a fairly long day as it is and you will need to ski to and from Arabba on top of the route, so if you don't know the route and take a wrong turn and/or end up waiting a long time for the two buses, you might struggle to complete the route in time which would mean an expensive taxi ride.
@luigi,
Is as usual spot on. Couple of additional points When we went the biggest queue by a long way over an hour was at the Armenterola cable car.
If driving over I would check the bus timetable and try and get to the bottom of the Marmolada lifts in time for the first bus, to allow time for delays.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
T Bar wrote:
@luigi,
Is as usual spot on. Couple of additional points When we went the biggest queue by a long way over an hour was at the Armenterola cable car.
If driving over I would check the bus timetable and try and get to the bottom of the Marmolada lifts in time for the first bus, to allow time for delays.
Yes, the Falzarego-Lagazuoi cable car can build long queues by mid-morning on nice days. I've waited there for 50mins to 1h. After lunch it's normally OK, but that might not leave time to get back to base. Everyone wants to get up and ski down to Scotoni for lunch! Count the skis parked outside!
First bus from Malga Ciapela lifts down to Alleghe was 8.04am and the bus at Pescul up to Fedare departed quarter past and quarter to the hour, except during drivers lunch break!!
Could be completely different this season though!!
@luigi, @T Bar, Thanks again, sounds all very sensible. From Passo Fedaia to Malga Ciapela on skis shouldn't take much more than 5-10mins, I guess? But what about the Sottoguda canyon and the walk through the village (if that is even possible)?
T Bar wrote:
@luigi,
Is as usual spot on. Couple of additional points When we went the biggest queue by a long way over an hour was at the Armenterola cable car.
If driving over I would check the bus timetable and try and get to the bottom of the Marmolada lifts in time for the first bus, to allow time for delays.
That been what time of year? Peak season as well, I hope? More than an hour is massive...
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
I have blasted round the Sella Ronda once and undoubtedly missed out a lot of decent skiing. So with this in mind which are the best areas for a 2/3 hour side stint? (happy to lap runs) (probably be based in Selva.... maybe Corvara) Thank you very much.
