 Poster: A snowHead
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Snow has fallen heavily across the Dolomites in the last few days and the season is just getting underway, so I thought I'd start a dedicated thread for all interested in the subject.
Feel free to add your snow reports, webcams, photos, forecasts etc as the season progresses.
Here's a nice snowy pic taken from the webcam in Colfosco this morning to get the ball rolling:
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The latest Val Gardena snow report shows that up to 70cm of snow fell in the recent storm, add this to the earlier artificial/natural base and there is currently 100cm of snow depth on the mountain and 20cm in the valley, more snowfall is forecast for later in the week, webcams show that grooming is now taking place and piste conditions should be excellent for the anticipated lift opening on Friday 4th December, great for any early season skiers heading out before Xmas:
http://www.valgardena.it/en/snow-report/page212.html
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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It's looking like we're heading that way next week. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Looking good for you two!
Looks like 36 out of 83 lifts were in service today in the Val Gardena area and 76km out of 175km of piste open too, with a further 30+ lifts opening at the weekend, no doubt more pistes too.
So just a few drags, ropepulls and duplicate chairs left that will probably open when they are needed as the season progresses.
Val Gardena will be pretty much fully operational for this weekend's visitors.
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Currently snowing some more today in Santa Cristina (Val Gardena) with temps hovering around zero, the piste in the background is the last section of the 'Saslong' Men's Downhill World Cup course that will see some racing action the weekend before Xmas:
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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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Todays snow report from Val Gardena.
Snowy Val Gardena...30-110 cm fresh snow!
Thanks to the snowfalls of the last days in the valley we register 30 cm and on the mountains approximately 110 cm fresh snow.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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luigi, I see there's a bit of rain forecast next week - is it going to wash the snow away? I'm about to book. 
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You know it makes sense.
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Mollerski, Are you in Penryn? Going up Camborne hill, coming down and all that..
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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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erica2004, looking at the detailed Arabba forecast, they are forecasting some precipitation on Monday/Tuesday, the snow/rain limit starts at 1700/1500m dropping to 1100m, so should be snow right down to valley level, I can imagine it will be similar, even slightly colder just across the mountain at Selva (1565m), may get some rain further down the valley at Ortisei (1236m), but that won't affect the skiing up above Selva:
http://www.arpa.veneto.it/bollettini/htm/dolomiti_meteo_en.asp
As Mollerski says, that snow isn't going anywhere fast!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| erica2004 wrote: |
| Mollerski, Are you in Penryn? Going up Camborne hill, coming down and all that.. |
Going up Mabe hill. 
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I'm just about to book Hotel Granvara which is just outside Selva. Just a last question - is Selva a nice place to wander around after skiing? I've never found a better place to go to than Lech so I'm a bit out of my comfort zone.........
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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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| erica2004 wrote: |
| - is Selva a nice place to wander around after skiing? ...... |
No, it's grim.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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erica2004, Lech takes some beating, I went there in March, though I didn't do any shopping, seem to remember quite a few nice shops there along the main street. I think the ambience is equally appealing in Val Gardena. Selva has a bit of a centre with various (mainly sports) shops, apres ski venues, pastry shop, supermarket etc. Ortisei has a quainter centre, you can get there by bus. You must visit the tea shop just above Selva while you're there, the homemade cakes are to die for, check out the pics:
http://www.villafrainela.it/eng/te.htm
And the Kaiserschmarren (Pancake strips with jam dusted with icing sugar, if you didn't already know) at the Vallongia hut in the afternoon:
http://www.baita-vallongia.com/en/index.html
The Granvara looks seriously nice, handy for the Men's Downhill run, must be almost ski-in-ski-out. It's probably a bit too far to walk into town from there, maybe they lay on a bus.
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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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Looking at the latest GFS 14-day forecast, it looks cooler tomorrow, then a bit milder as the week progresses, then from Friday onwards a plunge into an unseasonably cold easterly flow that could last all week, so likely drier and sunnier too:
http://www.wzkarten.de/pics/MS_1246_ens.png
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| luigi wrote: |
Looking at the latest GFS 14-day forecast, it looks cooler tomorrow, then a bit milder as the week progresses, then from Friday onwards a plunge into an unseasonably cold easterly flow that could last all week, so likely drier and sunnier too:
http://www.wzkarten.de/pics/MS_1246_ens.png |
Cold and clear skies will do me. 
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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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erica2004, there's quite an interesting cultural mix in Val Gardena, at home and amongst themselves, most of the locals speak Ladin, a relic of the ancient Latin-based Rhaetian language that was spoken extensively across the Alps since the days of the Roman empire, it only survived the onslaught of the lowland German and Italian dialects in a few high inaccessible valleys in Italy and Switzerland.
As you say, the area was also part of the A-H Empire for many centuries up til WW1, so the Tyrolean traditions are very strong, German surnames are the norm and it is spoken a lot in the tourist industry as a good proportion of visitors to the valley are German-speaking. So your German will come in useful. Towns closer to the Austrian border (i.e. Brixen, Bruneck) are over 80% German-speaking, you would have trouble telling you weren't in Austria.
Standard Italian is spoken too, so most people are tri-lingual and the 3 languages all have official status. A lot of younger people also have learnt English.
For more check out these Wikipedia articles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhaeto-Romance_languages
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Province_of_Bolzano-Bozen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%ABlva
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Gardena
The upshot is you've got German efficiency in the lift and snowmaking operation coupled with Italian sense of enjoyment and fun. With the food too, you can eat Wienerscnitzel, Gulaschsuppe and Strudel or have fresh pasta, pizza or polenta in the plentiful mountain restaurants. The architecture is mostly Tyrolean wooden chalet style, but less dour, it has a bit of Italian colour, ornamentation and filigree.
The best of both worlds!
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You know it makes sense.
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erica2004, hope you get the chance to explore the area fully while you're there, you'll need the full Superski pass, some suggestions for ski days:
Seceda/Col Raiser bowl and the Val d'Anna run down to Ortisei, you need to get the underground train for this at the bottom of where you're staying.
The Sella Ronda, either way round, the clockwise (orange) route has a bit more challenge.
The Hidden Valley of Armentarola, a long day out but worth it.
The Edelweiss Valley above Colfosco, nice views from the terrace of the Forcelles hut, apparently a favourite snowHeads meeting place 
A trip up the Sasso Pordoi cablecar, even to just enjoy the view and forget about the steep run down.
Over to the Marmolada glacier and back, are you feeling fit?
Or for an easy day just pootle around the area up above where you are staying around Piz Sella, Piz Seteur and up twd the Sella Pass and Col Rodella
There's quite a bit of info about these options on the forum already...
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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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Can anyone tell how long it will take us to get from San Cassiano to Corvara/Canazei (on skiis and lifts!!!)
Thanks
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Poster: A snowHead
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simonmj66, to Corvara about 30 mins.
To Belvedere above Canazei about 2hrs (via Arabba), maybe a bit more if it's busy and you have to queue for the lifts or you take a wrong turn. Down to the village of Canazei would add about another 15mins.
Timings assume an intermediate skier.
Are you heading that way this year?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks m8.
Yep Mountain sun's chalet first weeek in Feb!
Cant wait
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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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simonmj66, you'll love it!
Back to snow reports, Tuesday's weather brought fresh snow across most of the Dolomites ski areas, Val Gardena reported 25cm of fresh.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Also temps are dropping over the weekend and the chance of some light flurries. There'll be some good early season skiing for anyone heading out at the weekend.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We'll be ripping into that lot in 8 days time.
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Mollerski, looking good for you, perhaps not as good compacted depth as this time last year, but good base, pistes look complete, off piste is covered, it's just a matter of some fresh on the surface (forecasts are saying some snow for Tuesday & Wednesday) just before you arrive for some excellent skiing over Xmas week.
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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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luigi, Are you skiing in the Dolomites this winter?
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riverman, I'm holding out for a late package deal in Jan, so if something good turns up like last year, I will.
I'm keeping an eye on conditions in the Dolomites as well as other parts of the Alps, just depends where the best deal comes up, keeping my options open.
Are you heading that way?
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Sun 13-12-09 20:15; edited 1 time in total
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FAQ
