 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi - just discovered this excellent site so please forgive any naivity. I searched the other threads ruthlessley but still have 3 questions of viability for our precious 4 days there next week:-
[list=]Can we do the Val Di Mesi without a guide?-we believe we have the skills for the descent but the cable car never seems to be open for punters?
Is it worth a trip round the Cinque Torri if we take the taxi trip to Lagazuoi (Hidden Valley)?
Can you ski back directly to Santa Cristina from the Seceda area above Ortisei?[/list]
Any advice gratefully received. Any further tips for great lunchtime dining also appreciated - happy to ski huge distances off the sella ronda beaten track for good places.
Thanks in advance.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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dlight42, Welcome to snowHeads. There is a growing band of enthusiasts for the Dolomiti on the forum these days and you will find plenty of good information in the Resort Reviews and Trip Reports area. In particular, I commend to you the Calling Sella Ronda Fans threads which have been running for the last three seasons. There is a bunch of around 17 of us at San Cassiano next week, and some more at Arabba, I believe.
Now, to your questions. The Val di Medsdi is way above my pay grade, so cannot help you there. The threads I mentioned may well have the answer.
The Cinque Torri is only worthwhile if you think of (say) the Taj Mahal or the Amalfi coast as worthwhile. You are talking about one of my favourite places on the planet. It is stunningly beautiful and you may well have it to yourself. It might be seen as a bit of a specialised taste as the lifts are old and cranky and some of the skiing is flat, but that's character! There is a new lift which makes the circuit possible from Laguzoi so no bus needed, or available.
The access to San Christina from Seceda is simple, and involves a short ride on a sort of underground train. No problem at all and a nice area too.
Enjoy!
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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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The cable car normally runs so not quite sure why you have come to this conclusion. Has it been windy ? With regard to being able to do it without a guide, of course if one is good enough then anything is possible. Unfortunately I can't judge your ability over the internet so only you can make that sort of judgement.
You might want to read Freeride in Dolomiti by Francesco Tremolada. An excellent book. Also just a word of warning before you get yourself into any difficulties of your own making: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/alpine-safety-chief-warns-rash-tourists-we-wont-save-you-any-more-1915816.html
The Cinque Torri si area is certainly worth a day out - just for somewhere different and some more fantastic scenery. The Hidden Vallye is a decent run - I presume you know about the horse transfer at the end.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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snowball, Not sure if you're trying to scare the OP off  but pic 1 doesn't look like the normal entry couloir
<edit> ah - I see where you're looking from in Pic 1 - Piz Boe to the right & that's the ridge at the end of the traverse with the Rif.Boe on, with the V.de.M drop-in over on the far side : so the higlighted couloir is a drop back in to the Val Lasties, not the V.de.M entry  </edit>
We did it a month ago (unguided): normal skinning route (or bootpack for those without skins) to the Rif. Boe, then dropping in the main couloir (as pic 2) which I guess is ~30 - 35 deg. and was superb packed powder.
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=1710071&highlight=#1710071
For the OP : transceiver check at the Pordoi cable, plus carry all normal backcountry gear (shovel/probes etc) . Route is not difficult - no route finding issues in good vis, but be aware of avalanche danger. Most difficult part for us was the exit couloir which was steep, icy, mogully stream run, as it had been v.warm the previous week then refrozen - but there were guys on snowboards making it down OK.
As Snowball said - not knowing your skill level, can't really comment on needing a guide or not...
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Many thanks for all this info - I'm really pleased to have discovered a site with folks who clearly love skiing as much as me! The Val di Mesdi instructions were particularly useful although I did however misname my question about how to get from Seceda to santa cristina - I meant in fact not seceda but the opposite side of the valley which is above ortisei (so on the left if you drive from selva to Ortisei). I recall there's a fairly flat area connected to Santa cristina (Monte Pana I think) and I wondered if it's possible to get down to here from above Ortisei.
Our only next problem is finding a hotel for 3 nights next week - the Gran Baita kindly cancelled our reservation at the last minute and the whole of the area seems to be stuffed - can't think why, the snow forecast isn't great 
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The main area above Ortisei on the opposite side of the valley to Seceda would be the "Alpe Di Siusi". On the Alpe Di Siusi if you find the hamlet of Saltria you can get a bus to Monte Pana. From Monte Pana you can then either get the 2 seater chairlift down to St Christina or take the red run that joins onto the black world cup run down to St Christina. Then you can take the Val gardena Ronda Express train to the gondola station to get up to the Col Raiser/Seceda area. If you take the chairlift down to St Christina you will unload a few hundred metres from the Val gardena Ronda express train. But you can wait and get the ski bus to there if you dont want to walk.
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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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snowball, geoffers, that looks nice. Is there decent off piste in the Dolomites? Xavier de le Rue was raving about the couloirs in his last vid.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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FAQ
- still it did not stop the rest of the fun 
)Canale del Ghiaccio route on the left, from the top of Piz Boe
- I've scoped it from the 3D map & vid and it looks a must (check the free-heel skier too... 
)
