As has been the tradition of the last 2 seasons at least (thanks to Chris Bish & holidayloverxx), there's been a dedicated thread for all who may be heading out to the Sella Ronda and nearby areas in the Italian Dolomites, where people could post their plans, arrange to meet up, ask questions, post photos and generally eulogise about the area.
Well, in the absence of any other takers, I have picked up the baton and started this year's thread.
I've been keeping an eye on the Dolomites early season weather in the Italy thread in the Snow Report section, it's starting to look like a good year for snow in that part of the world, there has been a heavy dump of 49cm of snow since yesterday at altitude near Arabba bringing snow depth up to 177cm on the mountain and 60+cm in the valley, very respectable totals for pre-Xmas, not record-breaking as two seasons ago, but definitely well above average. There's a further 15-30cm forecast for tomorrow with freeze levels dropping too, a white Christmas indeed!
In view of the excellent conditions, I took the plunge today and booked a week in an Arabba chalet in mid-January. After last year in Zermatt, which was very nice but pricey, I'm back to the Dolomites to get my fix. A half-price offer came along and I couldn't resist, I've wanted to try Arabba for a while and explore a bit more at that end of the area as I've only stayed in Selva & Canazei before. I'm hoping to do the World War I Ski Tour which takes in the Civetta area and the Hidden Valley. Only 3 weeks to wait!!!
Is anyone else heading out that way this year???
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Not Arabba but we are going to Selva on Saturday 15th January ... for 2 weeks. I can't wait.
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?
luigi, Don't forget the Snowheads birthday bash at Arabba from the 5th to the 12th of February. There's still time to join up but anyone who's skiing there the same week, come and join us for a ski.
Going to Arabba for a week for the first time at the end of January. Sounds as if there isn't a lack of snow.
It is with a group of friends, there are plans of skiing down Val Lasties and Val Mezdi. Just wanted to check how diffcult the routes were rather than just following the others like a sheep !! and then struggling. We are all good intermediate skiers
What other highlights are worth doing ???, all suggestions welcome !!
luigi, Good move. I am flirting with PdS for my first trip in January, but will be back in the wonderful Dolomiti for the Bashette in March. Looks very promising snow-wise so far.
For thunderer, the routines are pretty well established for first week in the Dolomiti. You hit list will include the Sella Ronda circuit, both ways round (different days unless very speedy!) the Hidden Valley with horse tow, Marmolada (start early), Selva and the Sasslong possibly including Seceda, maybe Alba with an early start. Cinque Torri of course. Maybe a taxi to Cortina. Ortisei maybe.... oops seem to have used up more than a week.
Plenty of excellent info (much of it from luigi, who is a bus and link guru) on previous years' Calling Sella Ronda Fans threads. Enjoy.
One word of warning - you will have many versions of a conversation that goes like this, "Oh the Dolomites are so beautiful." "Yes, of course, mountains are beautiful." "But the Dolomites are special." ..... incomprehension from anyone who has not seen it for themselves.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Chris Bish, Thanks will now study the piste map.
After all it is free
After all it is free
thunderer, some experience off piste needed for Val Lasties and Val Mezdi and about a hours walk in. Might be worth hiring a guide for the day.
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.
thunderer, there are some trip reports over on the TGR forum detailing the off-piste routes around the Sella, some guys with experience of these do post here also, but it might be worth you asking the questions on TGR too.
You will need to hire a local guide to venture into the Sella, some 'experienced' snowshoers ignored the avalanche warnings and died in a Val Lasties slide last season, sadly some of the Canazei mountain rescue guys who went to get them triggered another avalanche and perished too.
Chris Bish, you've still got the Dolomite bug I see!
PdS appeals to me too, seems like it's the nearest thing to the Dolomite experience in France where you can cover large distances travelling between ancient villages amidst pretty wooded slopes and jagged peaks, even purpose-built Avoriaz looks kind of attractive in a quirky way!
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
luigi, Great pictures, will get a guide I think to make most of trip.
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.
luigi
Look forward to any updates.Due in San Cassiano March 6th.
thanks
John
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
luigi, good to see the thread up & running again, particularly as I hope to be in Arabba the end of jan !
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
nickH, Are you catching up with sueski? We are out on the 26th Feb again in Arabba. Seems too far away.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
There 9th - 16th Jan with my daughter
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Just noticed this from Salomon FreeskiTv, a bunch of freeskiers on a roadtrip across Italy, starting in deep powder in Limone in NW Italy, by 2:46 they hit the Dolomites at San Martino di Castrozza, they then ski some near vertical faces off the Marmolada, then over to Canazei to shoot at tremendous speed some of the steep narrow gulleys off the Sass Pordoi on the Sella Massif.
It's pretty insane, they're definitely pushing the boundaries!
Sobering to see that their guide, Dimitri Rizzi died on an extreme descent off the Pordoi in April this year, seems there's no room for error or complacency!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I also found this, might be helpful, it brings together all the piste maps for the different areas around the Sella Ronda (you can enlarge them by clicking on the link just above each map).
He's also marked on there the best pistes (in his opinion, but I can't fault it) and other interesting features like Skicross areas, Fun Parks and timer sections which he labels 'crono', the only shame is it's all in Spanish, but it's mostly self-explanatory.
HI pokemon, , yup, am teeing up transfers, pass & accom again with her & hopefully will get in a bit of skiing as well. I expect some apres is also inevitable ( the sacrifices must be made !))
Am currently in oz, so Arabba seems far away in every sense !!
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Great to see the thread up and running again. Am off to village of Siusi near Castelrotto below the Alpe Di Siusi on 29th January for a week. Have been watching the weather forecast carefully over the last few weeks. Shame about all the warmer foehn winds during November/early December which decimated the large snowfalls during that period. But so far so good with the current snowfall totals.
You'll love it! It will be quite busy next week as the local (Trentino) kids are still on holiday until the 10th, New Year (Capodanno) is a big holiday in Italy, so the weekenders may well stay until Monday/Tuesday. There'll also be quite a few Russians about as their Xmas falls on Jan 7th. It will mean the gondola at Canazei will have a bit of a queue but it moves quickly, you should easily beat the Italians if you want to catch it early though. Don't bother with the cable car at Campitello. If you want peace and quiet, go to the Alba-Ciampac area as its not on the Sella Ronda.
Great to see that so many snowHeads are heading out that way this season!
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.
Yep...time to keep a eye on this thread.......
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
"Don't bother with the cable car at Campitello"
Why? Going 3rd jan to Campitello
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
nickH, If she's running a day trip to Cortina I'd recommend it. We had an excellent time with her. Have you been out in Oz for the cricket ?
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.
San Cassiano on 13 March along with a 'few' others. It's gonna be GRRREEEAATT!!!
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
Freefall, if there's a queue, get/stay on the bus to canazei - it brings you out 1-2 lifts/runs away from the campitello cablecar. Queue can be 40mins long or more (although 3rd Jan week ought to be quieter).
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Freefall, We were in Campitello at half term in 2009 and always took the bus to Canazei. The lift queues at Cananzei are very fast-moving (walking pace) whereas you may well wait for a while at the Campitello cable-car. The Campitello is fine for coming down though!
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
luigi, thanks for the info re busy slopes initially. Really looking forward to skiing in a completely new (to us) area.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Freefall wrote:
"Don't bother with the cable car at Campitello"
Why? Going 3rd jan to Campitello
Do as Andy says. The queues can be long and slow if it's busy, never waited more than 10 mins at Canazei, but it was about 40mins at Campitello when I hit it wrong one morning, never again!
You feel as if you're getting somewhere with a gondola queue. Cablecar queues dangle hope in front of your eyes and then snatch it away mercilessly, several times in a row!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
pokemon, will go if she is, though as she is now working for one of the T/O's as well it might not be an option.
No, not for the cricket, just catching up with friends, revisiting some old haunts & trying to cover some of the cost by doing a bit of work whilst here - not all bad !!
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?
Found this recent trip report with nice photos from last week (18th-25th Dec) over on the german Alpinforum, some nice shots of the FIS World Cup action on the Saslong, the 'Witches' tour of the Alpe di Siusi and a Sella Ronda day under bluebird skies, the Vallon black run just off the main route between Corvara & Arabba looks good!
Great photos on that link luigi, got me looking forward to my first ever Sella Ronda trip end of Jan even more now. And from those night time shots Ortisei looks like a place to consider for another year.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Out with the boys in Canazei January 15th, can't wait
(Warning: the events gallery is a bit NSFW, type 'Piz Seteur' into Youtube for similar)
Don't stay too long and miss the lifts back to Canazei!
Down in the village, Giardino delle Rose/Rosengarten pub near the church is usually good for an apres drink or two (if the village home run is open). Lieber Augustin or Husky Pub are usually lively later on.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Bump
Off tomorrow to Selva - any up to date snow reports would be good
Also a quick question, as I'm with my 9 year old daughter, what are the red runs down from Dantercepies and Ciampinoi like, are they of French steepness or more typical Italian red's i.e. less steep?
Thanks in advance
After all it is free
After all it is free
Stevew - I would say that the two runs you mention are more like French reds. Many other reds around Selva (eg the one down from Plan de Gralba to Selva) are less steep - like yer usual Italian reds
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.
Dantercepies and Ciampinoi reds are moderate and wide, not too bad at all
Approx 3 km down the valley is Ortisei, from there the Gondala takes to to an area called (if memory serves me ) Alpe De Suesi, lot of blues and easy reds and very quite pistes.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I would say that the Dantercepies reds are easier (lovely in fact). The one to the left of the top of the Ciampinoi lift (at the top) can be very challenging for the first section - it is steep and usually scraped as most people go down it - usually lots of people struggling so you have to be prepared to wend your way through them otherwise you can stand at the top for ages waiting for a gap.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
Banned from skiing for 12mths by the surgeon after a bicep tendon reattachment. 
