This morning I woke up early and drove from San Martino to Arabba, enjoying the awesome Dolomiti views the whole way. Upon arriving in Arabba, I quickly reserved a room here, then immediately went to the ski hill! I had no idea what to expect, and was delighted to hear that the entire Dolomiti Superski area was open, and that I would be able to do the Sella Ronda, a famous and unique ski route that links four ski areas and circumnavigates the entire Sella Group of mountains via 42km of pistes and something like 12 chairlifts and gondolas (I lost track). This is a novel concept to me, and although the terrain is mostly cruising groomers, I enjoyed covering so much ground on my snowboard, and gawking at the incredible Dolomite spires and walls all around. And of course I found a few powder stashes along the way!
Here are some highlights from the route:
Avalanche fences.
Marmolada, 3343m, one of the biggest peaks in the Dolomites.
Chairlift under a couple of the rugged Sassolungo peaks.
The Sella Group, which this route circumnavigates.
Sassolungo.
Heading towards Corvara, looking up at the exit of the Val di Mesdi, which I have hiked down through before, after a traverse of the Sella Group.
Corvara! See a summertime photo of Corvara here. Looks a bit more hospitable then, eh?
Some tempting extremo pillow terrain above Corvara.
Pretty sweet terrain. Looks like a climber’s, skier’s, and hiker’s paradise…oh, and a photographer’s!
Yeah it’s pretty much paradise all around. Oh, and you forgot, a food eater’s paradise as well!
Wow! You are so lucky with the conditions. Often in Europe one is lucky to be able to ski much before Christmans and only at the highest elevations.
Cool… that’s good to hear! I’m glad I’m in Europe on a good snow year (so far)!
I would like to know where the first photo was taken. Going over these fences is one of the most fun lines I have ever done but I can’t remember were exactly it was. The snow was up to the top of the fences so it was a series of drops in to soft snow.
Hi Matt, those fences were out of Arabba, if I recall correctly they were above that pass road above town. Sounds like an awesome line when filled in!