The Forcella Marmolada backcountry ski traverse is one of my favorite itineraries in the Dolomites, when the winter days are getting longer and the temperatures rising up. The “purists” start right from the bottom of the basket lift in Passo Fedaia, ottherwise if you take the cable cars from Malga Ciapela you only need to skin and climb for less…
Off-Piste Skiing
It’s been more than 10 years we’ve been talking about off-piste skiing in the Dolomites, thanks to the guidebook written by a friend guide, Francesco Tremolada. For several years I had lived around Arabba (I even spent a whole winter in the small hamlet of Ornella, under the Padon mountain), the Marmolada and the Sella group in particular had been my favorite playground and still they are. After so many days of skiing with friends and clients, I can say I know very well the infinite options that this big mountain range offers to the off-piste skiing lovers, no matter if they’re beginners or experts. There are off-piste runs for every skiers, from the wide and long valleys like Val de Mesdì to the narrow and steep couloirs like the Holzer Couloir, an amazing line famous worldwide.
Over the years I have learnt all the possibilities offered from other ski resorts as well, such as Cortina d’Ampezzo, Falcade, Alpe Lusia, and all these expertise and knowledge have been the key in the recent years, as the first track chasers have been all over and got so much information from guide books, forums and social media.
It’s really important to be in the right spot at the right time, and the chances of succeeding increase if you’ll be guided by someone who knows the area pretty well.
Just a little note. Off-piste skiing does not necessarily means “powder skiing”. Skiing off piste to me (and many others) it means skiing free, away from the groomed, in order to live a unique experience in the mountains, no matter what. Chasing the best snow is certainly my priority, but I usually don’t complain when I need to cope with difficult snow. Shit happens..In skiing, as in life, there’s always something new to learn.
In this section you’ll find off-piste skiing offers not only in the Dolomites, but also in other popular ski resorts of the Alps such as Chamonix and the Arlberg where I’ve skied and scouted out their amazing skiing opportunities in the last years. Some of these offers might have fixed departures, but most of the time I arrange taylor made trips on request.
