FREERIDING in the DOLOMITES - 175 Itineraries and Variants + Freeride Ski Safari

FRANCESCO TREMOLADA

FREERIDING in the DOLOMITES 175 itineraries and variants + Freeride Skisafari

Marmolada – Arabba – Colac-Sassolungo/ Langkofel – Sella – Alta Badia – LagazuoiCinque Torri – Tofane-Faloria – Cristallo

EDIZIONI VERSANTE SUD | COLLANA LUOGHI VERTICALI | SKI

First edition. December 2004 Second edition. December 2009 Third edition. December 2016 ISBN 978-88-98609-90-1 Copyright © 2016 VERSANTE SUD S.r.l. Milano via Longhi, 10, tel. 027490163 www.versantesud.it All translation, reproduction, adaptation and electronic registration, either totally or partially, by any methods, are rights reserved for all countries.

Cover

Entering the Joel couloir, a symbolic image of steep skiing in the Dolomites. (© Francesco Tremolada)

Text

Francesco Tremolada

Translations

Alexandra Ercolani

Photos

Francesco Tremolada. Book flap © Karin Pizzinini

Maps

Tommaso Bacciocchi

Symbols

Tommaso Bacciocchi

Layout

Bruno Quaresima

Printed by

Monotipia Cremonese (CR)

Note Off-piste skiing is a potentially dangerous sport, those who practice it do so at their own risk. All the information presented in this guide has been based on information available at that time, but this should always be verified and evaluated on site by experts before undertaking any excursion.

Francesco Tremolada

FREERIDING in the DOLOMITES 175 itineraries and variants + Freeride Skisafari

Marmolada – Arabba – Sella – Alta Badia Colac –Sassolungo/Langkofel – Lagazuoi 5 Torri – Tofane – Faloria – Cristallo

EDIZIONI VERSANTE SUD

Index Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Technical introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Grading system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 European avalanche hazard scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Legend of symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 I MARMOLADA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 1. Vallone d’Antermoia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 2. Bellunese Vecchia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 3. Vecchia Pista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 4. Intra i Sass destra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 5. Intra i Sass sinistra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 6. Lydia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 7. Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 8. Pian Trevisan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 9. Punta Penia - spallone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 10. Punta Penia - North face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 11. Punta Penia - Northwest face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 12. Forcella Marmolada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 13. Piccolo Vernel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 14. Canalone Gran Vernel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 II ARABBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 15. Valle Ornella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 16. Cima Padon South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 17. Cima Padon North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 18. Pizangol de Ornella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 19. La Galleria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 20. Sas Mesdì . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 21. Fedaia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 22. Forfesc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 23. Col de Cuch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 24. Fredarola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

4

III COLAC - SASSOLUNGO/LANGKOFEL . 110 25. Forcia Neigra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 26. Forcella Sassolungo South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 27. Forcella Sassolungo North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 28. Forcella Cinque Dita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 29. Canale Nord forcella Sasso Levante . . . . . . . . 122 30. Forcella del Dente . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 31. Canale Nord del Sassopiatto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 IV SELLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 32. Ossario . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 33. Forcella Pordoi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 34. Canale delle Torrette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 35. Canale Holzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 36. Val Lasties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 37. Canale Joel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 38. Canale Sass de Forcia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 39. Canale Larséi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 40. Canale Col Alton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 41. Val Mesdì . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 42. Canale del Ghiacciaio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 43. Val de le Fontane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 44. Vallon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 45. La Colonna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 46. Canale del Sentiero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 47. Canale del rifugio Kostner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 48. Col de Stagn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 49. Val de Litres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 50. Piz da Lech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200 51. Rissa del Daint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 52. Val Setus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 53. Val de Bosli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 54. Val Ciadin - Val Culea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 55. Val Largia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 56. Piz Miara - Valon de Meisules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 57. Val de Siela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220

V ALTA BADIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222 58. Val Chedul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226 59. Canale Col Toronn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 60. Forcella de Ciampei . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234 61. Canale Sas Ciampei . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238 62. Valscura - Sassongher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240 63. Prati di Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246 64. Pralongià . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 65. Setsas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 66. Cherz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254

VIII CRISTALLO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352 93. Creste Bianche - Prà del Vecio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356 94. Creste Bianche Forcella Col Verde . . . . . . . . . 360 95. Forcella Padeon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362 96. Diretta del Forame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364 97. Canale 1 di Creste Bianche . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368 98. Canale 2 and 3 di Creste Bianche . . . . . . . . . . . . 370 99. Costabella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372 100. Canale Staunies North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376 101. Canale del Prete - Vallençant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380

VI LAGAZUOI - CINQUE TORRI . . . . . . . . . 258 67. Canale Strobel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262 68. Canale della Nonna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 69. Col dei Bos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 70. Cadin di Fanis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 71. Forcella Grande . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 72. Diretta austriaca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 73. Canale Forte tre sassi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284 74. Diretta Valparola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288 75. Forcella Salares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 76. Armentarola North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294 77. Cinque Torri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 78. La frana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 79. Monte Nuvolao . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302 80. Nuvolao South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304 81. Monte Pore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306 82. Croda Negra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308

FREERIDE SKI SAFARI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384 Day 1 - San Martino di Castrozza – Passo San Pellegrino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390 Day 2 - Passo San Pellegrino – Val di Fassa . . . . . 394 Day 3 - Val di Fassa - Marmolada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 398 Day 4 - Marmolada – Lagazuoi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402 Day 5 - Lagazuoi - Tofane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406 Day 6 - Tofane - Cortina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410 Summary table of itineraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 414

VII TOFANE - FALORIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312 83. Bus de Tofana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316 84. Tofana di Rozes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320 85. Tofana di Mezzo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324 86. Traversata Formenton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328 87. Vallon de Raola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332 88. Canale della Colonna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336 89. Comate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340 90. Sci 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344 91. Val Orita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346 92. Canale Marcoira . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348

5

3

dia Val Ba

Piza dal

La Villa

Selva di Val Gardena

Sassongher  2665 Sass da Ciampac  2667 Grosse Cirspitze  2592

 2284

Cima Pissadu 2985  Boèseekofel

Sassolungo

 2958

Störes  2185

 2913

 3181

Piz Selva

IV - SELLA

 2940

V - ALTA BADIA p.so Campolongo

Piz Boé

p.so Sella

 3152

Col di Lana

Sass Pordoi

2452 

Ante rmo nt

 2950

Arabba

p.so Pordoi

Val d e l di Va

Campitello Canazei di Fassa a s s Fa

San Cassiano

Piz la Ila

 2078

Colfosco Corvara

p.so Gardena

Piz Sella

Sassopiatto

Val Bad ia

Val Gar den a

II - ARABBA Alba

III - COLAC-SASSOLUNGO LANGKOFEL

Col Toròn 1932 

Penia p.so di Fedaia

M.Colac

gh.i o de lla Marmolada  3343

 2715

Pozza di Fassa

Marmolada (p. Penia)

Vigo di Fassa

Cima dell’Uomo

Malga Ciapela

I - MARMOLADA

 3010

Moena

p.so di San Pellegrino

Falcade

Viezzena  2491

Predazzo

Cima della Vezzana  3192

Monte Agner

2872 

San Martino di Castrozza

6

Pala di San Martino  2982

3026

les Diesc

n izo Fel Val

VIII - CRISTALLO

VII - TOFANE-FALORIA

Cresta Bianca  2932 M. Cristallo

Piz dles Conturines

 3221

 3064

Misurina

Tofana di Dentro  3238

p.so Tre Croci

Tofana di Mezzo 3244  Tofana de Pomedes  2750 Tofana di Rozes  3225

Lagazuòi

p.so di Valparola

 2778

Cortina d’Ampezzo

 2559

Col dei Bos

Pocol

p.so Falzarego

Punta Nera  2847 Punta Sorapiss

a an te os la C V

M. Averau  2648

Cimon del Froppa

 3205

2932 

e òit lB Va

VI - LAGAZUOI-5 TORRI Cima Ambrizzola  2715  2657

P.ta Lastoi de Formin San Vito di Cadore

Selva di Cadore

Caprile

Antelao 3264 

Pescul

Cima dei Viai

M. Pelmo

2101 

 3172

Cima di Coldai

Alleghe

 2403

M. Civetta  3220

2337 

Cima della Busazza

Torre Venezia

 2894

Forno di Zoldo

Cencenighe Agordino

Spiz de San Piero

Sassolungo di Cibiana  2413

 2084

Sasso di Bosconero 2469 

Agordo

7

IV. SELLA In chapter IV the most important group in the Dolomites is described, the Sella group, which is situated in the middle of the most famous downhill skiing circuit, the Sellaronda, which every day attracts thousands of skiers along its four mountain passes and its four valleys which surround this mountain.

With its narrow couloirs wedged in its rock faces, Sella is the icon of off-piste skiing in the Dolomites and with its featured terrain it allows never ending variants and descents, with the possibility of always joining up with the ski lifts, Val Mesdì, val Lasties and Forcella Pordoi are the more famous descent and are visited by many skiers, so much so that they are often “pisted”. During the last years even val Setus gets tracked often, but luckily there are many other itineraries which are adventurous and solitary where it is not very often that you bump into someone.

ITINERARIES: 32. Ossario 33. Forcella Pordoi 34. Canale delle Torrette 35. Canale Holzer 36. Val Lasties 37. Canale Joel 38. Canale Sass de Forcia 39. Canale Larséi 40. Canale Col Alton 41. Val Mesdì 42. Canale del Ghiacciaio 43. Val de le Fontane 44. Vallon 45. La Colonna 46. Canale del Sentiero 47. Canale del rifugio Kostner 48. Col de Stagn 49. Val de Litres 50. Piz da Lech 51. Rissa del Daint 52. Val Setus 53. Val de Bosli 54. Val Ciadin - Val Culea 55. Val Largia 56. Piz Miara - Valon de Meisules 57. Val de Siela

130

131

Campitello di Fassa

Canazei

 2831

57

 2964

Piz Miara

 2613

Camp.li del Mur Freit

Pecol

ie

s

Sass Pordoi

35

st

55

54

ea

2534 

Sass Bebè

p.so Pordoi

33 37  2356

38 Ossario del Pordoi

39

P.ta de Joel

43

 2557

2379

Pont de Vaduz

45

Colfosco

 2239

49

é

p.so Campolongo

til

Porta Belvedere Vescovo

2585 

B

os

Bo

Viza ella

an

d co

Pl

2187 

es de F

Bec de Roces

le Forbici

46

Col de Stagn

Plan

48

Col de Cedla

Rif. F. Kostner 2536  2517

La Colonna

 2555

2781



n

47

Sasso Cappello

32

 2952

P.ta de Larjei

 3152

44

 3009

50  2911

Piz da Lech

Piz dal Lec Dlacè

Piz Boé

 2945

 2882

Col Alton

42

 2907

Rif. Boé 2871

40

41

l Va l d e B o s e

L’Antersass

2970 

Sass de Mezdì

51

2985 

53

Cima Pisciadu

2423 Rif. Sass Becè 2563  2400 Col de Cuch Rif. Baita Fredarola

34

2692 

Picol Pordoi

52

Rif. Cavazza 2587

V

M. Forcia

36

Rif. Maria  2950

V

La al

del Piz Selva T.re Siela  2940 2831  Piz de Ciavazes

56

ul

gia

2180 Rif. Passo Sella

p.so Sella

Plan

p.so Gardena

tus

Se al

Selva di Val Gardena

Val de Anter mont

de

Va l sta

ar l L Cre

sdì

Me ta

en

Br

de l

llo

Il V a

res

Lit de

C

Va l

Val

Va

Varda

 2213

Pizac

Alfàuro

a

 2244

ron

Col Torónd

d ’A u

del Col di L ana Bosco

Livinallongo

Arabba

Corvara

The north side of Sella seen from Sassongher.

132

133

32

Sella

OSSARIO NORTH EAST 2230 m

An easy itinerary situated at the base of Sella’s south face, ideal for windy days and to check out the conditions of the couloirs on this face or even just to find last sections of powder snow after days have gone by from the last snowfall.

30-400 m

STARTING POINT Passo Pordoi.

20 mins

ACCESS The pass can be reached using the Sella Ronda ski lifts or else by driving up from the towns of Arabba or Canazei (Val di Fassa).

Orientation

Maximum elevation Total vertical height Time of ascent

sect. 30° Slope

2.1

Descent difficulty

E

Alpine difficulty

E1

Exposure

74,157 Photos

ASCENT From the pass, from the chairlift’s top station follow the road which leads to the “ossario” (cemetery), which you follow first down hill and then by skating along flat terrain. From the building before the monument walk up on foot, following the road, till you reach the monument.

DESCENT The descent is along the opposite side and it is usually worth climbing up towards the Sella rock faces to choose the best slope which leads to a dilapidated hut near the successive change in gradient.

Take the funnel shaped couloir to the left of the building till you reach a flat section; go down a slope which is in between large boulders to the left and trees on the right. Traverse along the bottom of these to the right and continue up high on the right of the stream Ru de Vauz, overcoming a few ridges till you reach a hut. Below it follow a path, which to the right of the stream, reaches Pordoi’s state road near Pont de Vauz.

A few metres on foot along the state road, straight after the ski piste’s bridge, lead you to the chairlift which takes you back to Passo Pordoi (or the ski slope which heads back down to Arabba).

EQUIPMENT With deep snow skins will come in useful USEFUL INFO All the changes in gradient along the ridges which are characteristic of this itinerary can be dangerous if the snowpack is not stable, especially during periods of strong wind.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES There are many possible variants, especially on the right side of the valley, beware to not descend too far down on the left, into the stream’s bed.

Near Pordoi's cemetery (Ossario).

134

39 43

32

135

32 Sella Ossario

Sheltered from the wind along the slopes of Pordoi's Ossario.

136

137

38

Sella

CANALE SASS DA FORCIA SOUTH Orientation

2950 m

Maximum elevation

50-650 m

Total vertical height

25 mins

Time of ascent

45-50°, 40°/100 Slope

4.3

Descent difficulty

F+

Alpine difficulty

E2

Exposure

145

Photos

Another steep and difficult couloir which carves the Sella’s southern side and which is distinguished by a narrow and straight line further east to the Joel couloir. This is more difficult compared to Joel and only with excellent snow conditions the final bottleneck section can be tackled without taking your skis off.

STARTING POINT Passo Pordoi - Sass Pordoi cable car.

ACCESS You can reach the pass by using the Sella Ronda lifts or by car from the towns of Arabba or Canazei (Val di Fassa).

ASCENT Reach Forcella Pordoi by skiing down (itinerary no. 33 “Forcella Pordoi), from where, leaving to your right the southern couloir of the Forcella and to your left the descent for Val Lasties, you start the traverse for Val Mesdì. Climb up a few metres, and then having overcome the first ridge, descend slightly overcoming first of all the valley that reaches the Joel couloir and then a second ridge over which you descend diagonally till you reach a flat area. From here you start the first ascent climbing diagonally for Val Mesdì and it is from here that you detour towards the right, climbing (usually on foot, skis on back-pack) till you reach a wide and obvious saddle.

DESCENT The couloir’s entrance is on the right (west) of the wide summit saddle and leaning over its highest point you can see the couloir’s entire line.

The descent is steep and very narrow, forcing you to proceed by carefully controlled jump turns. About three quarters down the couloir, a jutting rock restricts further movement through the passage way and almost always it is necessary to take your skis off and eventually abseil down (the anchor point is found on the left hand side of the couloir, bolt with ring + rock tunnel; 20/30m rope) for a few metres. Further down continue till you exit on more open terrain where it is necessary to detour to your left to reach a wide funnel; this converges into an easy couloir that consists of the easiest way to overcome the rock band underneath. At the base of this continue directly towards the valley below on easy, open slopes, passing the road for the “Ossario del Pordoi” and shortly reaching the chair lifts close to the rifugio Fodom.

EQUIPMENT Rope and mountaineering equipment.

Skiing down the couloir.

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USEFUL INFO The couloir can be observed from the pistes (binoculars); it is fundamental to choose the right moment to ski down the couloir; in springtime the snow is icy first thing in the morning and it is worth waiting for the sun to soften the snow.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES You will notice in this sector other narrower and more difficult couloirs, with cliffs and rocky bottlenecks, these can be skied very rarely.

38.a: (ski 3.1) having skied down the Sass da Forcia couloir you can traverse up high further to the left to reach another couloir, parallel to the one described, that allows you to overcome the rock band below.

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38 Sella  Canale Sass de Forcia

The wide slopes at the exit of the couloir.

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48

Sella

COL DE STAGN SOUTH EAST Orientation

2530 m

Maximum elevation

0-650 m

Total vertical height

-

Time of ascent

sect. 40° Slope

3.1

Descent difficulty

F

Alpine difficulty

E2

Exposure

This interesting itinerary runs through a beautiful valley where it is easy to meet numerous chamois. Do not underestimate the couloir which gives access to the descent’s wide slopes, where it is not easy to identify the best passage and which requires an absolutely safe snowpack.

STARTING POINT The starting point is the Vallon chairlift which you reach by taking the Boè bubble car from Corvara.

ACCESS Using the Sella Ronda lifts, or by car up to Corvara from where the Boé lifts set off.

DESCENT From the chair lift go down a few metres along the piste to the right, (south east); traverse diagonally on the left till you reach a small saddle which allows you to reach a series of easy bumps in the direction of the Col de Stagn. At the bottom of its rock face the descent valley spreads out but is blocked at the top by a rock band which is not always passable (rock and ice sticking out). This can be avoided by keeping up high to the left, along a wide ridge, and entering the valley to the right of the base of the obstacle. You must guess (not easy to do so) the best passage along one of the steep couloirs; in general the best one is the lowest one, where the summer path no. 636 also passes.

Follow the valley overcoming on the left a steeper rise; beyond it enter an area of vegetation. Continue downhill with the possibility of various variants, till you overcome a section which is slightly uphill to then enter a wide, flat area (Plan Festil). Go past the farmhouse and following the forestry road, cross through the woods and you will soon reach the ski slopes near Passo Campolongo.

USEFUL INFO Check the snow conditions on the upper section before setting out on the descent; in case of difficulty in identifying the access passage to the valley you can detour to the left (north) in the direction of the Vallon lift where an off-piste run which is often tracked will take you back to the ski runs.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES There are many other possible access routes to the upper section of the valley, but also in the lower section you can follow more direct lines of descent on the right hand side of the valley.

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48 Sella  Col de Stagn

In action below Col de Stagn.

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70

Lagazuoi - Cinque Torri

CADIN DI FANIS SOUTH+NORTH Orientation

2850 m

Maximum elevation

350+350-900+500 m Total vertical height

2+1 h

Time of ascent

sect. 35° Slope

2.2

Descent difficulty

F+

Alpine difficulty

E1

Exposure

A great ski mountaineering round trip with two distinct ascents and descents; a first ascent connects two steep saddles to reach a beautiful descent hidden between the walls; the second one instead climbs up the final section of the Val Travenanzes and then down the southern side of Forcella Col dei Bos (itinerary n.69).

STARTING POINT Passo Falzarego - Lagazuoi cable car.

ACCESS Passo Falzarego can be reached by car from the Agordo area, Alta Badia or from Cortina. Otherwise use the ski lifts from Cinque TorriGiau or from Alta Badia use the Armentarola skibus service.

FIRST ASCENT From the cable car’s top station follow the piste, keeping to the right at the first junction (the Armentarola piste goes down to the left) and reach the next bend. From here climb up on foot to the left along an easy snowy ridge with a few rocks in the upper section. After losing a few metres of vertical height along the successive slope, climb up, by side stepping further upwards to set up the slightly down hill traverse just below the first avalanche barrier. Once you have reached the next ridge you are looking over the south face of Lagazuoi which you cross up high aiming for the visible forcella Gasser Depot 2633m.

Once you have put your skins on and have gone on to the opposite slope of Cadin di Lagazuoi you will proceed traversing up high on the left towards Cima Fanis sud 2980m. To the right of this you will notice a steep couloir which you will head up with a series of kick turns and with the last section on foot, it will lead you to Forcella de Quaire 2850m.

FIRST DESCENT The descent faces north north/east and it is protected by tall rock faces on the side where you will often find great snow. Ski down the right side and then move progressively towards the left where the gradient becomes less steep and turns towards Val Travenanzes. In the last section keep to the left taking a couloir which you leave only in the end section to traverse to the right towards Cason di Travenanzes 1970m.

SECOND ASCENT From the plateau of Cason di Travenanzes put your skins on and follow the first easy section of the valley uphill (it is worth staying in the middle of the valley) which leads to Forcella Col dei Bos. SECOND DESCENT Follow itinerary n.69 downhill.

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EQUIPMENT Skins.

USEFUL INFO Set off with the first cable car to avoid the heat, especially for the first ascent.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES From Cason di Travenanzes you can ski down the valley till you reach Fiames (69.b); alternatively you can climb up to Forcella Travenanzes to reach the ski slopes at Passo Falzarego. The descent to Cadin di Lagazuoi is less interesting.

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70 Lagazuoi - Cinque Torri  Cadin di Fanis

During the ascent.

A break on the Quaire saddle before the descent.

Telemark turns with Tofane in the background.

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84

Tofane - Faloria

TOFANA DI ROZES SOUTH+NE 80+700-400+1200 m

Tofana di Rozes is one of the most beautiful summits for ski mountaineering in the Dolomites and one of the few over three thousand metres of altitude that can be covered entirely on skis.

It is usually tackled in late spring when it is possible to reach the rifugio Dibona by car, but with good snow conditions it can also be combined with the Bus de Tofana descent, remarkably reducing the vertical height gain.

25 mins+2.30 h

STARTING POINT Ra Valles - Bus de Tofana chair lift.

Orientation

3225 m

Maximum elevation Total vertical height Time of ascent

sect. 40°, 35°/350 Slope

3.3

Descent difficulty

F+

Alpine difficulty

E2

Exposure

273,317,319,337 Photos

ACCESS From Cortina (or from the piè Tofana lifts) head up to Ra Valles using the Freccia nel Cielo cable car and then take the Bus de Tofana chair lift.

ASCENT Following itinerary 83 ski down from Bus de Tofana along the initial steep section; before reaching the Tridente, the three towers visible on the left, go round a rocky spur at its base and start to traverse keeping high to the right (you will notice a dark pillar at just the right height).

Continue uphill over a ridge and then proceed at altitude towards the rifugio Cantore till you reach the point where you wear your skins.

Here find the best passage to overcome an area of large boulders and reach the next large slope which characterizes this itinerary: climb up this, crossing completely to the right with a long uphill diagonal along steep terrain (ski crampons are often useful). Once you have reached the buttress, head over to the left till you reach the final ridge; this is easy at first then it becomes steep and narrow forcing you to proceed along the exposed right hand side. Depending on the snowpack proceed on foot (crampons) or on skis all the way to the summit cross.

DESCENT Follow your uphill tracks carefully along the final ridge, especially with hardpack; turn to the right onto the large north east facing slope where you can proceed, more relaxed, heading gradually to the right.

Lower down traverse towards rifugio Cantore, passing above the large boulders till you go into the couloir beneath the hut; ski down this to join vallon de Tofana meeting up with itinerary n.83.

Keep to the left of the telepherique line of Rifugio Giussani, entering, beyond the ridge, the valley which leads to rifugio Dibona. Follow the tracks of the hut road till you join on the left the ski slopes which allow you to return to piè Tofana’s lifts.

The northeast face of Tofana di Rozes.

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EQUIPMENT Skins, rope, crampons, ice axe.

USEFUL INFO The quality of the snow is fundamental: it must not be icy in the morning when you ski down Bus de Tofana, but at the same time it must be stable.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES 84.a: (ski 4.2) the direct descent from the summit along the east face requires a good snow cover and the correct choice of itinerary; during your ascent study the set up of the rock bands or else climb directly up the face (crampons).

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84 Tofane - Faloria  Tofana di Rozes

From the summit ridge, skiing down the large north east slope.

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100

Cristallo

CANALE STAUNIES NORD NORTH 2925 m

The north facing Staunies couloir, also called canale Adriana, is one of the steepest descents in the Dolomites and to ski down it with good snow conditions is amazing…but like most of these difficult descents it is worth waiting for the right moment.

770-1500 m

STARTING POINT Rio Gere - Cristallo lifts.

2 h 10 mins

ACCESS From Cortina by car or ski bus till you reach Rio Gere, on the road for passo Tre Croci, or else on skis following the slope from the Faloria cable car. From Rio Gere take the chairlift and reach rifugio Son Forca 2215m.

Orientation

Maximum elevation Total vertical height Time of ascent

sect. 50°, 45°/200 Slope

5.1

Descent difficulty

F+

Alpine difficulty

E2

Exposure

354,358 Photos

ASCENT From the rifugio head down till you reach the old lift from where you start the ascent directly below the pylons. After the first rise continue along the left of the lift heading to the centre of the large slope. Once you are past the intermediate station of the old lift the terrain becomes steeper; leave the main couloir on the left which climbs up to forcella Grande, and continue along the lift’s line up to forcella Staunies.

DESCENT The descent is situated to the north of the terrace and the first time you look over, beyond the railings, the view is quite impressive.

Start off straight to the right of the railing covering the first few metres very carefully (eventually you can tie into a rope) and shortly reaching the itinerary’s steepest point. In this section the snow accumulates along the sides giving the slope a “V” shape which forces you to ski down the steepest lateral sections. The gradient gradually decreases and the couloir bends over to the left, then to the right with a bottleneck beneath the overhanging rock face (often icy on the left side).

An easier section, with almost always good snow, leads you finally to val Fonda where you follow the wide valley till you reach the start of a characteristic canyon shaped by the stream. With a huge snow cover you can cover this canyon but it is usually worth climbing up a little on the right side of the valley to traverse at altitude, along the tracks of the summer path. A last steep and narrow section allows you to ski down into the final part of the canyon where once you cross over the stream, you come out of the rocks. Turn over to the left, climbing back up onto the bank of the stream reaching the cross country piste along which you reach Carbonin (Dobbiaco-Cortina state road).

Return to Cortina by bus and with the Faloria lifts to Rio Gere.

The couloir seen from above.

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EQUIPMENT Rope.

USEFUL INFO When the couloir is tracked out and full of steps, it is a lot more difficult to ski down as well as not much fun. In this case choose one of the other itineraries described.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES A small saddle to the right, roughly half way down the couloir, allows you to reach a parallel branch, but the first few steep metres beneath the saddle often have uncovered rocks.

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100 Cristallo  Canale Staunies Nord

The couloir's exit.

The characteristic passage after the couloir bends to the right.

The descent's steepest section.

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FREERIDE SKI SAFARI During the past few years, ski safari, that is, itinerant skiing where you move from valley to valley sleeping overnight in mountain huts on the slopes, is achieving resounding success.

In the Dolomites we are lucky enough to have the perfect terrain which offers the chance of enjoying multi day traverses with off-piste itineraries added here and there.

There are many possibilities and you can create programmes with different difficulties and number of days, sleeping overnight up on the slopes or down in the village, as well as deciding to carry your own equipment or organizing baggage transfers to ski with a lighter back-pack.

The traverse described here is a freeriding revisitation of the classic ski-mountaineering traverse from San Martino di Castrozza to Cortina d’Ampezzo; an itinerant week, from mountain hut to mountain hut, with short ascents and many fascinating descents.

FREERIDE SKI SAFARI: Day 1. San Martino di Castrozza – Passo San Pellegrino Day 2. Passo San Pellegrino – Val di Fassa Day 3. Val di Fassa - Marmolada Day 4. Marmolada – Lagazuoi Day 5. Lagazuoi - Tofane Day 6. Tofane - Cortina Sun rise on rifugio Lagazuoi's terrace (Day 5).

On Col Margherita's ridge (Day 2).

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Crossing the plateau of Pale di San Martino (Day 1).

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412 Freeride Ski safari  Tofane - Cortina

D6 A view of Tofana di Mezzo.

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