TR: Corvara, Marmolada, San Martino Di Castrozza, Trafoi, Dolomites, Italy (13-19 Mar

[COpow]

Great pics - other than GoPro, which camera are you using?

[Mike Pow]

Great pics - other than GoPro, which camera are you using?

Cheers

Canon 7D with Canon 10-18mm and Tamron 70-300mm lenses for stills and action shots not of me

Sony FDR100V action cam for video and action shots of me (frames taken from 1080p 60fps video)

[Mike Pow]

TUESDAY 29 MARCH 2016

We left Verona bright and early, hightailed it up the motorway to the Trento Nord exit, and made our way to the Val Di Sole.

The big hitters in the valley are Folgarida-Marilleva (which is linked to Madonna di Campiglio) and Pass Tonale.

http://valdisole.net/EN/Skiing-and-Snowboarding/
http://www.skirama.it/en/


But on the recommendation of Clarky999 from the snowheads forum we headed to the village of Peio Fonti to ski Pejo 3000.

http://www.skipejo.it/






We were staying at Hotel Zanella, a short walk from the base area and were lucky enough to check in before we went to skiing.

Hotel Zanella (1-night HB with a bottle of wine at dinner, 94.20 euros booked through booking.com)
http://www.hotelzanella.it/


Painting of Hotel Zanella in the hotel dining room





We parked the car about 100m from the base area, bought two day tickets (68 euros) and made our way to the top of the mountain.

Two lifts - the Pejo Fonti-Tarlenta gondola and Pejo 3000 funivar - take you from 1400m to 3000m from where you're able to ski the Val della Mite, Variante dei Monti, Val Scura, and Tarlenta red runs top to bottom for 8km and a vertical drop of 1600m

We did two runs top to bottom - dry, chalky packed powder in the bowl, spring piste conditions below - then had lunch at Refugio Scoiattolo at mid-mountain.

Delicious mushroom pappardelle, venison with mushrooms and polenta, mineral water, 2 coffees (25.20 euros)

After lunch we took the funivar to the top and skied home.

No queues; deserted runs; great snow conditions and grooming considering the 'low tide' year, the southerly aspect of the slopes and the warm temperature; amazing views.

I scooted off-piste in the Val della Mitte where there was toe tickling powder on a firm base. The potential for lift accessed and skin to off-piste terrain is epic.

View from the top of the Pejo 3000 funivar





Nerys skiing the Val della Mite





Doss dei Cembri





Variante dei Monti





Val Scura





Half Light





A couple of aperols in the sunshine at the base area, delicious dinner at the hotel, and then a stroll around Peio Fonti.

Had a look at the Thermal Spa Centre and then a few drinks at Pub No.1

http://www.termepejo.it



Cracking little village with a great ski area. And part of what looks like a very varied ski arena.

[Mike Pow]

WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH 2016

We had intented to ski Passo Tonale today but the freezing level had skyrocketed overnight with drizzle to 2,500m accompanied by 'Old London Town fog' which reduced visibility to a couple of metres at times.

So it was a leisurely drive to our final destination for this trip, Solda. Just around the corner from Trafoi which I'd visited almost two weeks ago.

2 nights B&B at Basecamp Nives, Solda, Ortler Ski Arena, South Tyrol (174.40 euros through booking.com)
http://www.sulden-nives.com


Great location in the centre of the village, with the bus stop outside.
Free on-site parking.
Excellent staff and service.
Excellent breakfast. And dinner as it turned out. We ate there both nights.
Great bar area with wifi.
We had a bunk bed room which was spacious for two but might be a little cramped for four.
Highly recommended.

We took a long walk around the village before dinner.

Solda has three ski areas.

The Langenstein and Kanzel within walking distance of the main village, and Madritsch at the top of the valley - accessed by car or free ski bus - which has the most extensive skiing with the biggest vertical.

Solda/Sulden
http://www.seilbahnensulden.it/Englisch/index.php


Ortler Ski Arena
http://www.ortlerskiarena.com/en/skiing-in-italy.html





It's also home to one of Rheinhold Mesner's museums dedicated to mountain life, sport & culture.

Messner Mountain Museum Ortles
http://www.messner-mountain-museum.it/en/ortles/museum/





Hotel Post





Solda snapshot





Ortler reflection





We had dinner at Restaurant Nives and it was superb.

Deep fried camembert and mushroom ravioli for Nerys, beef carpaccio (best I've had) and steak with rosemary potatoes for me.

Add in mineral water, two glasses of prosecco, four glasses of wine, four grappas, and two coffees and it made for a fantastic evening (93.80 euros)

[Mike Pow]

THURSDAY 31 MARCH 2016

Woke to clear skies and the sunrise warming the mountains but the weather moved in quickly and the mountains soon became shrouded in cloud.

Solda Church





Messner Mountain Museum





After a great breakfast we drove to the Madritsch base area and took the Seilbahn Sekt. I & II, Madritsch and Schontauf II to the top of Solda at 3250m

As we neared the top of the Seilbahn Sekt. II we broke through the cloud to a world of sunshine and spectacular peaks.

Nerys at the top of Solda





Gran Zebru Konigspitze (3859m), Zebru (3740m) and Ortler (3905m)





Nerys and Gran Zebru Konigspitze (3859m)





We spent most of the day lapping the Madritsch and Schontauf II chairs skiing dry, packed powder on piste and windblown pockets of powder on a firm base off-piste.

Nerys









Before and after lunch we skied down to the bottom of the Seilbahn Sekt. II cable car on the Madritsch variant (red 1A) passing under the face of Gran Zebru Konigspitze.

For the last run of the day I skied the Hochstein black itinerary down to the bottom of the Seilbahn Sekt. II cable car and then Kanonenrohr (black 1C) to the car park, 1250m vertical.





The perfect ending to a perfect holiday.

Solda has got so much to offer.

Above treeline skiing for those bluebird days and treelined runs and well spaced forests for when it's dumping.

Here's a good example of what's possible




And with 6 areas on a combined pass - Belpiano, Malga S. Valentino, Watles, Solda, Trafoi, Minschuns/Val Monastero (CH) - and Merano 2000, Val Senales and Nauders a short drive away the Val Venosta has much to offer.

We had intended going to Hotel Post for dinner but after a few aperitifs in the Nives bar it was too easy to walk across the hallway to the restaurant.

Another superb evening, and a boozy one!

Salad and Rocket Tagliolini for Nerys, mushroom ravioli and Sportlerschnitzel with fries for me. Couldn't finish it, massive.

Add in mineral water, one bombardino, one coretto, two veneziano, one Ingo, two glasses of prosecco, two glasses of wine, nine grappas, 2 cognacs and two coffees and we really pushed the boat out (118.70 euros)



FRIDAY 01 APRIL 2016

A leisurely breakfast and a leisurely and uneventful drive to Innsbruck airport.

A fabulous week and a wonderful counterpoint to our week in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis.


Costs

6-day car hire £141.53
Petrol £57.39
1-night Accommodation at Guesthouse 37 £99.32
2-nights Accommodation at Hotel Arena £143.00
1-night HB Accommodation at Hotel Zanella £74.85
2-nights B&B Accommodation at Basecamp Nives £138.59
Lift Pass £116.80
Food & drink £490.35

Total £1261.83

Per person £630.92 / 794.12 euros / US$ 895.28 / AUD$ 1160.00 for 6 nights (2 days skiing)

To convert to your currency please use this link
http://www.xe.com/

[wyeaster]

awesome trip. i was just telling my son we'll have to go see and ride in europe when he's a little bigger.

[Mike Pow]

awesome trip. i was just telling my son we'll have to go see and ride in europe when he's a little bigger.

Thanks.

Been a real eye opener skiing Austria & Italy again. Tremendous.

[nutmegchoi]

Nerys' wearing Gucci goggles??!!
Baller! lol

Again, great pics and vids.

Thank you!

[Mike Pow]

Nerys' wearing Gucci goggles??!!
Baller! lol

Again, great pics and vids.

Thank you!

Yep she's the fashionista!

Cheers