Review of the Malga Ciapela 2009 trip
A TOTAL ADVENTURE IN THE HEART OF THE DOLOMITES
by
Paul Anghel
Why
do people like skiing? It is very simple. One ascends through a
beautiful, deeply
snowed-in mountain landscape, enjoys the peace and tranquility far
away from
rush and stress, and is rewarded by a downhill run through powder
snow. No,
you will say, it is too good to be true. Nowadays winter resorts are
overcrowded and
runs are overpacked with skiers. There is no peace and tranquility
left in this world.
Well you may be right for most ski resorts, but outright off when it
comes to the Dolomites - the place where I truly believe that the
dream for the perfect ski vacation
comes true.
Why
are the Dolomites so special? The answer is: ski touring. The
Dolomites is the place
where you can ski for hundreds of kilometers without taking the same
slope twice. This place is a vast interconnection of ski-lifts and
runs going from one ski resort
to another, traversing what are the most spectacular sceneries of
Europe.
It
is so big, it cannot be crowded. It has so many runs, it will satisfy
even the most fastidious skier.
Photo: Karel
Schuurmans
When
I joined EPO-SKI CLUB and decided to be part of the group going to Malga
Ciapela, I did not know much about skiing in the Dolomites. To tell
you the truth, I
did not know much about skiing in general. In total I have less than
200 hours on skis (time spent mostly in North America) and about 8
hours of instruction - in other words I
am a beginner. I was told by friends who have extensively skied
Europe, but who have never been in the Dolomites that it is a good
idea for someone who cannot venture off-piste not to set his
expectations too high in order to avoid any disappointment. The
Dolomites are different; imagine everything you want before getting
there, you will still be blown away. In
the Dolomites a total skiing adventure awaits you around every rock.
Malga
Ciapela is a quiet resort tucked away at the foot of the Marmolada,
an impressive mountain of sheer cliffs, which on a clear day can be
seen from Venice 70
miles away. A three-section cable car takes you to the top of the
Marmolada. It
is where the dream begins. The view from 3300m is breath-taking. My
senses were thrown out of kilter. I had the feeling of being on top
of the world, but at the same time I
felt utterly insignificant - a tiny minuscule dot on the face of such
a grand design. The
story does not end here. It got more intoxicating when I found out
that I can ski down from the Marmolada and ski most of the mountains
around me and even far beyond what I
could see. A slight shiver went through my body - it was too much to
bear and had to start skiing down. Staying too much at the top
could have proved perilous in the case I would have lost the little
grasp I had on reality for such sights are only to be seen by the
Olympian gods and not by mere mortals.
Photo:
Karel Schuurmans
When
I started the trip I did not know anybody in the group. Some may
think that spending seven days or more with people that you have
not seen before is not such a great idea.
I
beg to differ. I say it is the greatest idea of them all. It was an
opportunity for me to meet amazing people and to learn from their
advice and experience. I can say without any doubt that we all
enjoyed one another's company. We all enjoyed skiing together for
seven days doing well-known tours in the Dolomites such as the Sella
Ronda and the "Giro della Grande Guerra", and we all
enjoyed the après-skis and the parties following the
après- skis culminating in one night with a spectacular
firework display. I want to thank everybody in the group for such an
amazing time. My special thanks go to Karel Schuurmans and Marc De
Groen for organizing such a wonderful trip, to Ralph De Roeck whom I
enjoyed debating every night and to the Cupido family.
SUNDAY 8 March 2009
Sella Ronda
Skiing round the Sella mountain group is a real experience !
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7 PARTICIPANTS 01. Paul
Anghel |
The Sella Ronda covers 4 passes: |
4 Ladin Valleys: |
3 provinces: |
*
Gardena Pass |
* Alta Badia |
* Bolzano |
Skiing around the mighty and imposing Sella massif at the heart of the Dolomites
Sella
Ronda - this is how the most popular ski route in the Dolomites is
called.
This
route surmounts four mountain passes and connects the Dolomite
valleys of Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba and Val di Fassa. It
includes about 40 km of slopes and lift facilities and can be easily
be accomplished in one day, even if it requires a minimum of
fitness. This ski route is easily accessible via Selva
(Wolkenstein), Corvara, Canazei or Arabba. However, you can ski
around the Sella massif clockwise (orange indications) or counter
clockwise (green indications).
The experts can even add a few more kilometers to the Sella Ronda (perhaps the demanding Porta Vescovo trail from Arabba).
We recommend you to start the route before 10 am in order to ensure that you complete the route before lift facilities close. The slopes are officially closed after 5 p.m.
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MONDAY 9 March 2009 travel code: IT-2-2009
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Cortina
d'Ampezzo 01. Piet Aalders |
CORTINA SKIING: a sensation !!!
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Cortina
is nestled in the Ampezzo valley. The Olympic town of Cortina
d'Ampezzo is situated at the foot of the impressive Dolomite
mountains Tofane, Monte Cristallo and Sorapis. Mountains, sun and
snow and an international flair contribute to the fine reputation
of this Olympic town (the 1956 Games).
It
is part of the Dolomiti Superski Region that offers 1.220
kilometers (762 miles) of trails in 12 ski areas and
a single lift pass that gives access to all of them. Cortina's
slopes provide 140 kilometers (87 miles) of
trails with more than 50 lifts to transport skiers to the
top. All of Cortina's slopes are open to snowboarders
and there is a fun park with a half- pipe. The challenging slopes on
the Tofane and the Olympic downhill slope of Pomedes winding down
between bizarre rocks will give you the true sensation.
TUESDAY 10 March 2009 travel code: IT-2-2009
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Passo San Pellegrino Falcade 11 participants ! 01.Paul Anghel |
THE SAN PELLEGRINO PASS,
A wide alpine pass, lies at an altitude of 1918
m., about 11 km from Moena, between Trentino and the province of
Belluno. The
Marmolada massif is situated in the north of this pass.
The
San Pellegrino is surrounded with other passes: Passo Rolle,
Carezza, Sella, Pordoi and Valles - is one of the nicest, vast and
sunny passes in the Dolomites.
In
winter it is a modern ski centre. The San Pellegrino Pass belongs to
the Tre Valli ski centre,
including also the Valles Pass ( 2031 m. ). At Pass San Pellegrino
you find 64
km of ski runs featuring different difficulty levels, situated
between 1900 and 2500 m. A
ski tour connects this area to Falcade thanks to the well-known
cableway Col Margherita, that offers 100 seats and connects the pass
to Col Margherita. On
the opposite slope instead, there are several ski runs with different
difficulty levels.
The
SAN PELLEGRINO PASS is located in the "HEART" of the
Dolomites Skitour, the
skitour "dell'Amore"
WEDNESDAY 11 March 2009
This year we have added an exciting new ski resort to our already extensive ski programme !!!
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Passo
di Costalunga - Carezza Dolomiti
Superski Vigo di Fassa - Val
di Fassa 01.Paul Anghel |
Passo di Costalunga - Carezza:
The original name is Carezza ( 1745 m.) which Marc De Groen - Maarten Franken derives from the German dialect term "KAR",or rather bowl, to indicate a concave shape between the mountains. It is about 8 km from Vigo di Fassa and extends over a wide field-like ridge set between the slopes of the Latemar group and the far ends of the Catinaccio group of mountains. The pass enjoys a very beautiful panoramic perspective and a favourable position facing the sun. Ski lifts, some of which are especially suitable for beginners, and many walks of varying difficulty leave from Carezza.
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THURSDAY 12 MARCH 2009 travel code: IT-2-2009
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FIRST WORLD WAR TOUR 5 PARTICIPANTS !!! 01.Paul Anghel |
FIRST
WORLD WAR SKI TOUR
More
than eighty kilometres of history and nature, along perfect prepared
slopes, the
unique Dolomites landscape, the inimitable spectacle of nature: this
is, in a few words, the
essence of the Great War Ski Tour.
The tour winds around the Col di Lana mountain, testimonial of many battles during the 1st World War (1915-1918). Starting from Malga Ciapela we go skiing through the Serrai di Sottoguda, at the end of which we take the ski-bus to Alleghe. From Alleghe we go up the Piani di Pezzé and then to the Col dei Baldi. A short downhill, then up to Col Fioret and down again to Pescul. Here we go on a ski-bus and 20 minutes later we arrive to the Passo Giau, where we take the chair lift to the Refuge Averau. Skiing down the Cinque Torri slopes we get to the bottom of the valley, where a ski-bus to the Passo Falzarego is waiting for us. Now, a cable-car takes us up to the Lagazuoi,
the highest peak in the Great War Tour. Downhill again, along the thrilling Armentarola slope passing the Scotoni Refuge, within one of the most fascinating landscapes in the Dolomites. At the bottom of the valley, we will find the horses that will draw us for as long as 1 km to the connections with the San Cassiano ski runs. Let's go up, now, to the Piz Sorega and then follow the tracks to the Pralongia. The route goes on to the Cherz facilities, up to the Campolongo Pass and down to Arabba. Uphill again to Porta Vescovo, down to the Padon Pass and to the Fedaia Pass and Malga Ciapela.
FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2009 travel code: IT-2-2009
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PASSO SAN PELLEGRINO 10 participants 01.Piet Aalders |
THE SAN PELLEGRINO PASS,
A wide alpine pass, lies at an altitude of 1918 m., about 11 km from Moena, between Trentino and the province of Belluno. The Marmolada massif is situated in the north of this pass. The San Pellegrino is surrounded with other passes: Passo Rolle, Carezza, Sella, Pordoi and Valles - is one of the nicest, vast and sunny passes in the Dolomites.
In
winter it is a modern ski centre. The San Pellegrino
Pass belongs to the Tre Valli ski centre,
including also the Valles Pass (
2031 m. ). At Pass San Pellegrino you
find 64 km of ski runs featuring different
difficulty levels, situated between 1900
and 2500 m. A ski tour connects this area
to Falcade thanks to the well-known cableway
Col Margherita, that offers 100 seats
and connects the pass to Col
Margherita. On the opposite slope instead,
there are several ski
runs with different difficulty levels.
The SAN PELLEGRINO PASS is located in the "HEART" of the Dolomites Skitour, the skitour "dell'Amore"
FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2009 travel code: IT-2-2009
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PREDAZZO - OBEREGGEN Ski Center Latemar 6 participants 01.Paul Anghel |
Skiing in Val Di Fiemme: Predazzo & Obereggen
Val
Di Fiemme is an extensive resort set among stunning natural beauty
awe-inspiring Dolomites. There are 150 kms of well groomed ski
slopes at Val Di Fiemme, serviced by 51
lifts offering an uplift capacity of 72.000 skiers per hour. The
resort has a top elevation of
2.145 m and a vertical descent of 1.415 m. The runs here are suitable
for all levels, with 40% of slopes for beginners, 40% for
intermediates and 20% for advanced skiers.
There
is also the possibility of night skiing. The Italian ski resort of
LATEMAR is part of the Val di Fiemme Ski Area with access to 76
individual pistes.
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LIVE YOUR WINTER SKI DREAM WITH CLUB EPO-SKI AMICALE
SATURDAY 14 MARCH 2009 travel code: IT-2-2009
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As we planned today,
Saturday the 14th is a day for us all to fill in as we please.
The photos tell their own story.
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