J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by powderpuppy

Has anyone skied Bardonecchia early season and if so, how was it - been there a couple of times and just wondered if it would get enough early snow to do another trip?

Hi

Passo Tonale is good for beginners and early intermediates but also connected on the same lift pass is Ponte di Legno and Temu which are better for competent intermediates as the runs are either red or black, plus there is also the Presena Glacier which has a red at the top, a couple of blues midway and after mid station a long black down - and when the snow is good, there's off piste all over the place.

You could always try the Dolomites, there's a really good English run company web address Mountainsunltd.com and they'll do shorter than a week holidays, plus pick you up from either Innsbruck or Venice for about £70 return. Their place is San Cassiano is basic but on the slope and 30 metres above a gondola lift. There other place is close to the Kronplatz mountain, which although not connected to the Super Dolomiti area is included on the Super Dolomiti lift pass, or you can just buy its local pass. Definitely worth checking out.

The best area for both size and value for money has to be the Dolomiti Superski area - 1200kms on one lift pass for less than anywhere in France and without all those rude annoying french. There's skiing for all abilities both on and off the Sella Ronda circuit; Corvara and Colfosco have loads of wide cruisy blues, Arabba has more challenging reds and blacks, Val Gardena has masses of night life and San Cassiano has a wonderful 4.5km blue run home with a great little bar near the end for that final bombardino (and a shorter red run)which both end up at the gondola station on the edge of the village and if you stay in the Chalet Albergo Frohsinn you just stop at their front door to de-kit and straight into their bar! Not to mention the wonderfully freshly cooked food anywhere on the mountain and the Italians look after their pistes beautifully.

Mountainsunltd.com have a slope side chalet in San Cassiano and another property in Kronplatz (la Villa is the closest town on the circuit that is reachable from here). They do pick ups from either Innsbruck , Venice and Treviso. Been with them several times and always found them very helpful.

Arinsal is a bit of a nightmare - beginners central! It's a "V" shaped valley with a real bottle neck at the bottom. But it is linked by a large cable car to Pal which has a nice mix of runs and is on the same lift pass. Best of all (on the same lift pass now) is Arcalis, but this is about a 30-minute car or 2 buses (45 mins)drive from Arinsaln - definitely worth a couple of days if you have your own transport though.

Hi Emma,

As no one else has suggested it, I'd go for the other side Zermatt - Cervinia in Italy, there's plenty of night life and enough varied terrain to keep all levels occupied - plus you can always ski over to Zermatt for a day.

Hi Skigirl

Thanks for the update - I'm off to Fugen next Saturday (just up the valley from Mayrhofen) and can't wait to get back on the fluffy white stuff!