Sella Ronda Circuit on a Friday?

I'm interested to know if it's a good idea to attempt the Sella Ronda curcuit on a Friday? We are skiing in that area in Jan 17 and currently deciding whether to book ski school or not. One of our party has had a recent accident skiing and was just getting back into it this past winter, another was confident on reds, but lost a bit of confidence and really doesn't like mogully conditions that start to build in the afternoons! Thinking after a few days of lessons and with instructor's guidance it may be OK. But it would be a Friday we understand, and know Fridays can be extra busy ........ Don't want to take a risk of further damage to confidence if it's not the best idea. But wouldn't want to pass up a great opportunity either?!

Alpine Flower, this is really an impossible question for even the most experienced skiers to anwer.

We do not know the skier capability, experience, or extent of injury.

An experienced skier might well complete the circuit in under 1.5 hours, depending on conditions and lift queues. Have a look at http://www.dolomitesworld.com/sellaronda/

But less experienced skiers might take up to four times longer. There are no rules.

With some planning, you can have a number of fall back positions. There will be a number of villages that you can get a ski bus back to resort.

I love the SR, and have the Dolomite on my radar late this coming season. For me, it is a bit limiting, but because I paint alpine water colours, the Dolomitic outcrops are a sheer joy.

The Sella Ronda is a wonderful circuit. I suspect in January, it would not be too busy even on a Friday. Most of it is quite easy with only a small number of tricky links where you might encounter moguls. The link above Arabba springs to mind. This would only really be an issue if you were hitting this piste in the afternoon so your starting point would be important. There is also a difference between the clockwise and anti-clockwise routes in terms of the difficulty of links that you would have to complete but I can't remember which is easier.

There are lots of links where there will be easy and difficult options so you should be able to avoid most of the more difficult bits. A guide or an instructor would be invaluable in finding a way around that the group can manage comfortably and would also instill confidence into the more timid members of your group.

Of course, conditions are also a critical factor that you will have to build into your thinking!

Finally, even if you don't complete the SR, there is lots of very enjoyable skiing to be had throughout the area and you shouldn't feel under pressure to "tick the box" of the SR. After all, it supposed to be a holiday :mrgreen:.

Thank you Wanderer, very helpful comments. We are really looking forward to skiing there! We will see how we go, hopefully have a great week, and if we do do the SR it will highly likely be with an instructor I think, on the Friday (because that's when they do it apparently), and all being well ski-confidence will be well restored for all by then!!

I have done the Sella Ronda several times in the last 40 years in both directions and 1.5 hours looks unlikely, unless perhaps you are a local athlete and the only skier on the slopes, with perfect snow and weather conditions. For average skiers making few stops but still enjoying their skiing, I would rather half a day (missing out on the excellent altitude restaurants). Of course you may stop the circuit any place, but do not count on public transportation to take you back easily to your car or hotel. Taxis would be expensive and even impossible if the passes are closed, as it happens if there is a risk of avalanches.

Hi Alpine Flower, the two circuits are Orange (clockwise) and Green (anticlockwise). I believe the Green route is considered to be easier because it avoids Porta Vescovo, the long red above Arabba that is quite steep at the top.
I would recommend to start early, particularly if you want to take your time and enjoy the scenery because from mid/late-morning onwards, the runs will start chopping up, no matter what day of the week you decide to go!
The route is very well sign posted, (and if in doubt, just follow the crowd!) and the runs are all blue and green so perhaps, rather than pay an instructor to spend hours on the lifts, why don't you guys do some "intensive lessons" the days before and then venture on your own?

Where will you be staying that week?

Hi

Thank you both for your comments - all very helpful. I suspect we would take it steady to enjoy the scenery and hopefully not get too caught up in the crowds. Crowds and deterioration of the pistes are main concerns as that could cause one or two of ours to lose confidence. We are booked into ski school for part of the week, so will see how things go. If the confidence gets a boost we may try it for ourselves part way through the week! We are staying in Corvara.

Oh wonderful!
Alta Badia offers plenty of cruising blue and easy reds to regain confidence. I would recommend a trip to Santa Croce at the top end of the resort.
If you decide to attempt the 17 red from Piz La Ila, it is steep at the very top, but then it's fine. I believe that there's also a blue that you can take). From the bottom of the run, just follow the signs.
Santa croce only offers a couple of runs, the top part is blue, the bottom is (easy) red. There are a few ski schools, but the runs tend to be more quiet as they are at the edge of the ski area. The view of the mountains is quite spectacular. (Photo1)
It could be a good alternative if you fancy one relaxing day.
The runs to get there are classified as red, but they are not particularly challenging.
And if you do fancy a black or two, well you have the Gran Risa (17 black) (which, incidentally, does not finish in the same place as the 17 red, so bear that in mind if you do fancy a trip to Santa Croce or Gherdenaccia) and above Boe' there's the Vallon black run which offers spectacular views over the ski area.(Photo 2)