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Buon Giorno da Val Gardena.

We are skiing in the Dolomiti Superski, which is the largest skiing district in the world.  Beautiful valleys, lifts and skiable terrain are visible as far as the eye can see.  The lift infrastructure supports easy to moderate skiing throughout the entire district.  The scale and beauty of the countryside defy description.  Sunshine is preferred by the locals; there is an ice bar with umbrellas (no palm trees), and beach chairs are common at the various ristorantes on the hill.  Our accommodations are benissimo; great pool, spa and service.  The food is perfetto; Italians truly know how to prepare and enjoy food.  We are taking advantage of the local traditions in this regard.  All in all, the village is a friendly and welcoming place to be.

The low snow cover on the mountain forced us to remain on groomed trails.  This limited the scope of what we could work on.  That being said, there is always plenty to learn on a NASTC trip.  Mountain safety is of primary concern.  Our first days were spent on techniques to handle the varying conditions of a low snow pack.  Each area on the Dolomiti Superski network does an excellent job of maintaining the terrain. Day one was spent down valley, mostly in the clouds, working on basic techniques, balance, body and leg positioning while becoming familiar with the conditions.  Day two dawned sunny and time was spent on drills, “blind skiing” and avalanche recovery exercises.  Day three brought mixed clouds and sun and our first Sellaronda.  The journey led us through many quaint towns and varied terrain.  We skied on piste, well groomed trails.  The days spent on piste really sharpened everyone’s skills. Day four and five were spent in snowy conditions.  Total snowfall varied across the range.  Real-time reporting of conditions is not a high priority here, so we estimate the storm snowfall to be 10-20 centimeters. The snowy conditions were enjoyed by all and allowed the group to begin to edge off the groomed trails.  

Day six the skies cleared and the sun was bright all day.  We planned an early start to avoid the crowds.  This was our grand finale day, and the storm allowed us to venture into the Val Lasties, a beautiful off piste valley which is in the center of the Sella Ronda.   We encountered big mountain and forest terrain.   It was a big smile day. 

This is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world.