Sunday, January 22, 2017

January Skiing in Valtellina

The first vacation trip of 2017 had to be a skiing holiday. Seven years after my skiing accident and rupture of my ligament, we returned to Valtellina (Lombardy, Italy) for a week of skiing.

Snowy roads in the Alps

Livigno
We started and finished as usual in Livigno - most of the roads leading there and away were snow covered, so we had a late start. In sunny weather, we enjoyed our first skiing day on the Carosello 3000 valley side. Livigno is a customs free zone, so we fueled up the car and bought groceries before we continued to Bormio.
On the last day, we returned for our final downhill runs at the Mottolino valley side, that is known as snow park paradise.

- 31 lifts
- 115 km slopes between 1800 m and 2900 m
- favorite lunch place: M'Eating Point (2402 m, Mottolino)
www.livigno.eu

Carosello 3000 - Livigno


Mottolino - Livigno

Luxury restaurants on the high mountain



Bormio
Monday and Thursday, we spent in Bormio and climbed with the cable car to over 3000 m where we had -25°C with blue sky.

- 15 lifts
- km slopes between 1225 m and 3012 m
- favorite lunch place: La Rocca - real Italian pizza! (2166 m, off Stella Alpina slope, www.chaletlarocca.com)
www.bormioskipass.eu --> also for the remaining two skiing areas

On the way to Bormio 3000 & -25°C

Freezing in the sunshine, Bormio 3000

Stelvio - World Cup slope

Pizza from La Rocca

the local schnaps

Bagni Vecchi

Friday, we finished early with skiing and went for a night under stars at the Bagni Vecchi Spa - already the Romans were taking baths here. It was very relaxing with four different saunas, hot and cold baths, relaxing rooms with mountain view and a panoramic outdoor pool. The money for the wellness was well spent as I did not feel any sore muscles the next day anymore.

Bagni Vecchi


Santa Caterina Valfurva
Another two days, we spent in Santa Caterina Valfurva. Snow was good and cold. Unfortunately, our favorite piste was closed for races.

- 9 lifts
- km slopes from 1730 m to 2880 m
- favorite lunch place: Paradiso

Sunny Valley - just before the sun came out


Cima Piazzi/ San Colombano
The smallest skiing area was also the loneliest - we had nearly all the snow to ourselves. Snow cats were still preparing several of the slopes for the coming high season.

- 12 lifts
- km slopes from 1347 m to 2547 m
- favorite lunch place: Conca Bianca

No comments: