New flight from London Gatwick to Bolzano airport with Sky Alps
A new flight is launching on 15 December 2021 from London Gatwick to Bolzano airport with Sky Alps. This flight will operate weekly on Wednesday in December. It will then operate twice weekly on Wednesday and Sundays from Jan 5-16 March, 2022.
Prices start at £116 each way. Bolzano is only 90 minutes from renown resort Alta Badia. This is as well as all the different resorts from Sudtirol and Trentino.
Usually people going to Sudtirol or Trentino tend to go to Verona or Innsbruck or Bergamo. This new route opens a much easier connection to the heart of the Dolomites. People going to Trentino or Belluno (home of Cortina d’Ampezzo), use Venice or Milano (MXP or LIN).
Santa Croce in Alta Badia. Photo by Paola Finali- Alta Badia Brand. New flight from London Gatwick to Bolzano airport with Sky Alps
Will the Green Pass be the new normal on the South Tyrolian and Aosta Valley lifts this coming season?
The coming 2021-22 ski season might bring the use of the Green Pass to get on the lifts of Sudtirol and the Aosta Valley.
This is what it looks like at the moment. It is at least, as per what I’ve read on Neveitalia and as reported by ANSA, La Stampa and the portal Trentino.
Alto Adige – Trentino. Photo Iuliia Boiun- Unsplash. Will the Green Pass be the new normal on the South Tyrolian and Aosta Valley lifts this coming season?
The case of Alto Adige. Will the Green Pass be the new normal on the South Tyrolian and Aosta Valley lifts this coming season?
In Alto Adige (Sudtirol), the president of Dolomiti Superski wants to impose the Green Pass. Dolomiti Superski is a big carrousel of interconnected lifts that is located east of the Autopista del Brennero. It comprises 1,200 km of pistes, including Alta Badia, Val Gardena, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Val di Fassa, Val di Fiemme, Kronplatz, amongst others.
Helmuth Sartori, the president of Dolomiti Superski supports this motion. He said: “We support political efforts to introduce the Green Pass as a pre-requisite for access the ski lifts.” This was at the assembly of the Association of South Tyrolean cable car operators held in Bolzano. “Winter 2020/21 could have been a record season, considering the early snowfalls and the optimal Easter date, it will instead go down in history as a total failure – added Sartori – and we can no longer allow another to occur a situation of this kind”.
Alta Badia. Gruppo del Sella. Photo: IDM Südtirol- Alex Filz- Alta Badia. Will the Green Pass be the new normal on the South Tyrolian and Aosta Valley lifts this coming season?
More than 360 million euros in turnover is missing. Companies that did not have been operating during the summer have been without income for 20 months. They are fighting for economic survival. All these solutions have to be looked in advance for the 2021/22 season. Sartori wants that the legal framework is set up in advance.
South Tyrolean lifts engineers estimate that lift capacity can be reduced to 80% in closed cablecars. This was reported on the online portal Trentino. They agree to the Green Pass and other measures such as obligation of use of masks and providing desinfectant gel. They want to act now to plan security in advance to the season.
News of Cortina d’Ampezzo for the 2021-22 ski season.
Cortina d’Ampezzo is preparing for the 2021-22 ski season. Here you have the news of the Queen of the Dolomites.
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A classic in Cortina d’Ampezzo- Bombardino in a terrace absorbing great views! Photo credit: Cortina Marketing.
New chairlift: Ra Valles
There will be a new four-seater chairlift in the area of Ra Valles. This is the highest in Cortina. You reach it with the Freccia nel Cielo Gondola and cablecar from the town centre. This new chairlift will replace two lifts.
It will reduce transport time dramatically. You will be able to reach much faster the top of the Bus de Tofana slope. This is the highest slope in Cortina,starting at 2,743m.
Here I have put together the must-read guide to the Rhône Alpes. It is pretty inclusive so I’ll do it as a bit of a bullet point. But it is a good start where to see all their ski resorts and which ones could tempt you for your perfect ski holiday.
The Rhône Alpes is an extensive area in the Central West of France. From west to east it offers the Auvergne Volcanoes to Lyon and the French Alps and Mont Blanc. This is the roof of Europe at 4,810 meters.
Pointe d’Ireuse. View on Mont Blanc. Chablais Massif. Photo: Christian Matelet. Auvergne Rhône Alpes Tourisme. The Must-Read Guide to the Rhône Alpes.
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How to get there: The Must-Read Guide to the Rhône Alpes.
By Air:
Paris Airport- transfer to Lyon is 45 minutes.
Geneva Airport
Chambery Airport
Grenoble Airport
By Train:
Paris – TGV (fast train)
London with the Eurostar
Brussels with the Thalis
By Car:
Lyon airport: 1-3 hours
Geneva airport: 1-3 hours
Chambery airport: 1-1.5 hours
Grenoble airport: 1-1.5 hours.
Sunset on the Grandes Jorasses. Mont Blanc Massif. Photo: Carmen Villa/Auvergne-Rhône Alpes Tourisme. The Must-Read Guide to the Rhône Alpes.
The French Alps – The Must-Read Guide to the Rhône Alpes
The French Alps are the most renown ski mountains in the world. Here are some specs to explain why:
It has been three times host of Winter Olympic games:
Chamonix in 1925 (first edition)
Grenoble, 1968
Albertbille, 1992.
The 3 Valleys is the world’s largest ski area, with 600 km of ski slopes and more than 200 cable cars. Most of the terrain is above 1800 m altitude.
There are different connected ski areas, or if you prefer to call them ski carousels.
Les 3 Vallées
Paradiski
Val d’Isère- Tignes.
It has the longest snow season in Europe, from November (October for Tignes this year!) to May.
It offers summer skiing from June to August at
Val d’Isére-Tignes
Les 2 Alpes
This guide will pinpoint the unique particularities of the different main ski resorts.
Our Winter Getaway to the Mountains – no skiing included
How we managed to get our winter getaway to the mountains. I knew from the start, that due to the DCPM in Italy, there was no skiing included in this trip for sure.
As I also knew that the UK was going to become a third country to the EU, I really wanted to go back to Morgex. The EU allows its country-members to travel with no restrictions within the bloc. Thanks to Brexit, now we are out of the bloc, so we have the travel restrictions. The UK is now like the US. US could not go from March onwards into Europe, and they still cannot travel.
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The first day on the road towards Chaumont. Our Winter Gate-away to the Mountains – no skiing included.
I have been looking at all the rules in the UK, France and Italy. It started getting very technical. This showed that how determined I was. So when we were about to go, France was not asking any Covid test. Italy changed its recommendation to make the test BEFORE arriving into Italy. And this test needed be 48 hours before. That makes things tricky. I’ve found a great company (Randox), that mailed the tests to your home. It is an extra expenditure you are not counting in your normal travel. I’ve thought, as there was not going to be skiing, I used my lift tickets money on that. Also, it was good I’ve bought the tests in advance, as the mail started to be a bit slow before Christmas.
Taking the Covid tests. Our Winter Gate-away to the Mountains – no skiing included
I had my two boys at home as their schools closed with Covid cases, so it was easy to do at midday our tests on the Friday. We then drove to drop the tests to DX. DX is one of the two couriers that work with Randox and allow you to deliver these kind of tests. Not all couriers would deliver them.
Our Winter Gate-away to the Mountains – no skiing included
The travel out of London. Our Winter Gate-away to the Mountains – no skiing included
We set up the alarm clock at 2.30 AM on the Saturday. It was me the one getting up, preparing the thermos, the sandwiches and our car fridge. This car fridge is the best thing we’ve bought on Amazon for our trip. It saves us from stopping at any shop to eat. Now in the pandemic, we want to travel safe. I also have my TravelJanes for using if needed. But the classic opening of two doors and weeing squatting works fine! Having been born and bred in Argentina, I am used to long trips with no petrol stations on the way. How many times we’ve heard a lorry honking at us, but they cannot see your face!
We went on the M20. The queue of lorries stuck in line was impressive. I’ve felt very bad for them, it seemed it was going to be very slow for them. For us it was fine, we had a delay of one hour, but we’ve stayed in the car. Finally we got across and we’ve started driving off Calais towards the south.
Swiss urged to ‘hit the slopes’ to save ski season. The situation for skiing in December in the rest of Europe.
The Swiss should ‘hit the slopes’ to save this coming ski season. What is the situation of skiing in December in the rest of Europe?
It is near December and the major Alpine countries have their lifts closed. What is the situation for skiing in December in Europe? France, Italy and Austria had to close their lifts, after some resorts opened for a short while. This was due to a second wave of the Covid pandemic.
French and Italian ski resorts will now close until January. Same with Germany. Austria is saying they will open their resorts by 18th December, defying the rest of the EU. Spain has sent hints of opening by December 18th, while Andorra is seeing what they will do. The Swiss are urged to “hit the slopes” to save the ski season.
Crans-Montana in winter. Photo: CMTC Luciano Miglionico. Swiss urged to ‘hit the slopes’ to save ski season. The situation for skiing in December in the rest of Europe.
The situation in Switzerland. Swiss urged to ‘hit the slopes’ to save ski season. The situation for skiing in December in the rest of Europe.
In the meantime, Switzerland is open. Pretty everyone can now go to Switzerland without needing to quarantine at arrival.
Although, check before travelling, as there are some exceptions to this rule!
So while other Alpine nations are seeing their resorts closed, the Swiss have been skiing for weeks!
Wearing face masks now is mandatory everywhere except while on the slopes. Cable car windows stay open during all the rides up the mountain. You need to use your face mask also on the open chairlifts. Police patrol check out the departure areas to be sure skiers and boarders comply.
Swiss are expecting their own people will flock to the mountains for the open air. They know that the Americans and Asians will not come this season. So with some local guests and perhaps later some regional visitors, they can save the season.
Alta Badia will host a Giant Slalom and a Slalom. This will be the 35th edition of the Ski World Cup in Alta Badia.
Alta Badia to host the giant slalom and slalom of the Ski World Cup. It is the 35th edition of the Ski World Cup in Alta Badia.
This Sunday 20th December on the Gran Risa slope, there will be the traditional men’s giant slalom. This is part of the Alpine Ski Club. Also, on Monday 21st December, the FIS has assigned a slalom to Alta Badia.
Alta Badia. Gruppo del Sella. Photo: IDM Südtirol- Alex Filz- Alta Badia. Alta Badia will host a Giant Slalom and a Slalom. This will be the 35th edition of the Ski World Cup in Alta Badia.
This year the fans can support their favourites racers on the TV, and not in person. This is to guarantee safety for the athletes, their teams and media representatives.
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The first run of the Giant Slalom will start at 10AM on Sunday 20th December. The second run will do so at 1.30 PM.
On Monday 21st December, the slalom racers will start at 10 AM and the second run will do so at 1PM. All the races will broadcast in world vision.
Alta Badia Ski World Cup. Photo: Alta Badia. Alex Moling. Alta Badia will host a Giant Slalom and a Slalom. This will be the 35th edition of the Ski World Cup in Alta Badia.
The 2020 Trophies: A Celebration of Sport and Life. Alta Badia will host a Giant Slalom and a Slalom. This will be the 35th edition of the Ski World Cup in Alta Badia.
The trophies given to the top three racers are done by Danielle Basso. She has done the gigantic sculpture at the start of the Gran Risa slope to celebrate 30 years of the event. The trophies “are metaphors – explained Basso – of a history of passion, sport and beauty that is renewed every year in this magical event in the heart of the Dolomites”.
How Val Thorens is ready for the 2020-21 ski season.
Here is how Val Thorens is getting ready now for the 2020-21 ski season. Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe, starting at 2300 m and with pistes up to 3200 m. The resort is part of Les 3 Vallées, the biggest ski carousel in the world. Within the whole 3 Vallées, the lower slopes are around 600 m (at Brides les Bains).
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90% of the resort is above tree-line. It is what here Britons call “snow-sure” resorts. I never understood that claim being Argentine born. Las Leñas has a base of 2230 and the top at 3400+ and I remember some seasons with no snow at all! But well, obviously there is more chance to have better snow the higher you go!
Lift in Val Thorens. Photo. C.Doucret. OT Val Thorens. How Val Thorens is ready for the 2020-21 ski season.
But coming back to Val Thorens, the resort has the longest ski season in Europe. It starts on December 1st and goes all the way to May 9th. A whole 170 days of ski season. It was going to open on November 21st, but with the new decree in France locking the country for one month, it changed. Let’s hope that resorts can open in December!
If you go to Val Thorens, all the lodging is slope-side- you don’t need to move to go to the lifts. The trails run between the buildings. The resort is not the prettiest, but they have been renovating façades using wood and now is looking much better. Now it looks more village-like.
How Italian Ski Resorts are preparing for the ski season.
The case of Pontedilegno-Tonale, the Piemontese resorts of Vialattea and Cervinia
Information taken from the post of Max Cassani of La Stampa on 02 October 2020.
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The case of Pontedilegno-Tonale. How Italian Ski Resorts are preparing for the ski season.
The resort offered a daily online card that if paid before 2nd October, was only 22 euros. This is 45% of its full price. This ticket is valid to use by Christmas, excluding the feast of the Virgin. (8th December, Immaculate Conception).
Ponte di Legno. Adamello Ski. How Italian Ski Resorts are preparing for the ski season.
The cable car that goes up to the Presena glacier in Pontedilegno-Tonale
The case of Valle d’Aosta and Cervinia’s opening. How Italian Ski Resorts are preparing for the ski season.
The Valle d’Aosta region has approved a new health protocol valid for ski resorts. The first station to open will be Cervinia on the 24th October. Among the measures imposed the following will take place:
Sentiero to Lago d’Arpy, Morgex, AO (Aosta Valley) – Family trek to Lago d’ Arpy, Morgex, AO.
Summer in the Italian Alps.
We came to take a five-weeks long holiday at our home in Morgex, called Il Cuore della Valdigne. This is a great spot for hundreds or thousands of trekking paths. Italian called them sentieros.
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Going up towards Lago d’Arpy you have great views of the Catena di Monte Bianco. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Family trek to Lago d’ Arpy, Morgex, AO.
The most renown place in the Morgex area I would say is Lago d’ Arpy. Arpy is a great spot in winter for its cross country trails and snow-shoeing paths. In summer it is the place to go out for treks, mountain biking and swimming in the freezing lake. The lake is further up the road from the Ostello di Arpy. The Ostello is a rustic lodge that has a cafeteria/restaurant and some rooms. It also offers rental for cross country skiing and snow shoes.
We went up the road until passing the hotel La Genzianella and we parked next to some public restrooms. There it was the start of the sentiero 15, at 1,954 m, that takes one hour and five minutes to reach the lake. The sentiero is pretty simple categorised as T: turista. It has a bit of a climb, but nothing major (140m) and an average gradient of 3%.
Sentieros‘ classifications in Italy.
Sentieros are classified, at least in Italy, in T as Turista, E, Escursionistico and EE Escursinisti esperti (expert). Then there you have the alpinist classifications, EEA is for expert with via ferrata o attrezzata, EEA-F (ferrata facile); EEA-PD (ferrata Poco dificile), EEA-D (ferrata difficile) and EAI (excursionism in snow).
While you walk through the sentiero, you have amazing views of the Macizo di Monte Bianco. Usually this path is very busy with families and dogs, but we managed to go pretty late, and it was pretty quiet.
The sentiero 15 takes you from Colle de San Carlo to Lago d’Arpy, and if you continue, to Lago di Pietra Rosa. Family trek to Lago d’ Arpy, Morgex, AO.
Another option for reaching Lago d’ Arpy
You can do a bit of a more challenging walk with more climb if you stop at the Ostello d’Arpy. That is a sentiero classified E: Excursionista. To be honest I was not sure where to start, so we kept on going up the road as there was a sign to Lago d’Arpy. And then we’ve stopped before what it looks to go to the Colle San Carlo and down towards La Thuile.
The path to Lago d’Arpy, sentiero 15. Family trek to Lago d’ Arpy, Morgex, AO.
When we arrived, our dog ran straight into the freezing lake. The views were magnificent. It was a tad cold as it was windy, and up at 2,066 m you had not much to guard you.
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