Intro
I remember that day very well. The weather forecast was promising, our group was large, I bought hot soya milk for my muesli at the petrol station and we travelled in a big red VW bus. The anticipation grew as the depth of the fresh snow increased. When we arrived at the end of the valley, we found ourselves in one of those winter wonderland snow globes. 30cm of fresh snow with no wind and cold temperatures.
Tour description
At the end of the valley, the trail starts flat from the car park at almost exactly 1000 m above sea level and leads first through fir forest and then through open terrain. At its end, you cross a stream and climb up into the mixed mountain forest. The ascent track follows a hiking trail. In the open terrain that follows, the crux of the matter becomes apparent: a wide rocky ledge stands in the way. You now have two options: continue along the summer hiking trail, which still means that you have to trudge part of the way with skis on your back, or trudge up the last ravine in the valley.
Last year, we followed a group into the ravine. We caught up with the group because they were stuck and seemed lost. Max went exploring and I took photos of the bizarre snow and ice world of the ravine. Max came back and while the other group turned back, we started crawling and scrambling through the rocks, relying on our poles until we could strap our skis back on. A PowderGuide ski strap then saved Protti's trip when his skin glue started to give up.
An amphitheatre of mountain ranges then opens up with its three large skiable canals, the trilogy of Val Saisera: Forcella Mosé on the left, Forcella Lavinal dell'Orso in the centre and then Huda Palizza. These gullies are framed by the highest mountains in the Italian Julian Alps, the Jof Fuart, the Foronon del Buinz, the Terrarossa and finally the Jof di Montasio. You now climb further, from 1300 to around 1900 metres above sea level through sparse forest in open terrain. If you choose the ascent route via the winter hiking trail as recommended, you still have to cross two small ridges and then reach the increasingly steep (25-35°) area below the rock faces and gullies, perfect skiing terrain. Orientation and track selection is now easy because you can see everything clearly. The gully itself is around 250 metres long and you only have to trudge for the last 50 metres. The maximum gradient is estimated at 45 degrees, making it the flattest and shortest of the trilogy. Another group came to meet us, they climbed up from the other side, i.e. from Sella Nevea, skied down Lavinal dell'Orso, climbed up Mosé and then returned. The possibilities are many. Of course, you shouldn't fall on the descent through the gully, but afterwards you can let your skis run, especially with snow as good as we found last year. We climbed up again on a whim and then choose the central ravine for the descent. This is not recommended: we only got through with a bit of luck but at least on skis. The summer hiking trail is recommended for the descent!
