Our first stop was just up the road from the hotel at the base of our local Catinaccio mountain in Vigo di Fassa. We bought a 6-day Dolomiti Superski pass that includes 1,200 kilometers and 12 ski areas up and down the valley (265 Euros). Skiing just the local mountain is cheaper, but we knew that we wanted to try several of the resorts. Our hotel provides free transportation and the services of a mountain guide every day so exploring the different slopes makes a lot of sense. We rented skis, boots, poles and helmets from Ski Edy right at the mountain. They are very efficient and still had our measurements and preferences from last year in the computer so we were in and out of the shop in under 15 minutes. So, that first day we took the cable car up the local mountain and spent the day skiing perfectly groomed snow and runs that included the one where Italian Olympian Alberto Tomba trained.
The Alberto Tomba black run is named for the famed Italian skier.
After that first warm-up day, we traveled the valley with our ski guide, Mario, and a busload of fellow hotel guests who were more advanced and skied with the other guide, Max. We had skied with Max last year and think that both guides are incredibly talented and fun to be with. Skiing such a vast area of slopes would be somewhat intimidating without an expert to lead the way. Rather than lessions, the guides provide friendship and great knowledge about snow conditions and history. Somehow they are always able to find the best snow of the day.
Our guide Mario provided expert guidance.
We met up with the more advanced group along the way.
Most of the ski trails in the Dolomites are wide open.
