Florian Ramsauer reports for PowderGuide on his participation in the Salewa Climb to Ski Camp, an unquestionably unconventional ski touring, freeride and ski mountaineering camp. Together with professional athletes from the organizer and alpine outfitter Salewa and local mountain guides, the group spent four days roaming the outstanding terrain around the Dolomite village of San Martino di Castrozza in fresh snow and perfect weather. On Monday, we were greeted by bad weather, clouds, fog and snow. On the way through the Dolomites in Italy, we have to negotiate slippery roads and snow-covered passes instead of enjoying the view of the rugged rock giants. For this reason, the majority of participants and athletes arrive late for the fourth Salewa Climb to Ski Camp 2015 in San Martino di Castrozza. Fortunately, bad weather like this rarely puts freeriders in a bad mood, but usually puts a big smile on their faces. Due to the fresh snow, the plans for the first day are changed without further ado and we immediately head out into the snow armed with our skis. In the small "Tognola" ski area in San Martino, we make our first turns together with the athletes in the surprisingly abundant snow, staying below the tree line due to the poor visibility. During the afternoon, the mountain guides conduct avalanche training in small groups, simulating a multi-person avalanche. The afternoon passes far too quickly, it gets dark - and what remains is the anticipation of tomorrow and the hope of good weather.
Fortunately, the weather service keeps its promise and the cloud cover clears quickly the next day. At the sumptuous breakfast buffet, the mix of languages - English, Italian, German and French - reveals a little tension and all the more positive expectations. After the mountain guides have revealed the plan for the day, we split into two groups and head for the gondola up to Cima Rosetta. This cable car towers above the other three ski areas in San Martino di Castrozza.
The small, tranquil Dolomite village lies at the foot of the Pala group, which is known for its numerous climbing opportunities. A large-capacity gondola takes you up to the Pala high plateau, which resembles the Sella massif. The slightly hilly plateau of the mountain massif stretches over 50 square kilometers and is interrupted by peaks, rock needles and steep limestone cliffs typical of the Dolomites. At the same time, several valleys cut into the plateau, which, together with the couloirs, offer ski tourers and off-piste skiers a wide range of options.
On arrival at the Rosetta mountain station at around 2,600 metres above sea level, the first off-piste descent is tackled immediately after the safety check: 400 vertical metres of steep off-piste terrain, in sunshine through fresh, untracked snow, beneath the towering Dolomite walls. It could hardly be better. But the group is brought back down to earth at the first meeting point. Suddenly, a slab of snow breaks loose on the slope we have just skied down and makes its way over a rockfall towards the valley to come to a halt 150 meters below. Due to the potential for burial and reaching the foot of the slope, the avalanche must be considered quite dangerous. Despite the fact that no one was caught, the avalanche triggered by the group heightens awareness of the potential dangers.
After the second ascent, this time the skins are put on. Together with the two mountain guides, a Salewa athlete, a photographer, a cameraman and the six participants, the high plateau is crossed in a southerly direction. Today's goal is to circumnavigate the Pala di San Martino. After an hour and a half ascent, the first descent begins. The Pradialli Alto is followed by a rapid descent to the Rifugio Pradialli. Another ascent, first with skins and later with skis on our backpacks, brings us to the highlight of our tour, the Passo di Bal.
The final descent in powder snow lies ahead of us: a wonderful panorama of the Dolomites, a couloir framed by imposing rock faces and, at the end, the key section with a rock step for abseiling. Even though the group of 11 is rather slow, the descent passes far too quickly in the face of 30 cm of fresh snow. Well-guided by the two local mountain guides, we make our way to the abseiling point, where some of the participants make their first attempts on the rope. The closer you get to the valley, the warmer it gets and the powder turns into heavy powder snow. Once we reach the bottom of the valley, the sun terrace of a normally closed mountain hut is already waiting for us. Thanks to the good organization and hospitality, there is already a pallet of canned beer on the table to make waiting for the ski cab easier. Such breaks can be used to pick up some useful tips from Salewa pros Björn Heregger, Luca Pandolfi and Arnaud Cottet or to ask them about their ski expeditions to Alaska, Iran or the Himalayas.
Not only skiing and snowboarding is on the agenda. The supporting programme organized by Salewa leaves nothing to be desired: From dinner in a cozy mountain hut followed by a sleigh ride down into the valley, to wellness options after a hard day's skiing - right through to an excellent dinner in a four-star hotel.
So the four days pass far too quickly and an interesting week with lots of great impressions, new friends, good food, lots of fresh snow, even more sun, a beautiful landscape and fresh tour ideas for the next visit to the Dolomites is over.
