Ski tour and snowshoe in the Dolomites with a Cicerone guidebook - Introduction

The dramatic spires of the Dolomites, famously described by Reinhold Messner as ‘the most beautiful mountain range in the world’, are exceptionally popular during the winter months and are home to one of the largest pisted ski areas in the world. The ‘Sella Ronda’, a circular network of lifts and pistes that can be completed in either direction around the Sella Massif, is particularly popular and draws thousands of visitors every year.

Yet away from the hustle and bustle of the piste lies an intricate network of peaks, ridges, couloirs, open faces and snow-covered valleys; a veritable winter paradise for those willing to venture off the beaten track and explore the backcountry.

The practice of skiing and snowshoeing has had a rather mercurial past. While using skis and snowshoes as a means of transportation over snow is well documented, with snowshoes in particular dating back over 4000 years, their popularity as winter pursuits is only comparatively recent. In the 19th century, as the need to venture into the snowy landscapes for hunting purposes declined, both skis and snowshoes began to be used for enjoyment, particularly in North America and Europe. Then, nearly 100 years later, in 1936 the first chairlift was installed in Idaho, marking a move away from backcountry touring and the beginning of the Alpine ski culture. Recently, as equipment and technologies improve both ski touring and snowshoeing have seen a marked resurgence, and the joy of venturing onto virgin snow is steadily being rediscovered.

From this perspective the Dolomites are the ideal location for a winter holiday as, thanks to the area’s popularity as a piste destination, the extensive lift system and excellent road infrastructure provide easy access to some of the most dramatic and inspiring winter locations in the world. The landscape is so unique, the possibilities for exploration so endless and the cultural heritage so diverse that no matter how many times you visit, the Dolomites always have something new to offer: an alternative couloir to ski, a hidden valley to explore, a different dialect to overhear. Those looking to be challenged will rejoice in the steep snowfilled gullies while snowshoers wishing to break fresh trails across deep, untracked snow can delight in the open valleys and hillsides. And, although interest in the backcountry is most certainly on the rise, the wealth of opportunities in the Dolomites combined with the relative unwillingness of many skiers and walkers to venture off the pisted routes means first tracks and untouched expanses of fresh snow can often be found.

The Dolomites are an ideal location for a winter holiday

Whatever your winter passion, be it technical ski mountaineering, steep couloirs or simply a relaxing snowshoe up a remote snow-covered valley, the Dolomites never fail to delight. This guidebook covers 50 snowshoe and ski touring routes, selected for their beauty, accessibility and the likelihood of favourable winter conditions. As well as some of the classics, included are a few hidden gems that enable you to explore the untouched corners of this magical area, each route focusing on the ‘journey’ and placing a balanced emphasis on a spectacular and scenically stunning ascent as well as a dramatic and thrilling descent.