A great week of skiing in Monterosa - week 8/2016!
Thanks a lot Linnea and Marta for making one week of skiing into a huge success for my son and I!!
Background & a package put together by The Alps
Two experienced on piste skiers from Norway, my son age 14 and myself, age 52 have been planning an off-piste ski trip for a couple of years now, browsing the web for information. Then I got in touch with The Alps, and Line and Marta compiled a perfect package of 2 days with on piste skiing and 4 days of off-piste skiing with mountain guide, ski gear rental, ski pass and bed and breakfast in a 3-star hotel in Champoluc, Monterosa.
Getting there
We arranged our trip by our self to save some money for fun in Monterosa, i.e. helli-skiing.
Airplane to Milano, Linate airport. Bus from Linate to sentral station in Milano, and train from Milano to Verres, the nearest town to Champoluc where the train stops. Local bus from Verres to Champoluc. One way for one person was approx. 20 Euro total, and we used overall 4-5 hours from the airport to Champoluc. The trip went very well, even if we had to change train a couple of times (in Chivasso and Ivrea). Linnea met us when we arrived Champoluc.
Airport bus: http://www.atm.it/en/AltriServizi/Trasporto/Pages/airbus.aspx
Train: http://www.trenitalia.com/
Local bus: http://www.savda.it/public/linee/allegati/398_it.pdf
Bed’n’Breakfeast at Villa Anna Maria
Housed in a very nice and cosy family driven hotel just 500 meter or so from the ski lift. I had asked for twin beds and a balcony – and we got so. . When we discovered that the room also had mountain view – everything was just great! Waking up every morning looking up at the mountains, you cannot have a better start of the day. Both the bed, the room and the breakfast were just great – and so was the staff. Thanks a lot Villa Anna Maria!
Ski rental at Rent a Play
Both on-piste and off piste skiing was part of our plan – so for us it was very convenient to rent equipment. Having the opportunity to change skis according to our daily plans. Rent a Play had a good selection of skis, and gave us very good service during our stay! Cool to just grab the skis in the morning and walk up the stairs from the ski rental, being right in the ski lift! Thanks a lot Rent a Play.
The slopes – on-piste skiing
Even though the on-piste skiing area in Monterosa is not too big – we found the slopes very good. Many red pistes, most of them up above the tree line, lying in a rough and challenging terrain. Many long slopes as well, special the one from the top of the mountain of Alagna down to Alagna. I guess 1700-1800 vertical meters and 7-8 km long or so. We had two days with on-piste skiing, and I think we tried almost every slope in Monterosa ski resort. Great fun!
Off Piste - skiing with Rudy Perronet
The reason for traveling to Monterosa, was trying off-piste skiing for the first time – and if possible do heli-skiing. A mountain guide was definitely part of that package – finding the best spots for us in a secure way. Rudy, our local mountain guide, sure delivered above our expectations. The snow conditions was not really too good, not much snow at all and wet snow as well due to the warm weather. However, Rudy picked some fat skis to us with randonnee bindings and skins for walking - to get the best snow conditions to obtain. Rudy did an excellent job finding amazing places for us, taught us how to behave in the mountains, skin walking techniques etc. – as well as always giving me the feeling of security, the most important thing for me having my son at 14 together with me. Thanks a lot Rudy for 4 days of great fun and harmony with you in the Monterosa mountains – and it all cumulated in a fantastic heli-skiing tour the last day up to 4000 meter! So amazing, fulfillment of our great dream!!
Thanks again Linnea and Marta for making one wonderful week of skiing happen!
Best regards,
Morris & Erik