So we have just returned back from Corvara where we had an amazing week in the snow and mountains and the group are already thinking of returning next year. The whole trip was organised by David who did a great job not only with the resort itself but with the hotel which was fantastic as usual, but also with the ski guiding that he did throughout the week.

This year there was David, Laurence, Paul, Dermot, Fiona, myself, and new kid on the block Andy. David room shared with Fiona while although Andy ate with us at the hotel he actually stayed at another hotel close by due to the fact that there is no single occupancy at hotel Christian. Adrian did not come with us on this trip, choosing to do

Our flights

Our flights were as punctual as ever with Jet2, maybe a bit late to take off but we got there in good time. The flight was really uneventful, which is fine, and it provided us with exactly what we needed. None of us pre-booked our seats, and yet we got emergency seating which comes with a longer legroom which again was fine.

Hotel Transfer

The transfer to the hotel took approx 2 hours. David had organised someone in a large Mercedes taxi to come and collect us from the airport which was great though the vehicle was just about large enough for the 7 of us with luggage.

Hotel Christian

Hotel Christian is situated 10 minutes from the ski lift ( which is great ). It looks like a traditional alpine chatlet but inside its a warm , clean, modern hotel complete with restaurant, bar and sauna. The rooms are very comfortable, spacious and come complete with their own bathroom. The hotel has a great restaurant area and we were provided with bed and breakfast together with a 4 course evening meal ( including cheese ). The overall standard of the food was very good. The hotel has a good bar area which not only welcomes guests who stay in the hotel but others who choose to eat or drink within the hotel.

The hotel provides a good range of beers and wines at affordable prices.

Inside the hotel.

Ski Passes

We obtained a 6 day ski pass from 11th Jan. These were obtained at https://www.dolomitisuperski.com/en/Ski-pass/Prices There is a 5pct discount by obtaining your ski pass online. There was also an additional discount for being 65 and over ( which was great also ).

The physical ski passes themselves were obtained from the ski office in the centre of Corvara upon receipt of the online purchase receipt and bar code. The passes that we purchased allowed us to ski virtually anywhere in the Dolamites.

Introducing Andy Musson

Andy was introduced to the group by David. Andy lives in the London area of the country and although he became part of the Watsapp group prior to the holiday, most of us met him for the first time when he arrived at Innsbruck airport. Andy skiied with us for the whole week albeit at his own pace.

Lost luggage ( Salmon sandwiches, what do you mean )

Andy had come on a BA flight from London, and we were waiting for him to arrive when we were told that his luggage had not arrived with him which was a shame because he had not only packed his glasses in his case but also some smoked salmon sandwiches (make of that what you will).

The Sellaronda

The Sellaronda is a famous circular ski route and outdoor adventure experience located in the Dolomites of northern Italy. It spans four picturesque mountain passes—Passo Sella, Passo Pordoi, Passo Campolongo, and Passo Gardena—and connects four valleys: Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Val di Fassa, and Arabba. The route is accessible from multiple starting points in these valleys and is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and accessibility. The Sellaronda is a circular route so can be skiied clockwise and anticlockwise. Directions for the Sellaronda are signed in both Orange ( clockwise ) and Grey ( anti clockwise ). We went round the Orange route and it took some 6 hours to complete.

The Marmolada

The Marmolada, often referred to as the “Queen of the Dolomites” is the highest mountain in the Dolomite range of northern Italy. It is a majestic and iconic peak, famous for its striking appearance, historical significance, and recreational opportunities.

• The Marmolada’s highest point is Punta Penia, which rises to an elevation of 3,343 meters (10,968 feet) above sea level, making it the tallest peak in the Dolomites.
• It lies on the border between the provinces of Trentino and Veneto and forms a stunning contrast with the rugged Dolomite peaks surrounding it.

The Glacier:

• The Marmolada Glacier, located on its northern slopes, is the largest glacier in the Dolomites, though it has been receding significantly in recent decades due to climate change.
• The glacier has historically been a hub for skiing and mountaineering, offering incredible views of the surrounding peaks and valleys.

So we skiied the Marmolada. It took 3 large cable car lifts to get to the top ( 900m , 2400m , 3200m ). The views should have been amazing and from one side of the mountain they were but it was rather cloudy and hazy so although great it could have been better ( maybe next time ).

Uno

The game of UNO has been around for 52 years. Many famous people have played UNO, including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, and Kylie Jenner ( Dermot wont believe this ).

The game of UNO has been created for kids in the age range of 7 and over. Paul’s grand daughter ( super bright ) has even played it at the tender age of 4. Some of us UNO officianados played several games of UNO in the bar and one or two people were introduced to this fascinating ( yet simple ) game.

UNO – Rules. The rules of UNO are laid down by the creator of the game but given that this is really a child’s game , ‘Local’ rules can be applied to make the game more interesting and more competitive. The next time we go skiing we are taking normal cards together with UNO cards and prior to that we will all agree on localized rules which I will publish online so that there are no discrepancies or misunderstanding ( but I doubt we will make it to a game of Bridge ? )

The photo above is just a great photo and just captures our week in Italy.

The following photos are just Magic

Skiing

We did 6 long days. Each day we covered somewhere in the region of 38 Km BUT on the Wednesday we decided to go and do ‘the Marmolada’ which is up to 10.0Km in length and starts at an altitude of 3400m . It took 3 cable cars to get to the top and once there the visibility was not the best but we still had some great views. It was cold and busy but still we smashed it.

There are a terrific number of runs in Corvara. There are some great blue runs and some amazing red runs and we skiied most if not all of them, some of them many times.

‘Off My Chest‘ video entitled There’s No Business Like Snow Business

Watching the video there are unfounded allegations from Paul where he asserts that when he fell ( and yes he did fall ) that I was somehow responsible. At the moment I cannot comment on these allegations due to legal reasons. I feel that this could be one of those cases that could go on and on.

‘Horses in the Snow’ a 4 euro experience captured by Adrian.

Really Old church at the top of the mountain

Billy No Mates

Towards the end of the holiday Laurence decided that he would rather have a bit of a break and see the sights of Saalbach. He also had an amazing looking pizza for lunch as you can see below.

Time To Go

Alas all good things must come to an end. The taxi arrived at 8:15 am, the bags were loaded into the taxi and then we sped off to the airport at a rate of knots. Luckily Dermot was in the co-pilots seat and by all accounts our taxi driver fancied himself as an F1 driver.

Where Next ?

There’s talks of going back to Calvara, Italy next ……