Val Poschiavo is in Swiss, far away the busiest touristic places. It offers the possibility to climb ice falls in very attractive and solitary areas. One of the best is Cavaglia area, reachable by the red train that links Tirano with St. Moritz. Pontresina is a village close to Val Poschiavo, but it is more famous due to the presence of Pizzo Bernina and its big glaciers. Its ice falls are not very difficult and are also easy to reach. Thanks to the high altitude is possible to find ice falls already at the beginning of the winter season and they also last for long time.
Engadin Ice Falls:
Seiler III/3
Couloir III/3+
Cascatone III/3+/4
Cascata ramificata III/4
Il Muro III/4+
Cascata di Curnasel III/4+
Cascata del Teo III/4+/5
Val Masino Ice Climbing
Universally recognized as a paradise for granite rock climbing, Val Masino also offers to the ice lovers amazing climbs.
The approaches to Val di Zocca and Pioda are quite long, but they always pay off with their extraordinary beauty and their elegant ice falls.
Val Masino ice falls:
Durango III/3+/4
Cascata Romilla III/4
Pisarot III/4+/5
Rampikino may day III/4+
Chandelle Gabarrou III/5/5+
Magic mushroom III/5
L’altra faccia della valle III/5+/6
Livigno Ice Climbing
Livigno is a must for the ice climber who will find here more than thirty five ice falls and amazing free standings. The particular geomorphology of the territory, characterized by steepy slopes and limestone walls, allows the formation of very vertical ice falls, sometimes detached from the rock. Thanks also to the very low temperatures of the area, the season can continue until the end of March.
Livigno ice falls:
Piscia da salient III/3
Regina del lago III 3/3+
Shining ice 95 II/4
Dardaglin II/4
FopelII/4
Illusione Ottica III/4
Red Bull III/4
Danza del Ventre II/4/4+
Ombelico del Mondo III/4+
Village (Candela del Gipeto Alceste) II/4 /4+
Luna Rossa IV/4/4+
Kakaburra III/5
Candela delle Meraviglie III/5
Ci Cozz III/5
Tropical III/5+
Weekly Activities ProgramFor those who decide to spend their winter holidays in Bormio we have thought of a rich program of daily activities. Find out the details downloading the programs below.
DOWNLOAD PDF WEEKLY PROGRAM
DOWNLOAD PDF COURSES CALENDAR
Courses
Have you always wanted to get to the Mountain? Have you never done it, because you never had the correct knowledges?
No problem! Bormio Mountain Guides are available to explain you all the right ways to move on the mountain’s terrains with the necessary awareness, safety and technique.
COURSES:
- BASIC Ice Climbing
- ADVANCED Ice Climbing
- MULTIPITCH Ice Climbing
- Indoor Climbing
- Alpinism
- Freeride
- Steep Skiing
- BASIC Ski Touring
- ADVANCED Ski Touring
DOWNLOAD WINTER COURSES PROGRAM
INDIVIDUAL LESSONS: we provide customized safety and technical lessons on the different elements: ice, snow and mixte. Together we will choose the best way to reach your goals. Contact us to define all details.
Engadin Off-pisteEngadin is a valley in the Graubünden canton, in Switzerland; about 1 hour and a half by car from Bormio. Characterized by a large flat area, where there are four lakes: the lakes of Sils, Silvaplana, Champfer and Sankt Moritz, it is famous all over the world for its great beauty. From a skiing point of view, it offers modern ski areas with considerable drops (from 3300m to 1800m) and famous mountains, among which Pizzo Bernina, with its 4050 m, is the most easterly 4000 of the Alps.
Thanks to the great glaciers, the fantastic pine forests and panorama given by the view of the lakes, Engadin is an unique and truly exciting playground.
Corviglia Area
The “Val Suvretta” is the classic downhill that starting from the top of Piz Nair leads to Suvretta village. You can ski in a sunny and very scenic environment.
There are many possible variants, from easy and wide slopes, to steep and narrow couloirs, suitable even for the most experienced.
The “Val Bever” is a magnificent itinerary that from the pass, 200 m upstream of the Trais Flours chairlift, ends, after about 1200 m of drop, to the Spinas station, from where we can comfortably return by train.
Amazing and isolated environment with many possibilities for all skiers.
Diavolezza – La Galb Area
The “Isla Persa” and the “Val d’ Arlas” are the most famous off-piste downhill of the Diavolezza area. They can also be combined to create a long ski day.
The Isla Persa is an unique downhill suitable for everyone. It follows the entire Morteratch glacier in an incredible environment between crevasses, seracs and under giants like Bernina and Belleviste, until the Bernina’s red train station, a UNESCO heritage.
The “Rosa-Val Minor” is the classic downhill of La Galb area. Fun and satisfaction are guaranteed, thanks to the quality of the snow and the isolated and exclusive environment.
The “1000 meters” is the mythical couloir that leads with important and constant slopes, right above the Morteratch railway station. With its 1000 m of drop it is certainly one of the most ambitious skiing in the whole Engadin.
Corvatsch Area
The “Val Roseg” is the downhill that from the highest peak of the Engadin areas reach the village of Pontresina. An endless ski in one of the most evocative places in the Alps.
The “Val di Fex” is considered one of the most beautiful valleys of the region, it can be reached from the Furtschellas top station. Skiing begins on wide and constant slopes until the traced road that leads to the village of Sils-Maria.
The “North Face” is certainly the most mountaineering and adrenaline spot of the whole Engadin. Infact it was also a place of the Freeride World Tour.
From the top station of Corvatsch after a rappel, of about 30 m, with the rope, we will reach a steep couloir that ends on the ski slopes below.
Santa Caterina Valfurva Off-piste SkiingValle dell’Alpe – Boschi del Gavia
Surrounded by the Ortles-Cevedale group and located in the heart of the Stelvio National Park, Santa Caterina means magic nature, snow and high peaks. It is an oasis of peace and tranquility. A place where the time flows slowly and where the genuine challenge with the mountain can take place.
The best spot to approach off-piste in Santa Caterina is the “Valle dell’Alpe”. Characterized by wide slopes with regular steepness is the place to have fun and learn the right off-piste ski technique.
The downhills start from the Sunny Valley hut and finish on the Passo Gavia road that we will follow until the lifts.
The “Boschi del Gavia” is an area for intermediate skiers where is possible to ski even during a heavy snowfall.
In this spot we will skiing from fairly wide slopes to more closed lines where it’s important to have a good control of the skies. This kind of conformation is normally very appreciate and consequently guarantees a lot of fun.
Canali
The “Canali” are one of the pearls that this area offers for off-piste skiing, the wild environment, just a few steps from the ski slopes is unique and unbelievable.
Depending on the choice of the line, is possible to ski on open slopes or on couloirs, even steep for the more advanced skiers.
Thanks to the various difficult aspects, they remain very unfrequentedand it often happens to draw the first tracks.
The northern faced of this spot guarantees excellent snow throughout the all season.
Monte Sobretta
From the arrival of “Valle dell’Alpe” chairlift, after a climb up, using the ski mountaineering stuff, of about an hour we will reach the summit of Monte Sobretta 3296m.
It’s possible to ride different slopes, depending on the snow conditions and the level of the skiers. Anyway, all the lines overcome big drops on ideal slopes, in one of the most unbusy place of Alta Valtellina range. A must not to be missed.
Livigno FreerideCarosello
Carosello area is the gateway to a huge off-piste spot.
From the wide spaces close to the ski slopes, up to the most ambitious terrains or to the ski-mountaineering ascents that allow to reach many peaks above the Livigno valley. Down here some options, also suitable for off-piste beginners.
“Val Cantone” is the valley located on the south of the ski area.
Skiing along wide slopes, couloirs and steep woods we will reach Livigno, where thanks to the bus service we will return to the lifts, ready for a new ride.
With the ski mountaineering stuff is possible to climb the Pizzo Cantone. From the summit there are many possibilities: ski down directly to Val Cantone or ride some couloirs on the nearby Monte delle Rezze.
For the more skilled skiers, the steep “Boschi della Calcheira” are the ideal place to find beautiful snow, protected from the wind and quite safe even after the heaviest snowfalls.
The open woods and the slopes steepness give the possibility of gaining high speeds.
Mottolino
The Mottolino ski area is ideal for adventures off-piste. Here you can reach large open spaces of immaculate snow and get in touch with the true Nature.
The “Colombina” is the classic downhill that starting from Monte Sponda leads to Trepalle, you can ski in an easy free area with various slopes.
The “Vallaccia” is the valley that ends at the lowest point between the Foscagno Pass and the Eira Pass. The downhill starts from the top of the lifts of the Mottolino ski area and then descends on easy, fun and wide slopes with many possibilities of variations.
The “Baitel da la Blés” is the downhill that from the top of Monte della Neve (reachable in a few minutes on foot) through wide slopes, couloirs and steep woods, leads to Livigno.
Valdidentro Off-Piste SkiingLe Pone
The slopes on the side of “Dosso le Pone” are an excellent warm-up to find the right confidence to face more adrenaline downhills. This spot is characterized by open woods that guarantee smooth and fun skiing. It’s very easy to find good snow and very few people, too. For the more interesting lines it’s possible to climb up 200 m with the ski mountaineering stuff.
Cima Piazzi – Val Lia
The side of the “Val Lia” is the most ambit spot in the Cima Piazzi ski area.
Using the ski mountaineering stuff it is possible to climb up the ridge to the summit of Pizzo Boron in about 1 hour and then ski down into the valley until Alpe Boron. From here there are two possibilities: to go on skiing until Isolaccia or climb up for another adrenaline line.
Bormio Off-piste SkiingPosto degli sciatori
If you are looking for a place to practice off piste skiing, Bormio is certainly among the best and unfrequented ski resorts in the Alps.
Off-piste skiing offers unique sensations, where there are no fix tracks, but only a deep sense of freedom. The “Posto degli Sciatori” offers wide slopes and fir’s forests and is also ideal for beginners users.
Valhalla – Croce
The “Vallone” or “Valhalla” as the locals like to call it, is the most famous off-piste downhill of Bormio ski area. It follows the main valley giving an amazing skiing on a wide slope and then ending in the “Boschetto della Levissima” which takes you back to the piste just above Bormio 2000.
From Bormio 3000, walking up along the ridge for about 40 minutes, you arrive at the “Croce del Monte Vallecetta” which with its 3150m offers the most ambit downhill on the Bormino area. In addition to the two classic downhills there are many other variants, that offer many options, also for the more experienced skiers.
Sant
“Sant” off-piste is the longest and wildest line. It starts from Bormio 3000 and it finishes on the road that links Bormio to Santa Caterina. A 1500 m downhill of pure emotion where it’s possible to draw many lines inside steep couloirs, wide slopes and finally inside beautiful woods.
The return will take place by bus or is also possible by taxi (extra cost).