A great off piste run in Ra Valles, the first part is quite steep before entering the tree line. Parking a second car at the Olympia camp ground is a good idea so that you can quickly return to resort.

Statistics

8

m

1,125

m

42

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Difficult

Description

From the top of the cable car station in Ra Valles ("Freccia del Cielo”), follow the "Forcella Rossa" piste.

As the slope turns right down to Forcella Rossa, pull over underneath a steep slope on the skier's left.

Start to side step with skis on or boot pack with your skis on your backpack in order to get on top of this steep slope so you can reach the top balcony (Tip: take care in case of an avalanche, as you're hiking up above a ski slope).

Keep going past the drop-in for the "Candela di Ra Zesta" couloir that is on skier's right and head towards the summit called Cima Ra Zestes at 2420 metres, where you will put your skis on.

It is a 30/40 minute approach and crampons are sometimes useful.

Start skiing north along the wide ridge, close to the rocks on your right in order to get to the narrow notch that you will reach with a short section of side stepping uphill.

You will drop in down the other side (north-east) in a wide and steep couloir (the first 100 metres is steepest) and follow it with a wide left hand turn in order to enter the wide open field.

Once you reach the tree line keep skiing on your left to get into a little valley that you'll follow all the way down to the campground in Fiames.