Italy Sports & Outdoors Tips by iandsmith Top 5 Page for this destination

The challenge

This slab of rock, known as Sass Pordoi, is simply awesome. Situated in Val di Fassa, Hollywood has noticed it and has been here. In places the cliff is a sheer 864 metres. When you stand within 100 metres of it, as I have after skiing off the top, I can tell you it is overpowering. There a long piece of rope rocking in the breeze where someone has ascended. It's amazing to contemplate that anyone would even think about trying. This is definitely one for the experienced climber only.

Theme: Climbing

Skiing heaven

"If you were in France right now there'd be 20 minute queues." Thus spoke my new-found friend with a heavy north England accent.
The strange thing was he was a native from just 20 kms away from where we were skiing, deep in the Dolomites!
Where we were, Lagazuoi, was the front line during the First World War and would be a worthy stop if you were just a history buff but today we were there to ski and, in the whole area, there were probably around fifty skiers. Every time I got on a chair or T-bar I was alone. The only exception was the cable car from Passo Falzarego where you had to wait 2-10 minutes because there weren't enough passengers. This is where I met the English family.
I had a great time skiing here (and falling down occasionally) and, like elsewhere in the Dolomites, am amazed that the general tourist populace seem to avoid the area. Perhaps because there are limited public transport options, perhaps because people don't like switchback roads. For whatever reason. Me, I've put it on my "must go back to" list.

Equipment: I hired from Break Out in La Villa who were efficient and helpful.

Directions: The Dolomites is a huge area with so many options, too many to list here.

Theme: Skiing/Snowboarding