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karlo

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@Pat AKA mustski's query,

https://www.pugski.com/posts/338013/

motivated me to kick-off this TR.

Departing with my son on Saturday. My wife is already in Venice and marveling at all there is to see. A little background, in case you’re interested and have not read,

https://www.pugski.com/threads/mostly-on-piste-eu-village-to-village-safari.11689/

There were three companies I considered. SwissSkiSafari, InspiredItaly that was recommended by @sbooker, and DolomiteMountains.com. The latter has just what I was looking for, onpiste hut-to-hut, baggage transferred for us between huts, and good food.

https://www.dolomitemountains.com/en/winter_spring_trips/ski_safari2652.htm

Click "More Info" on that page's menu. We are doing this trip, adapted to our schedule, when we can arrive, how long we have.

SwissSkiSafari, we would have stayed overnight at just one hotel, maybe two. IspiredItaly, we would have had to carry our things between huts which, quite manageable,

https://inspireditaly.com/travellers-tales/what-to-pack-for-an-inspired-italy-dolomites-ski-safari/

But, I did not want to burden my wife with that, not on her first hut-to-hut.

Our guide will be Carlo Cosi. Reading his CV, sounds perfect.

https://www.alpin-ism.com/about/team/carlo-cosi

More than perfect. I mean, all we need is a hospitality professional. But, now, there should be some good stories to be had, and my 16-year old son's ears might perk up.

Flying into Venice, arriving Sunday morning. From there, we take a Cortina Express bus to Alta Badia, with transfer in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where my wife will be by then,

https://www.dolomiti.org/en/cortina/transfer/

She will join us for the leg to Alta Badia, where our tour starts. The tour ends in Cortina. Dolomite Mountains offered to arrange private transfer. But, I felt that it would be a better experience for my son, figuring out for ourselves how to get there.

We will be joined by a friend. French, lives in Paris, empty nester. Unfortunately his wife, lovely Japanese lady, cannot join us.

More unfortunately, my wife's knee is hurting her. She saw the doctor yesterday morning, just in time for her departure last night. Something about her knee-cap not being stable, because muscles on the inside are weak. PT prescribed. The doctor won't tell her not to ski or play tennis, but points out that doing so will delay healing. He recommends a knee brace, one that has a hole for the kneecap. She will try that.

Good news is that, our trip coordinator advises that she can transfer from one hut to another using drivers, lifts, and ski-doos (snowmobiles??), with the luggage. That sounds terrible doesn't it? Being transferred with the luggage, like cargo? So, I did some research. Maybe we can rent one I'd these!

32FAE1FD-5A2F-44A9-AF46-31A3938DC65E.jpeg

https://cascade-rescue.com/model-350-the-extreme/

Carlo and I can take her on the ski tour. It even has belay points!
This could really be fun, as @PeteW shared,

https://www.pugski.com/threads/mountain-rescue-in-a-hurry.14622/

My wife didn’t laugh.
 
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jmeb

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Stoked to see this. Seems like something my mother would love.

I leave for a hut to hut of a very different nature in the Alps tomorrow. (Well supposedly, if my plane gets out.) Will start a thread on it soon....
 
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karlo

karlo

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I leave for a hut to hut of a very different nature in the Alps tomorrow. (Well supposedly, if my plane gets out.) Will start a thread on it soon....

Have fun. Be safe. Looking forward to the TR’s
 

Pat AKA mustski

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Maybe the first Euro-Gathering should mimic this itinerary?! ..... Looking forward to your trip reports @karlo

But I’m serious. I’d really be interested in an international gathering - Europe, Japan? It would be a grassroots effort for sure...
Bob and I are definitely doing a ski safari next winter. Maybe we should look at getting our own group together!
 

Jacob

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But I’m serious. I’d really be interested in an international gathering - Europe, Japan? It would be a grassroots effort for sure...

I've tried organising Euro gatherings in the past, but there was never much interest. Maybe it has to be someone in the US organising so that people have the option to travel together to make it more appealing.
 

Pat AKA mustski

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When we know for sure what we’re doing, I’ll start a thread so anyone who wants can join in. I’m waiting to hear a TR from @karlo because the gourmet food and only 3 changes of accommodations appeals to me. Some of the other safaris are skiing to a new location every day and, to be perfectly honest, I worry about how I’d feel on day 6 after bell to bell skiing for five days in a row! We’ll probably tack on a stay somewhere else for a few days at the end of the trip.
 

James

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I've tried organising Euro gatherings in the past, but there was never much interest. Maybe it has to be someone in the US organising so that people have the option to travel together to make it more appealing.
Cat herding is tough. Plus the kats really like their playgrounds. Snow and efficient lifts, plus many are in the West. It's a tough sell.

Don't forget the Gatherings are all self made. If people share rooms it's on their own. No group discounts, etc. Maybe a common meeting room sometimes, but not usually. I once explained this to someone on the lift at Jackson. They couldn't understand why we bothered.

A Euro group would have the advantage of hiring a guide as one group, assuming we could get equal ability group of 5-6.

@karlo , trip sounds awesome! Geez, this is like luxury hut skiing, they take your gear by snowmobile. Do they charge for water? On the Haute Route I've heard it's 10€/liter.
 
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karlo

karlo

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only 3 changes of accommodations

Five. For our trip, we stay 2 nights at a hotel in Alta Badia, then one night each at 3 rifugios, then 1 night at a hotel in Cortina. Oh, that’s 4 changes; 5 accommodations. I’ll try to map it before departure. That would be helpful to me as well, so I get my bearings.

Do they charge for water?

No doubt. Despite what they say, I’m bringing my daypack and a flask or bottle. Tap water for me.
 

James

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No doubt. Despite what they say, I’m bringing my daypack and a flask or bottle. Tap water for me.
Well on the Haute Route there's no tap. All water is hauled in or melted. It's an extra expense I never even thought of till I talked to someone who did it.

Are you doing the Rifugios with hot showers?
 

Cheizz

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I haven't seen any Dolomite Rifigio that doesn't have running hot water. These are not mountain huts where you have to cook for yourself and leave a few euro when you leave. These are fully functioning hotels, basically.
Nothing like the Haute Route or Norway.
 

James

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I just took it from their site.
---------
For travelers seeking a more “simple” experience, there are rifugios that offer the very basics for their guests, like only cold running water and a few large rooms that are shared by multiple guests. Others who desire more amenities can choose from rifugios that are more like lodges, featuring private rooms or rooms with two or four beds and community showers located in the hall. They can almost be compared to small, basic hotels.
--------
https://www.dolomitemountains.com/en/resources/resources135.htm
 

Seldomski

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Looking forward to this TR! Love to do something like this someday with my wife, but she has very hard time when visibility is poor. I hope you have great conditions, but am curious to hear how poor conditions (i.e. whiteout) are managed.
 

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