For a change, instead of my usual trip to Arabba for the Snowheads Birthday Bash, I decided to go on the pre-Birthday Bash the week before, in Kronplatz. That was an area I'd been meaning to try for some time, and this year that wish came true. It's an interesting area, also on the same Dolomiti Superski pass as the main Sella Ronda, and also with a bus link from just outside the hotel (well 2 min walk) up to Alta Badia. So we made use of that bus and some cars to ski some Sella Ronda parts, plus spend more time up at Cinque Torre and the Hidden Valley than we would normally do from Arabba. The main Kronplatz area is very deceptive, with the top to bottom runs much longer than you would expect from the piste map.
Some nice ice sculptures in the Kronplatz area...
My first trip to Marmolada for a while. It's quite an ascent to get up there, with 3 end to end cable cars, and about 1 mile vertical.
But stunning views down on to the Sella massif...
Chris, Amily, Jamie, Graham, Ronald, and the 3rd of 3 consecutive cable cars in the background...
For once, the hidden valley was not hidden. Last time I skied it, it was all murk and no views. Lovely run down though, with a couple of ace rifugios for lunch near the bottom, and a horse+sleigh tow back to Armentarola.
