Freeride at 3,000 meters: a unique experience for mountain lovers
Are you looking for a pure and direct contact with the mountain and you love extreme? Then freeride skiing in Bormio is exactly what you need.
Skiing off-piste gives you unique emotions out there, where there are no groomed ski runs but just amazing powder snow fallen from the sky.
Approach freeriding consciously. Go off-piste with a mountain guide or a ski instructor (and never alone!). Always check the avalanche bulletin, gear up with beacon, backpack, probe and shovel.
In Bormio 2000 verify if your avalanche beacon is functioning by trying the ARTVA check.
Be certain to practice this sport within the rules.
The best freeride spots in Bormio
Vallone
With over 3,000 meters of altitude the Mountain Vallecetta is the Freeride Paradise with heavy snowfalls and great snow quality which make Vallone a spectacular spot to practice freeriding.
In this area you mainly have two possibile itineraries: “The Classic” and “The Cross”. Both give great satisfaction within a silent and uncontaminated environment.
If you are a powder seeker, the Vallone’s experience is obligated, at least once in a life-time.
Suggested itineraries in Vallone:
You’ll never get tired of this one. Great satisfaction.
Reach Bormio 3000 by cablecar and pass below the station entering the hill side. No mandatory itinerary to ski down. After the first half don’t go too far left due to the presence of rock barriers. Reach the avalanche barrier before the plateau. Gather speed from here and go to the right, look out for the little road which will take you to the ski slopes with a five minute walk.
Do not enter the summit avalanche barrier: very dangerous area!
Get out of the cablecar and pass below the station. Follow the western ridge which takes you to the Vallecetta summit. From the peak enter the couloir which faces North-East and join the Vallone’s classic.
The Skiers’ Spot
Magic and dreamy it’s the Skiers’ Spot, a freeride zone which offers two itineraries very exciting and evocative within 2,700-2,000 meters.
Skiing in the woods will awaken old time sensations and will make you go back to childhood!
Suggested itineraries in the Skiers’ Spot:
Fun and fascinating descent in a magical environment.
Enter the off-piste to the right side of the slope S. Ambrogio by the flat section. No forced itinerary between changes of gradients and a fun wood. Continue until you intersect “Strada dell’Acqua” (Road of Water, it’s a narrow dirt road). Follow it to the left for roughly 20 minutes till you reach the ski slope at 2000 m.
Attention, itinerary for experts only. Avalanche danger. We suggest you to enter with mountain guides only.
At the end of the ski slope Ferrari, reach the flat section and enter the off-piste to the right side. You will see some aerials above you. No forced itinerary, proceed until you intersect “Strada dell’Acqua”.
Information you have to know before approaching powder skiing in Bormio
Freeride skiing in Bormio: rules of conduct
Attention!
The freeride areas are to be considered off-slope. Enter those areas at your own risk.
Follow these simple rules of conduct to practice freeride skiing in Bormio with more awareness and safety.
Avalanche danger scale
Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.
Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.
Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.
Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.
Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.
Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.
Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.
Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.
Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain. Large to very large avalanches in many areas.
Avoid all avalanche terrain.
Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.
Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.
Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.
Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.
Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.
Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.
Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.
Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.
Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain. Large to very large avalanches in many areas.
Avoid all avalanche terrain.
Freeride guide
If you want to try powder skiing for the first time, if you have never been off-piste in Bormio or if you wanna have a fun day in total safety we advise you to go with a mountain guide.
Entering the off-piste areas with real experts of the subject it’s the occasion for you to try freeriding in safety and learn from their experience and competence which expedients and rules of conduct use in the middle of an off slope situation.
Mandatory freeride kit
To practice freeriding it is mandatory to have the proper gear which, in case of avalanche, will give you the chance to self-rescue. You must have: beacon, probe, shovel, backpack, freeride skis or snowboard.
We’d like to suggest to wear a helmet since even a very snowy and apparently safe area may hide a lot of dangers like rocks or hidden trees.
