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  1. #1
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    TR Losing myself in The Italian Alps

    Inspired by Buster’s Train Trip, and not wanting to fully hijack his thread, I’ll share my cherry popping experience in the Italian Alps.

    Fall 2017, I took a family trip with mother and sister, to Italy, a place my grandmother wishes she had visited when she could. We did a week of history, hill towns, Tuscany, and all. It was great, I do recommend going at some point. And renting a car was a great way to explore back roads, surprise villages on our own schedule.

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    But this is a ski forum and we like mountains and skiing. We drove up to Trento at night and then went to hike Compaccio outside of Siusi. It started out looking like this.

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    But eventually cleared up to this

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    Then the hits just kept coming. Passo Sella

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    Passo De Tonale

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    Adamello Ski

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    Passo Gavia

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    Passo dello Stelvio

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    Madonna di Campiglio

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    Here is a map of our wanderings

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    So my appetite for more has me going back and doing something like this.

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    - I am here for the stoke

  2. #2
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    Feb 2008
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    Sweet! Nice Trip.

  3. #3
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    Nice circuit with early snows on Italy.
    Merde De Glace On the Freak When Ski
    >>>200 cm Black Bamboo Sidewalled DPS Lotus 120 : Best Skis Ever <<<

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by

    So my appetite for more has me going back and doing something like this.

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    242228[/ATTACH]






    - I am here for the stoke
    I'd add Venice into that itinerary if you are going at a quiet time of the year. We started there for 2 days on the way to the Dolomites in January 2015, and it was a pretty cool add on to a ski trip.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Mike View Post
    I'd add Venice into that itinerary if you are going at a quiet time of the year. We started there for 2 days on the way to the Dolomites in January 2015, and it was a pretty cool add on to a ski trip.
    Thanks Mike, It is definitely an option that I have been considering. I have much more of draw to get into the Dolomites and continue the exploration from last year. But if I can get into Milan-Malpensa on time, pick up the car and get over to Venice at a decent hour, and dependent on how much sleep I get on the airplane. It sure would be a fun way to spend the first night of the trip wandering around the streets of Venice after hours.

    As much as I have been daydreaming about this trip, looking at maps, watching YouTube, reading articles and blogs. Here is my travel philosophy: There is only so much available to learn from a far. And all of that concentrates you with other travelers. I do prefer to wing a trip, before locking myself into an itinerary. We did pretty good last year traveling like this and found so many wonderful places and experiences. No regrets if I miss shuffling through a historical site with a crowd of tourists, I can come back and do that when I am older.

    That being said, I’ll be at a conference in Innsbruck for part of the trip and I have booked a motorcycle rental and tour for one of my days there.


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  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Mike View Post
    I'd add Venice into that itinerary if you are going at a quiet time of the year. We started there for 2 days on the way to the Dolomites in January 2015, and it was a pretty cool add on to a ski trip.
    Oh, also where did you ski on your trip?


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  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bruce Springskiin View Post
    Oh, also where did you ski on your trip?


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    stayed in Corvara and skied 3 days around the Sella Ronda, and then drove to Madonna di Campiglio for 2 days there.

  8. #8
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    That sounds very nice, being in Madonna Di Campiglio and near Corvara both areas left me wanting to come back and explore them more. Previous to the trip they were not on my radar at all so such a nice surprise to discover. From afar they look to be a little mellow, compared to the places I had heard about. But access so much area, and the option to hop valleys is very intriguing. In my day dreams skis skins, backpack, and a map I imagine hopping valley to valley. The ridge lines above a lot of lifts look to be interesting to explore.


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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bruce Springskiin View Post
    That sounds very nice, being in Madonna Di Campiglio and near Corvara both areas left me wanting to come back and explore them more. Previous to the trip they were not on my radar at all so such a nice surprise to discover. From afar they look to be a little mellow, compared to the places I had heard about. But access so much area, and the option to hop valleys is very intriguing. In my day dreams skis skins, backpack, and a map I imagine hopping valley to valley. The ridge lines above a lot of lifts look to be interesting to explore.Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
    On piste is mellow. Off is as rowdy as you want. Not Cham; but not as crowded either.

  10. #10
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    Aug 2018
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    1
    great trip

  11. #11
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    TR Losing myself in The Italian Alps

    I have been day dreaming about twisty alpine roads for this falls trip
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    grossglockner high alpine road

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    Passo San Boldo

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    Lake Como Motorcycles

    Edit:
    And thanks mods for nuking Stephani Jhonson and her time traveling AOL self


    - I am here for the stoke
    Last edited by Bruce Springskiin; 08-29-2018 at 08:44 AM.

  12. #12
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    Man...such fantastic photos/scenery. I love Swissland...but since there's no way I can afford it, I've always wanted to retire and move to Trento.
    It makes perfect sense...until you think about it.

    I suspect there's logic behind the madness, but I'm too dumb to see it.

  13. #13
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    Col de Braus,


    Col du Montgenevre:


    Les Lacets de Montvernier
    Merde De Glace On the Freak When Ski
    >>>200 cm Black Bamboo Sidewalled DPS Lotus 120 : Best Skis Ever <<<

  14. #14
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    Someday I’ll make it to the French Cols, but not this fall.


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  15. #15
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    My second choice: Chambery!
    It makes perfect sense...until you think about it.

    I suspect there's logic behind the madness, but I'm too dumb to see it.

  16. #16
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    Nice. Only place I've seen a cop in a Lamborghini before. Lotsa crazy bullet bikes to catch up there. Wish I remember our route, I was just following another car and didn't pay attention. I hope to go back in the winter to ski someday, but I'd be happy to just go fro a drive there.

  17. #17
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    Fucking Rad! I lived in Europe and never made it to Italy. For shame. Those roads look like they'd be fun on a bike if its allowed.
    If we're gonna wear uniforms, we should all wear somethin' different!

  18. #18
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    TR Losing myself in The Italian Alps

    Further Lost in the Alps: I took another trip to Europe this fall, because it is amazing and there is so much more I want to explore.

    First stop San Boldo Pass. Just amazing what was built for WWI. Click image for larger version. 

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    Just kilometers from the first hiking mission of the trip, Passo Falzarego, we got a flat tire. We had to abandon plans and swap out the car, but got to check out a rescue helicopter in action.Click image for larger version. 

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    The next day we were headed out to hike in the drizzle around the Marmolada Massif. Our drive was interrupted by a car rally, Dolomite Streets IX. There were some really nice Bobby Stainless level cars super cars, but mostly road going version of rally cars, and street racers. It brought me back to my import days. My personal favorite are the old Lancia Delta street cars.Click image for larger version. 

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    In the mountain between Arabba and Marmolada we got into some WWI mountain warfare trenches, and a memorial. The recreation we enjoy in the mountains now has roots in this area.Click image for larger version. 

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    The next day we made it back to the Lagazuoi Tunnels, another place of interesting WWI history. Here the Italians built a network of tunnels in the mountain to undermine the Austrians, and take the ridge line. You can essentially climb the mountain from within. Click image for larger version. 

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    After a couple days of playing we made it into Innsbruck, and I nerded out on Snow Science for the week. Midweek a field trip got us out of the lecture hall, and near St. Anton am Alberg. In that valley and a lot of the Austrian Alps they build and do some wild stuff to mitigate avalanches, is just amazing.Click image for larger version. 

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    Post conference and with a few more days to get back to Milan, we explored new areas. We hiked outside Galtür Aus, near the Silvertta Mtns and Swiss Border.
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    The next day we wandered through Switzerland past Klosters-Davos. Switzerland was surprising in how much of it is unchanged, almost stuck in its ways. Holding onto the character of their regions. At least in the more rural parts. But so beautiful.
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    On the final day we finally got onto a little Via Feratta which I had really wanted to do. This was down on the edge of Lago Maggiore. It was not overly difficult, but a lot of fun.Click image for larger version. 

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    So that is my trip in brief. Still only scratching the surface, and so much more I want to explore, or just hunker down a spot and access all the trails available.

    For the next trip I am looking at a training in Chamonix the week after New Years. I’ll also have a few days there to just ski.

    Oh and finally, in a tip of the hat to DSM’s trip reports we did a lot of this too.Click image for larger version. 

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    - I am here for the stoke
    Last edited by Bruce Springskiin; 10-29-2018 at 10:27 PM.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
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    26

    Travel

    That's so cool! Can't wait for a visit to Italy!

  20. #20
    Solid trip!

  21. #21
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    Thanks. I’ll do my best to keep up the stoke in Chamonix in just over a month


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  22. #22
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
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    61
    That's one epic journey around Italy!

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