No.on just skis. Snow is much more. And even those who expect nothing more than to whiz on immaculate slopes after the long period of forced “fasting”, discover in the mountains a landscape full of facets and exciting and inclusive alternatives. Because there are countless reasons to appreciate it even without skis on. Dog sledding, snowshoeing, gourmet mountain huts, snow tubing, fat biking, relaxation at the spa, are just a few good reasons. And once there, as the writer Erri De Luca thinks: «A peak reached is the border between the finite and the immense».
Pre-Olympics adrenaline-fueled Lombardy
«In Lombardy we have 27 districts, so we rank 3rd in Italy. The good summer performances give us hope for the winter season and, in perspective, trace a path towards the 2026 Olympics. But the trends highlight, in addition to the search for smaller resorts, also the growing interest in alternatives to skiing “explains Lara Magoni, regional councilor for tourism, territorial marketing and fashion, and former alpine ski champion.
Among the proposals for the mountain, evening snowshoeing in Adamello Ski, snow tubing, that is rafting in rubber boats along the slopes, in Livigno or in Alta Val Camonica, the rope flight, or zip line, safely harnessed above the woods of the Bitto Valley, the Fat bike, with oversized tires and rims to ride even on snowy slopes, dog sledding, on sleds pulled by Siberian dogs, but also learning to be “musher”, the conductors, at the Husky Village in Valdidentro or Ponte di Legno-Tonale, where you can then choose to ice skating. And it ends in beauty, a Bormio, in Valtellina, known since the times of the ancient Romans for its hot thermal waters (36 ° -41 °), where the charm of QC Terme Bagni Vecchi (qcterme.com), among vapors, pools, springs and caves at the foot of Mount Reit, guarantees a full of energy. In Livigno the headquarters for the Mottolino plant is also inaugurated (mottolino.com) and the Kosmo Taste the Mountain-Livigno & AlpINN, a center dedicated to smart working, gaming and catering, together with starred chef Norbert Niederkofler. At the base, a mountain cuisine based on ethical philosophy and a structure in total harmony with nature. Info: in-lombardia.it
Under the stars of Courmayeur
Courmayeur, Val Ferret at night. Photo: Giacomo Buzio
The sunset lights up the sky with colors, then the blue hour, which precedes twilight, gives way to the glitter of the stars on the mountain. At this time of the evening, Courmayeur changes its face, Mont Blanc is tinged with luminous shades and then invites you to stroll with astronomical observation, to admire constellations and stars with the naked eye. But it is also an opportunity for a night snowshoe hike and guided along the Val Ferret. On the other hand, those who want to reach the various chalet-restaurants on the peaks of the Aosta Valley, always around Courmayeur, for a somewhat special dinner, book at La Chaumière and Super G, open in the evening and accessible by the Dolonne cable car which starts from the Strada delle Volpi and arrives on the slopes in Checrouit, while La Grolla is only accessible by snowmobile. Those who love the idea of regenerating body and mind can participate in yoga lessons, at the Courmayeur Sport Center. And then there is the desire to discover the village, the history: until April, every first Sunday of the month, you participate in free excursions “Tor Culture”, starting from the Town Hall, next to the monument of Giosuè Carducci, who in his many stays in the village dedicated a poem in his Barbarian Odes. Continue through the squares, the alleys, the botanical gardens dedicated to illustrious names of the place, such as mountaineers, guides, writers, then following the Grand Ru canal, along the stream, until you admire the village from above. The losa roofs, the stone houses of Tséralèi, the oldest district of Courmayeur. But there are also those who wait shows on ice, concerts, DJ sets at high altitude at Super G and, from 17 to 20 February 2022, Courmayeur Design Weekend, a widespread exhibition with products, objects and visions of the future that transforms the destination into an unprecedented design district. Info: courmayeur-montblanc.com; lovevda.it
South Tyrol, a holiday of taste
In South Tyrol, in the villages of Alta Badia, together with skiing, gastronomic cuisine is the real star of the winter season in the mountains. Gourmet palates can go up with snowshoes or by cable car and participate in theinitiative “Skiing with taste”, in which eight starred chefs are combined with a mountain refuge, for which they create a dedicated dish. To be enjoyed on the outdoor terraces or inside the huts, of which seven can be reached even without skis. Among the guest super chefs, Simone Cantafio, from the La Stüa de Michil restaurant at the Hotel La Perla in Corvara, combined with the Ütia de Bioch refuge (can be reached by the Biok chairlift), and the Uruguayan-Milanese Matias Perdomo (from the restaurant Milanese Contraste) at Ütia Jimmi, at Passo Gardena (you can reach it with the Plans-Frara cable car in Colfosco). Do you want Ladin experiences? You choose between lessons with the baker Nicolas, wine and grappa tastings with sommelier Kristin, bricolage with Betty. Or hitting a track, comfortably seated on the snowmobile, with Julia and Daniel, professional “cat lovers” (information on: altabadia.org/it/vacanze-dolomiti/storia-cultura/nos-ladins).
Gottardo: Japanese cuisine on the top
The Chedi Pool-Indoor Pool-Lounges
For Goethe, the region near the Gotthard was «the most interesting region and the one I prefer». Since the construction of the Devil’s Bridge at the beginning of the 13th century, the connection between Northern and Southern Europe passes through Andermatt, Switzerland, in particular after the opening of the Gotthard tunnel in 1882 and then of the motorway tunnel, which allows you to arrive from Milan in just two hours. And if its district, SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis, in winter it turns into a universe of snow and ice, there are various alternative proposals, including snowshoeing, sleigh rides, indoor golf driving range, music at the Andermatt Concert Hall and also trekking with llama cones. Curiosity is to try the highest starred Japanese cuisine restaurant in the world, at 2300 meters, and Japanese by and Chedi (thechediandermatt.com) which belongs to the Asian-style resort with spa in the village: Alpine architecture with large windows facing the Gotthard, always lit fireplaces and Chef Dietmar Sawyere’s specialties, such as shidashi bentō and omakase and kaiseki menus. From January, always on the Guetsch, you can book a luxury picnic in the snow, based on champagne and other delicacies. The Glacier Express, the panoramic train that connects Sankt Moritz to Zermatt, stops at Andermatt. Where other scenarios await. Info: myswitzerland.com
In the haunt of the royals
Auron
For Stéphanie from Munich it is the meeting point for her entire family, starting with her daughter Pauline, who posts radiant images on social media from Auron: “Au sommet du mond avec la mama“. Auron (auron.com), in France, in the Maritime Alps, 90 kilometers from Nice, together with Isola 2000 and Valberg, is part of the Stations du Mercantour ski area, and is their favorite refuge. Characterized by an abundance of snow and sun, proximity to the Riviera, 135 kilometers of slopes and 16 lifts, Auron also offers activities for non-skiers. From astronomical evenings to snow tubing, rafting on the slopes by rubber dinghy, snowmobile trips and traditional snowshoeing, to dog sledding in the woods. But also meditation walks in the mountains – it is full of chapels and churches built from the 15th to the 18th century – and yoga courses, alternating with more active bootcamps, team challenges on obstacle courses in the woods, or visits to the farms. Among the favorite pastimes of families, certainly also of Stéphanie and children, Pauline, Louis and Camille, when they were children. Info: cotedazurfrance.fr
iO Donna © REPRODUCTION RESERVED