Euro 2014! Day 8

Rifugio Ferraro

The goal today was to ski to the valley floor, take a lift to the next ridge and ski tour down to the hut.  It was a simple plan and in order to get to the next valley at the right time of day to get the best snow we left Gnifetti at 7am….big mistake




Descending to the valley meant skiing down a steep narrow run accessed by the local ski area and big moguls covered in churned up piles of frozen slush.  Being accustomed to the smooth off piste, this was a bit of an epic but to the credit of all involved, the cursing was kept to a personal level.


Once we reached the groomed slopes all was forgiven and we cruised on into the small village of Stafal

A lift up the other side of the valley dropped us in corn snow paradise.  Ski touring is a journey where you take what comes but it is the runs like this that go on forever that you remember.

Rifugio Ferraro was built in 1590 and is the highest place in Italy that is occupied year round.  Neither of these points actually meant that it would be a nice place to spend the night and skiing up to the hut we wondered what we might be getting ourselves into.  

 As it turned out, Fausta, the lady that runs the place cooks food like she has been cooped up all winter with no one to serve it to.



The courses of pasta, soup, salad, meats and deserts and cheeses kept coming long after the ability to eat.  Daniel nervous at the task ahead, gets ready to hook into the two kg of excellent cheese we had for a starter.


Going for just one more of a delicacy which is strips of thin white FAT covered in honey and nuts.

It was fantastic!

GO TO DAY 9