Ski Mountaineering at Col de Locia: skinning in Alta Badia

Col de Locia, above the hamlet of La Val, is a classic ski touring destination for those taking their first steps beyond groomed pistes: open slope ascent through forest clearings with views of the Odle and the Sasso della Croce.

While not technically extreme, it requires ski touring experience, knowledge of the avalanche bulletin and rescue equipment (ARTVA transceiver, shovel, probe).

How to get there — La Val (1.353 m)

The starting point is La Val, which the Ladins call La Val and the Germans Wengen, a tucked-away village in Val Badia spread out at the foot of the Passo di Santa Croce, on the edge of the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park. You reach it by car by driving up Val Badia from Brunico and turning off at Pedraces, a little above 1,300 m. In winter the roads are almost always well maintained, but winter tyres or chains on board remain a must. In the village there are car parks where it is worth parking early on fine days, because ski touring is at home here and the spaces fill up fast. From there you put on your skins and set off on the route towards the gentle slopes of Col de Locia, beneath the walls of the Sasso della Croce.

The trailhead is in the Alta Badia area. Check the travel guide for lift schedules, parking and access rules.

Stage by stage

When to go & weather

The right window is that of midwinter, between January and March, when the snowpack has settled and the slopes offer good snow both on the way up and the way down. The days just after a snowfall give the finest powder, but they are also the most delicate from an avalanche point of view, and here reading the bulletin is not optional. On high-season weekends you cross paths with more people off-piste too, while midweek stays quiet. Choosing a spell of settled weather and moving in the morning helps you find spring snow at just the right point, before the afternoon sun softens it.

Recommended gear

• Touring skis with bindings and skins, plus ski crampons for any icy stretches
• Transceiver, shovel and probe worn on you, and above all the skill to use them for real
• Helmet and goggles or glasses for the descent
• Breathable layered clothing, a spare pair of gloves and a windproof shell
• The avalanche bulletin read the night before and rechecked in the morning, ideally with a snow-science app
• A hot flask, something to eat and a small emergency kit

Useful tips

• Consult the South Tyrol Dolomites avalanche bulletin and gauge the outing on the day's danger level, not on your wish to go up
• Before setting off, do the classic transceiver transmit-and-search test with the whole group
• On the open slopes keep safe distances between each person, both climbing and descending
• Use the horizon landmarks — from the Sasso della Croce to the Conturines, the Sella and the Marmolada — to orientate yourself and assess the aspect of the slopes
• If you lack a solid grounding in snow and avalanches, the local alpine guides here run ski touring trips: it is the most sensible way to start