Ski area Bormio

The ski area in Bormio reaches 1792m (5879 feet) vertical and is one of the three greatest in Italy, beaten only by Alagna and Cortina. This is not a vast inter-linked skiing domain however, more a place for those who love to get to the top of the mountain and then have huge long hassle-free descents of up to 14km (9miles) back down to the resort. The lower two thirds of the slopes are forested and protected by snow making. There is a choice of two routes up, each from the edge of town (there is a ski bus but many will find their accommodation a short walk away). The Bormio ski area has been enriched with a new gondola which ascends first to Bormio 2000 - the main nursery area with guaranteed snow. It then carries on to the summit of Cima Bianca from where there's a choice of descents, including the long blue all the way to the bottom, which beginners might attempt by the end of their first week. Intermediates will enjoy the Bormio ski area the most with its long sweeping runs and fast easy routes. Experts have a more limited choice but the Pista Stelvio was the course for the Men's Downhill in the 1995 World Championship. This great ski area in Bormio is part of the Alta Valtellina Lift Pass system which gives skiing access to the slopes of Livigno, Santa Caterina and San Colombano and with a seven day pass you also get one free day over the border, which includes famous St Moritz. The resort where you're most likely to make use of the pass is Bormio's near neighbour Santa Caterina, a traditional but high and snow sure village with another 40km (25 miles) of trails. It is the home of former Olympic champion Deborah Campagnoni. On the other side of Bormio ski area we find the San Colombano lifts serve another mixture of mostly easy and intermediate trails, with one black at Oga.