New ski descents in the Dolomites by Simon Kehrer & Co

The warmer season is slowly on its way but for some it's proving difficult to put their skies away as snow conditions are still excellent in certain areas... Especially the Italian Dolomites where Mountain Guide Simon Kehrer and friends have made three noteworthy descents, the first on 20 March down the NNE Face of Sas de Crosta (Monte Pares), the second on 14 April down the NNE Face of Sas dle Diesc. And the third? That was carried out last Sunday so a report and photos will follow shortly, in the meantime here's the report written by Simon's friend Franco Mucchietto.

INTENSE EMOTIONS IN THE MAGICAL WORLD SURROUNDING THE FANES VALLEY
by Franco Mucchietto

Monte Pares 2396m - first ski descent
Monte Pares (known to the valley locals as Sas de Crosta) rises to the SW of San Vigilio di Marebbe and Simon Kehrer had noticed a possible line of descent a while back that, starting from the summit, runs down the NNE Face. According to those who skied it recently, the obvious line is clearly visible fro the centre of San Vigilio di Marebbe and fascinating.. The start of 2014 brought with it exceptional quantities of snow and resulted in a compact snow cover down the entire line of descent.

Simon Kehrer, Paul Willeit and Albert Palfrader set off early in the morning from the so-called spiaggetta di Ciamaor with skis and skins. The reached the panoramic Jú de Rit, from here the route steepens and ascends SW past exposed slopes to reach the ridge. The view from the summit, just above the cross, was spectacular and made it well-worth the effort. The descent starts 100m below the summit on the North Face by taking the steep and narrow gully that widens as height is lost. After circa 150m the gully leads to a small slope, from here the descent continues westwards to reach a narrow, obvious depression. A further 150m lead to a steep, 15m mixed drop of rock and ice. This section was breached by downclimbing, after which skis were put on once again and the descent continued for another 150m to reach a large wedged boulder. An abseil belay was equipped on the lefthand side and a 25m rappel was made. 50m were descended on foot, with crampons, due to the compact and icy snow. After this interruption they skied on down past a narrow bottleneck and, trending to the right, they reached the final easy section that led through the woods and down meadows to the piste at the bottom of the valley.

Date: 20 March 2014
Skiers: Simon Kehrer mountain guide, Paul Willeit and Albert Palfrader
Total length: 1150m
Slope angle: 50°
Overall grade: 5.1 / D / E3
Rock: grade II/III for 15m, mixed rock and ice

Sasso delle Dieci - Sass dles Diesc 3026m – Second ski descent
Sass dle Diesc (Cima Dieci, Zehner) is located to the SSE of the village La Valle. From the summit of Sass de Crosta Simon Kehrer had noticed an interesting line of decent down the NNE Face of Sass dle Diesc

The start is at Spescia, a hamlet close to La Valle: skin up towards the Sant’ Antonio col and then traverse the steep East Face of Sas dles Nö to reach the ridge. Take of skins and descend for circa 150m to reach the summit of Col Toronn, then follow the classi sci mountaineering itinerary to below the Sass dles Dies walls. The summit is reached by ascending for 50m up the via ferrata. The descent starts from the summit, from the cross follow the narrow gully for circa 100m to a vertical section of blue ice. A 60m abseil is followed by another 40m abseil onto a terrace, from here a third 60m abseil leads to the slopes below. From here the descent skis down spectacular slopes, immersed in an almost mystical and truly impressive ambient, down corn snow to reach a narrow gully. Good snow conditions led easily to the Prati di Armentara and the easy return to Spescia past the alpine meadows.

Date: 14 April 2014
Skiers: Simon Kehrer mountain guide, Roberto Tasser
Total length: 1500m
Slope angle: sections of 45 / 55°
Overall grade: 5.2 / D / E4

Thanks: thanks to Vaude, Edelrid and Scarpa for their support