Tofana di Dentro, NNW Face ski descent in the Dolomites

Certain descents come about thanks to great preparation, but also due to chance. Like this latest descent by Francesco Tremolada, Enrico Baccanti, Norbert Frenademez and Andrea Oberbacher who on 10 Aprile skied a beautifully steep line down the NNW Face of Tofana di Dentro in the Italian Dolomites. The face can only be seen from afar, such as from the distant Furcia Rossa in the Fanis group, from where Tremolada and Baccanti happened to notice the line last year. The face opens up in all its majestic beauty only from there and after having taken some photos and studied the line, this winter Tremolada ventured into Val Travenanzes twice to check out the lower section of the line. Then, a fortnight ago, the successful epilogue: the descent with a close-knit group of friends.


TOFANA DI DENTRO NNW FACE by Francesco Tremolada

The 10th of April, with Andrea Oberbacher, Enrico Baccanti and Norbert Frenademez, we did the first ski descent of the big North-North/West face of the Tofana di Dentro 3238 m.

We started from the Bus de Tofana chairlift and we climbed up the via ferrata Olivieri to the summit of Tofana di Mezzo; from here we skied down to the saddle between the two peaks, to climb up again along the beautiful and technical ridge to the top of the Tofana di Dentro. From the summit we started to ski on unknown terrain and the first problem was immediatly the strong wind which was blowing the snow, making harder the route finding. The snow was really good and only one passage, an exposed traverse with few snow, required the use of the rope. The second part, inside the big couloir/valley was easier and the West face/couloirs were in perfect corn snow.

With an abseil in the last couloir, to pass a waterfall, we reached the Travenanzes valley and then down to Fiames with more then 2000 m vertical.
A great day of steep skiing.

Thanks to Scarpa, K2 Skis e Haglöfs

di Francesco Tremolada