A relaxing ski tour above the clouds

Monte Serva is situated in the Schiara group, a marvellous complex of summits, where dolomitic and fore-alpine characteristics melt down and huge pastures and green forests converge with big rock walls. With its grass slopes Monte Serva characterizes the landscape of Belluno, a small town about 100 km northwards from Venice. In winter Monte Serva is an easy, relaxing, very beautiful ski tour; due to its southward exposure and the low altitude, it´s important to benefit from periods after significant snowfalls. The beginning of december was such a period, so Dina and I didn´t miss the opportunity.

December 04, 2005 we arrive in Belluno, it´s completly foggy, the typical north italian lowland winter weather. "La speranza e´ l´ultima a morire" (hope dies last), so we start the ascent from refuge Col di Roanza; in this deep fog, we don´t see more than 20 meters. Fortunately the first part has to be effected on a forestry road, so we don´t have any orientation difficulties.
Few meters after the tree-line it happens: the fog slowly begins to dissolve, and after few minutes we stand all at once under the sun and above a see of clouds.

In this surreal atmosphere we keep on ascending over the wide slopes and the view is getting more and more stunning.





We are not alone on Monte Serva: an old man of Belluno is walking up, no skis, no snow shoes, all he has is a pair of ski poles and yet a lot of endurance.





In the meantime, we have 1.000 vertical meters behind us, other 200 meters elevation gain and the summit is reached. The view here above is striking!

A last picture towards the neighbor summit called Cima dei Tre Mas´ci....





...and then let´s go downhill! A very pleasant descent: powder snow on the upper part, spring snow on the lower part.


A very relaxing ski tour above the clouds.