Where to ski? Northern Italy

Hello, I should take a minute to introduce myself. I am new to this board but am good friends with a regular user here whom I often ski with. I live in Seattle normally, however I recently found myself on a plane heading to northern Italy where I will be spending the next 3 months for work-related reasons. Fortunately I brought my skis, however I am essentially totally unfamiliar with the area. I mean, I know there has got to be skiing to be had somewhere. The alps are not terribly far away. However I know nothing about what routes to take, how to get there (I have no car...), etc. I was hoping that somebody on this forum could offer some advice.

I am staying in Trento. I'm perfectly OK with taking the train, bus, whatever, but I would like to avoid renting a car if at all possible because I'm a cheapskate. Practically speaking I am quite busy during the week so this will all have to be done on weekends.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

The Ortler Skiarena in Solda/Sulden is a beautiful place.  The Ortlers are a subgroup of the Alps; good lift-served skiing but an even better backcountry "hut" (more like pensiones) system.  Wonderful glaciated terrain, fun and varied from mild to wild.  This is in the Alto Adige province.  Take the train to Bolzano, connect to Spondigna and then a taxi will get you to Solda.  The hotels probably have a shuttle bus to get you in Spondigna, instead of taking a taxi.  This is a wonderful region with unique German/Italian culture.  I believe Messner has a museum in the area; he is from the Sudtirol area, I think.  Also, the frozen bronze-age dude from the Alps is housed at an exhibit in Bolzano.  Enjoy...

-Bill Kent

Not sure how many ski areas will be open this time of year near Trento. I spent my honeymoon in Cortina this time of year exactly (*sigh*, wish I was back) and we enjoyed absolute quiet as the ski season had ended and all the lifts were shut down, and tourist season hadn't started. The only thing to do was ski the 5,000 VF of corn snow that was everywhere (among other things).

Unlike the US, Public Trans in Italy is pretty good. Find a bus route that gets you close and hitchhike up to the passes (that's what I did mostly - except the couple days I hired a taxi to drive me up to the ski areas...again, *sigh*....and walked back to town with "the hills are alive" song filling my head)

As summer progresses, you might focus on the Marmolada Glacier. You probably can get a tram when tourist season opens.

Skis - check.
Free time - Check
Alps - Check

You are set, my friend.

You are set, my friend.

Have fun (and be safe), Dave .

I agree with the Ortler as being a great area with some of the nicest huts I've ever found. Complete with hot showers and pleasant hut keepers. You can start from Sulden and approach from the north or come in from Bolzana from the south. There are a plethora of huts all over. The southern Ortler may be a bit more compact with most of the skiing accessible out of the Casati hut.
I was there last spring (early April) and had a great trip. I'd be happy to answer any questions. 206 230 0930 Skip Edmonds

Speaking of honeymoons... on mine (I won't say how long ago) I skied the Sellaronda which goes over 4 passes and through several villages. I started from Val Gardenia (reached from Bolzano) and did it counterclockwise riding the lifts, but I am sure you could do some if not all of it self powered. The Dolomites are a truly spectacular range altogether different from the Alps and worth visiting for sure.
Northern Italy is a really cool place, a bit more efficient and organized like the Germanic countries (and unlike southern Italy), with that fabulous Italian food. I remember this restaurant in a village where we stopped for lunch half way around the Sellaronda that had this incredible ravioli with cream sauce....Now I'm getting the Euro jones just thinking about it!