Ski Tour: To Piz Boè from the Vallon Lift

Difficulty level: Moderate
Altitude difference: about 700 meters
Total ascent time: about 3 hours (including descent)

As the highest peak of the Sella Group, the Piz Boè raises its snow-white head into the sky.
But don't let the height scare you too much – it is also considered the easiest three-thousander to climb in the Dolomites, challenging sections are secured with ropes.
During the ascent, the Vallon chairlift helps us a little. The tour really begins for you only at its mountain station. After getting off, a short descent down the slope and then a slight ascent to the Franz Kostner Hut (2,500 meters above sea level).

From there, continue into the Gran Valacia basin. Once you leave the basin, you pass through the Pigolerzrinne and move on to the upper plateau. Next, you work your way to just below the steep eastern slope of Piz Boè. Diagonally below in a southerly direction, the wide southeast ridge with some turns awaits you. You climb this on a not too steep route to the summit, where a summit cross and a small hut (Rifugio Capanna-Fassa) with limited overnight accommodation await you. To reward your ascent for your eyes, there is an impressive panoramic view of the Marmolata as well.

Before you wonder – the technical installation that rises into the height here is a telephone reflector. For the descent, move to the left of this, descend a steep slope secured with poles until you reach a rocky shoulder. To the right of the rocky shoulder is a gully that you can cross if there is enough snow. If this is not the case, move on to the rope-secured sections a little further below, which lead to the lower part of the gully. Now continue straight ahead and in a short time you will reach the Boè Hut.

This is the beginning of the Mittagstal (Val Mesdi). The route is steep, not too wide, and occasionally quite icy. However, the beauty of the valley makes up for any difficulty – it is worth fighting your way down here. The last section leads through a steep gorge, then over a stream and along a hiking trail and a cross-country ski trail. In the end, you can already see the bustling activity at the Boè cable car valley station and proudly check off a three-thousander on your list of tours.

Ski tours require knowledge, experience, fitness, good planning, and appropriate equipment. Please also inform yourself about the current avalanche warning level before each ski tour and observe the "Stop or Go Risk Management" by Michael Larcher and mountain guide Robert Purtscheller, recommended by the Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV).