Livigno, in the far north of Valtellina, is the home of freestyle, ski mountaineering and snowboar, in every season the sport is the protagonist. This itinerary combines snowboarding and ski mountaineering and is intended to draw attention to the issue of risks during outdoor activities in winter.

The starting point is Plaza Placheda, the logistics, conference and exhibition center in Livigno (Sondrio), where the Centro Antivalanghe, which informs hikers and ski mountaineers about snow conditions and degrees of danger, is also based. From here we travel by bus to Campaccio di Sopra. The service is free and runs every 15 minutes. The ski mountaineering day begins in front of Camp Forcola. At the start, a check station for the Artva, an electronic avalanche search device, allows simply by getting close to check its proper functioning. Never forget to do this.

We follow the road that starts above the campground and that, until late April, is always well snow-covered. The first part of the route is very easy and follows just the switchbacks. It takes us over the forested edge of Livigno, to an elevation of about 2,300 meters. From here you continue diagonally for about 500 meters before pointing sharply to the right. Thus abandoning for good the forest road that was being followed. In this section of the ski mountaineering exit you are now facing southeast where the sun quickly warms and transforms the slope. Snow conditions must be evaluated very carefully. We continue following the right bank of the small valley that leads us to gain the ridge from where, as we descend, we continue to the right and reach the wooden cross before the summit of Monte delle Rezze at 2,858 m.

From the summit the downhill slope faces northwest and the snow quality is often ideal although, until you reach the woods again, you always need to pay close attention to the snowpack situation. To lower the altitude, while the slopes remain important, it is preferable to keep to the right or left ridges. Then we can give free rein to the desire to ski by taking us to the first larches. The slope becomes pronounced again, but the vegetation is rather sparse and as a result we can ski and surf without too many problems. A final gully leads us outside the wooded area near the Sport Hotel where Livigno's free bus service takes us back to the base.

The article from which this route is taken can be found in the pages of the MARCH 2021 magazine SNOW AND SPORT SAFETY.