Summer Skiing
Among three main summer ski resorts in Italy the most popular is Passo dello Stelvio.
The Pass ( German : Stilfser Joch ) is on the border between Alta Valtellina and Alto Adige at the altitude 2578 m. From the Lombardy side the nearest town is Bormio, and there is town Prad a Stelvio on the other side of the pass.
The glacier that belongs to Ortles-Cevedale group, is located between Monte Cristallo and Stelvio Pass, the highest point for skiing is Punta degli Spiriti (3450m) near refugee Livro.
The ski resort chosen by many national teams for summer training is open only for four months a year , as during the remaining months the pass is closed due to weather conditions.
Second Italian summer ski resort is Val Senales, where skiing area is on glacier Grawand ( 3212 m ) with snow conditions usually worse than Stelvio.
Skiing is also possible on glacier Presena, which features perfect surface, but rapid changes in weather conditions, and in some days the lifts can be closed due to heavy winds or snowfalls.
The glacier is accessible from Passo Tonale located between Ponte di Legno and Val di Sole area (Adamello Ski).
The area above Zermatt in Switzerland called Matterhorn Ski Paradise is open whole year-round. During summer for skiers prepared are the lifts on Glacier Theodul, that is connected Plateau Rosa on Italian side, accessible from Cervinia.
Unfortunately, from 2006 the Dolomite glacier Marmolada is closed for skiing during summer months.
Passo dello Stelvio
season : 30 May- beg. November
Glacier Stelvio
altitude : 3450 m – 2760 m
8 lifts
20 km runs
3 runs for Nordic skiing
snowpark
Passo Tonale
season : 1 May – 28 June and from October
Glacier Presena
altitude : 3016 m – 2585 m
Val Senales
season : 13 June – 20 November
Glacier Grawand
altitude : 3212 m – 2000 m
5 km runs for Nordic skiing
Zermatt-Cervinia
season : till 10 May and 13 June – 27 November ( Zermatt )
27 June – 6 September (Cervinia)
Glacier Theodul-Plateau Rosa
altitude : 3850 m – 2800 m
7 lifts
21 km runs
snowpark ‘Gravity Park’
photo of Presena Glacier courtesy of michal reichl