The Dolomites in Val Chiavenna! It's already booming in Montespluga! Mountains, a different tourism model is possible, a trip to the first ski mountaineering resort in Europe. In Montespluga the first outpost in Europe entirely designed for ski mountaineering. The director of Homeland, Walter Bossi: "The costs are affordable and we offer various experiences: safety camp, ski touring and first steps but during the outings we also provide the basics of snow science but also training on how to read the slopes and recognize potential dangers"
MONTESPLUGA. It is the first outpost in Europe entirely designed for ski mountaineering. The ski lifts, a chair lift actually, had arrived there in the 1950s at the time when ski resorts began to proliferate throughout the Alps. The destination gradually entered into crisis until the closure of several accommodation facilities and the decision to dismantle the ropes, in the 1980s. A year ago the relaunch with the launch of Homeland, a project that manages to intercept many flows.
"The Christmas and New Year holidays went very well - the director of Homeland, Walter Bossi, commented to the Dolomiti - many young people approached our proposals, in particular from the United States and Canada, France, Germany and Switzerland. We have a high feedback especially from abroad".
A destination that intends to bring people closer to the practice of skialp or splitboard, as well as offering services and training opportunities to those who already know these disciplines, in the Alpine area, surrounding the Alpine village of Montespluga, a town on the border between Lombardy and Switzerland .
The peculiarity of Homeland, in fact, is an area without ski lifts, the entire territory surrounding Montespluga therefore becomes a single large "slope" to go up and then down, independently following the infographics on the billboards or accompanied by mountain guides. The area has 11 uphill routes and 36 kilometers of trails for different modes of use. To complete the offer, safety courses and introduction days to skialp for beginners.
And if many ski resorts are suffering from climate change and snow that is no longer guaranteed, especially in low-altitude locations, with some destinations on the market and looking for buyers, Homeland is playing on the counterattack and focusing on ski mountaineering.
An idea implemented last year through the know-how of Spia Games, an agency from Bergamo.
"A company specialized in the organization of events with numerous partnerships with important outdoor brands - adds Bossi - we also have a profound knowledge of the territory and the opportunities to enhance immaculate environmental contexts. The Covid emergency and the closures of the facilities have accentuated the growth of a trend that has already been increasing over the years. So this proposal aims to enhance individuality and a model far from the more traditional one: we favor the descent after it has been earned with effort".
Downstream, the station offers equipment rental options including boots, skis with bindings for climbing and skins, splitboards, snowshoes, sleeping bags, backpacks with airbags, safety kits with shovel, probe and Artva. "The costs are affordable and we offer different experiences: safety camp, ski touring and first steps but during the outings we also provide the basics of nivology but also training on how to read the slopes and recognize potential dangers. The activities during the last holidays have been practically sold out, we register a high level of satisfaction, in particular from customers from abroad".
An interesting reality, not trivial to replicate in other areas, but which can become an example for some destinations. "For many, alpine skiing has become too commercial and an industry that consumes energy and water resources. We are trying to create an alternative and at the moment we have important responses from the market", concludes Bossi.
"The Christmas and New Year holidays went very well - the director of Homeland, Walter Bossi, commented to the Dolomiti - many young people approached our proposals, in particular from the United States and Canada, France, Germany and Switzerland. We have a high feedback especially from abroad".
A destination that intends to bring people closer to the practice of skialp or splitboard, as well as offering services and training opportunities to those who already know these disciplines, in the Alpine area, surrounding the Alpine village of Montespluga, a town on the border between Lombardy and Switzerland .
The peculiarity of Homeland, in fact, is an area without ski lifts, the entire territory surrounding Montespluga therefore becomes a single large "slope" to go up and then down, independently following the infographics on the billboards or accompanied by mountain guides. The area has 11 uphill routes and 36 kilometers of trails for different modes of use. To complete the offer, safety courses and introduction days to skialp for beginners.
And if many ski resorts are suffering from climate change and snow that is no longer guaranteed, especially in low-altitude locations, with some destinations on the market and looking for buyers, Homeland is playing on the counterattack and focusing on ski mountaineering.
An idea implemented last year through the know-how of Spia Games, an agency from Bergamo.
"A company specialized in the organization of events with numerous partnerships with important outdoor brands - adds Bossi - we also have a profound knowledge of the territory and the opportunities to enhance immaculate environmental contexts. The Covid emergency and the closures of the facilities have accentuated the growth of a trend that has already been increasing over the years. So this proposal aims to enhance individuality and a model far from the more traditional one: we favor the descent after it has been earned with effort".
Downstream, the station offers equipment rental options including boots, skis with bindings for climbing and skins, splitboards, snowshoes, sleeping bags, backpacks with airbags, safety kits with shovel, probe and Artva. "The costs are affordable and we offer different experiences: safety camp, ski touring and first steps but during the outings we also provide the basics of nivology but also training on how to read the slopes and recognize potential dangers. The activities during the last holidays have been practically sold out, we register a high level of satisfaction, in particular from customers from abroad".
An interesting reality, not trivial to replicate in other areas, but which can become an example for some destinations. "For many, alpine skiing has become too commercial and an industry that consumes energy and water resources. We are trying to create an alternative and at the moment we have important responses from the market", concludes Bossi.