In the Heart of Tuscany: Mount Amiata, 23th of march 2013

[marcussiena]

Maybe, you know Siena for this



or...maybe, you heard about Siena for its wonderful wine regione: Chianti, Brunello of Montalcino, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Nobile of Montepulciano



I'm not sure you heard about Siena for....its skiresort!!
Mountain Amiata is an isolated peak in the heart of the natural park of Val d'orcia...the quintessence of the beautifil tuscan landscape.

Many million of people every year come here to watch landscape or to taste wines....A few tourist come here to ski
Not a big resort (15 km of slopes), not a modern resort ( lifts are so vintage and slow!!!)...but just a special atmosphere! Your are 1700 meters up the sea level, and 1200 meters up the wonderful tuscan hills. You cannot miss it in this special winter season: season started on 8th of december and will probably end after easter.

On the way from Siena to Mountain Amiata: slopes are visible far!!



Skiresort



You can actually find 250 cm of snow on the top and 140 cm at the bottom.

All other pics!

[shaqohirt]

Thank you!

Great impressions from a Really total unknown ski area (for me ).
250cm at Top - indicates a quite normal quote or exceptional Winter with a huge mass of snowfall?

[marcussiena]

Thank you!

Great impressions from a Really total unknown ski area (for me ).
250cm at Top - indicates a quite normal quote or exceptional Winter with a huge mass of snowfall?

well, the actual snow level is not a "surprise"for us: our region is very rainy and our mountains can reach snow levels very interesting. For example in an other skiresort, Abetone, at the moment the snow level is 200-350.

the problem is the closeness to the sea (Amiata is just 40 km to the sea; Abetone the same): from where the rain grows, come also hot mass of air. So in december is very frequent the rain in the summit of ski area. And you can find incredible snow day till 1 meter of precipitation...but also 100 mm of rain the day after...
What is unusual for Mount Amiata is allowd to ski from 8th of december till now

[marcussiena]

here, you can find some pics of abetone in a fantastic winter, 2008/09: 5 meter of snow in the summit.
http://www.alpinforum.com/forum/viewtop ... ne#p483354

[Dolomitenfan]

Thank you for the winter impressions from Monte Amiata - my husband and I vistited this resort last August on the way from Florence to Rome. After a week of summerheat in Tuscany it was a wunderful place to relax ... of corse we were also interessted in the ski resort Monte Amiata and had a look at the some lifts and slopes. So I really liked your winter pictures - incredible masses of snow there at the moment!

[Mt. Cervino]

On March 22nd I have been visiting Abetone for the first time. I liked the whole area a lot and was impressed by the huge amount of snow present everywhere in the ski area.
On day later in Sestriere (23.03.) there was much less snow, even if we also had very good snow conditions in this Piemont area as well.

Thanks for the nice and interesting pictures from Mount Amiata. Is it a nice and decent place but the slopes are looking a bit boring.

[marcussiena]

On March 22nd I have been visiting Abetone for the first time. I liked the whole area a lot and was impressed by the huge amount of snow present everywhere in the ski area.
On day later in Sestriere (23.03.) there was much less snow, even if we also had very good snow conditions in this Piemont area as well.

Thanks for the nice and interesting pictures from Mount Amiata. Is it a nice and decent place but the slopes are looking a bit boring.

you are right! abetone is a very lucky for snow: it has actually 350 cm of snow and it's snowing now

Amiata's slopes are short and boaring but...I think it's a greate place to go

today from Pienza...opposite from Mount Amiata.