Places that don't need to impress: just put on your skis. It's no coincidence that riders from all over Europe come here: you don't come here to "go skiing," you come to experience the mountains with style, technique, and passion.

Monte Rosa dominates the scene with its massive presence, the lifts take you to altitude quickly, the guides know every corner, and the natural snowfall often makes all the difference.

Here freeride speaks many languages, but the adrenaline is the same for everyone. Alagna and Gressoney in winter are not villages frozen in time. Stone and wood still speak, but today they contrast with carbon ice axes and ARTVA in your backpack.

The ideal conditions? They're often called January. Those who know the season understand: the peak quality arrives between January and February. Dry snow, perfect temperatures, ideal conditions for dream lines.

The descents often start from Punta Indren, but they don't stop there. Outside the boundaries of groomed slopes begins the real game: couloirs, valleys, and forests become the perfect terrain for those who can read the mountain and push at the right moment.

Iconic Freeride Spots

La Bettolina on the Gressoney side: varied and fun route, with forest sections, ideal for beginners.

La Balma: 1900 meters of vertical drop in one of the most complete lines in the alpine arc. A classic that always remains powerful.

Passo della Civera with descent to Zube: a less beaten area, perfect for those seeking a more intimate dimension and wild views over Val d'Otro.

Vallone delle Pisse: classic starting point for accessible and fun freeride days, with infinite variants and options.

Want to try a freeride experience? Choose yours here: Freeride on Monte Rosa

Local UIAGM mountain guides are an integral part of the system: they accompany, train, observe. It's not just about safety, it's culture. In Alagna and Gressoney in this season you grow up with the mountain beside you, not above you.

Ice Falls: Verticality and Concentration

Those who want to alternate skiing and ice axe find what they're looking for.

The ice in Alagna is varied and technical: ranging from accessible flows to routes that require experience and precision. In Gressoney the choice is varied. The climbs are quick, access is direct, and the setting... magazine-worthy.

Names to Watch:

Le Grotte di Cristallo and Il Silenzio Walser in Alagna and Velo Azzurro in Gressoney for those who want to start without giving up the environment.

Il Cascatone di Gender in Alagna and La Cascata di Punta Iolanda in Gressoney: constant flow, variable difficulty, pure aesthetics.

Lacrima sul Viso in Alagna and Thriller in Gressoney are serious business, to be tackled with mind and preparation.

Here too, mountain guides make the difference. Some climb with them to learn, others return to test themselves, others alternate skiing and ice in an intense and full week.

March: The Great Moment of Ski Mountaineering

When the sun begins to rise and days get longer, Monte Rosa transforms. Freeride continues, but for many, the real time of ski mountaineering begins.

March offers space, light, and snow that holds. Dawns stretch out, and the mountain seems to slow down only for those who know how to listen to it.

Want to see our ski mountaineering experiences? Click here: Ski mountaineering on Monte Rosa

Must-Do Itineraries:

Capanna Margherita (4554 m): a climb that must be earned meter by meter. Glacier, altitude, thin air: to be tackled with experience, it offers rare emotions.

Piramide Vincent (4215 m): a less crowded option, perfect for testing yourself at high altitude.

Punta Giordani (4046 m): excellent entry into the world of winter 4000ers. Progressive elevation gain, opening panorama, growing awareness.

Tour del Monte Rosa: a spectacular traverse connecting Alagna to Zermatt, Champoluc, and Gressoney. Four days among grandiose panoramas and peaks over four thousand meters, with light backpack and high-altitude rhythm.

Those who practice ski mountaineering on Monte Rosa take home much more than a summit. They take real experiences: timing, strategies, adaptations, managed errors, shared decisions. Real mountain, in other words.

After the Snow: Refuges, Craft Beer, and Stories

The day doesn't end at the last turn. The return to the valley is part of the experience: skis on feet down to the village and a craft beer at the Centro bar. In Gressoney, people gather at the Wunderbar.

The scene is made up of local freeriders, passing alpinists, tourists. Evening brings everyone to the same table: those who traced alone, those who followed a guide, those who made their first off-piste descent. People talk about snow, laugh, plan next outings.

On gray days, you slow down. You study, recover, adapt the plan. No anxiety: the right snow always returns. And if there's no snow, you search for it.

Because the mountain isn't always perfect powder, but it's adventure, adaptation, curiosity. It's discovering new lines, exploring different corners, reading the weather and choosing the right window.

Sometimes you turn back, sometimes you change zones, sometimes you learn more in a day without descent than in a perfect day.

If snow doesn't arrive, you change approach. We're used to linking winter to skiing and summer to mountaineering, but those who adapt to climate change discover new paths and continue to be amazed.

Vibrant, Sporty, International Locations

Alagna and Gressoney in winter today are no secret. They are well-connected realities, with real services, simple but curated hospitality, people who know what they're doing.

They work well for those who want an intense week, for those seeking a guide for the weekend, for those who organize last minute by checking Windy and SnowForecast.

Those who arrive in Alagna and Gressoney in winter bring different experiences, but the same direction: upward.

A varied community: splitboarders, skiers with legs and brains, alpinists who return every year, active families seeking something more.

The offering grows every year: more courses, more collaboration between guides, more accessible refuges, evolved rentals, shuttles and transfers for day trips. But the heart remains the same: those who come here seek the real mountain.

Those who come here seek real experiences, not catalog promises. Those who choose Alagna and Gressoney in winter know what they're looking for: authentic mountains, strong emotions, and an environment that doesn't need to be explained.

You don't come to "disconnect," but to connect to something that matters. You come to work hard with purpose, to look at a slope and feel it's the right moment. You return with burning quadriceps and a lighter head.

Mountain Guides: Not Just Safety, but Vision

Behind every successful experience, there's the silent competence of UIAGM mountain guides.

They build experiences, scout, train clients, read the territory. Many of them were born or live here. They've climbed Rosa in every condition, traced in every valley, slept in bivouacs, and know the refuges where you eat well. They're a precious resource for those who want to level up, for those seeking a technical and personal growth path in harmony with the territory.

Do you have a project in mind? Write us.

Alagna and Gressoney in winter is the right place to make it reality. No pre-packaged deals, no flash offers. Just people who love this territory and want to help you experience it in the best way.

L'articolo Alagna and Gressoney in Winter: the snow-covered of Monte Rosa proviene da Alagna.

The house where we sleep tastes of fire wood! And of hay and grain and, come to think of it, it also tastes of polenta and salami.

It may be suggestive, but the houses in Alagna taste like ‘ad Brusc’,dialect word to define the whole set of aromas and scents linked to the use of the house as a kitchen, stable, workshop.

In any case, the senses are awakened and so is the desire to be part of that lived-in fabric.

Today I want to ski!

Winter, however long it may be, is always too short for those who love the white dress and the crunch of winter snow under their skis.

As a connoisseur of the village, I cast a quick glance at the forecourts; if the colour of the cars covers the view of the Sesia river, I change my plans and prepare for a walk.

Instead, this morning it seems quiet; I drink coffee from the smiling Erika at the cable car departure point, pick up the skis that Franz and Mattias have carefully prepared for me and embark, ready for adventure and the adrenaline-filled descent.

At the boarding gate I meet Alfredo, the lift historian. He smiles at me and accompanies me all the way to the point where the doors of the lift close, thus updating me on conditions in real time.

The cable car ascent and the landscape

The ascent is gentle for me.

 At the donkey pole (Zam Eisel the Walser would say) the landscape finally opens up.

I cast my eye towards the Weng alpine pasture and catch sight of the unmistakable zigzagging of the first fresh track.

We are in the territory of Sergio, an expert mountain guide. Only he can have passed through here because he knows the passages.

 The track, in fact, seems to end in nothingness. Beyond, only the abyss.

But how beautiful the mountain is! I see alpine pastures, peaks and hills.

I hear the music that Luca, at Alpenstop, sets to fancy, without rules, with only the idea of giving joy.

There, I could already stop for a bombardino but the blue of the horizon calls and I get in line at Funifor.

The cabin as big as a room

The moving cabin is impressive; it is as big as a room and 100 per cent stable. And that's how it must be to be able to cope with the stormy winds that blow for at least 15 to 20 days in our winter at around 3,000 metres.

By some divine design, they blow mainly when there is tourism so that people think they don't want it.

I smile at the thought.

Not so!

We like people, movement, the exchange of thoughts and above all we like people who love the mountains, nature, traditions.

Overtourism happens but rarely.

Those who come to Alagna are fond of it, it is now part of the decor, as they would say in the jargon.

Ready, go!

There was a time when people used to embark by jostling each other to the cry of ‘travel, all aboard!’

Now everything is quieter, there is even carpeting in the cabin.

The doors close and in less than 10 minutes we are at the Passo dei Salati, at 2980m.

Spritz time or Bombardino?

At this point I stop, the Bombardino calls!

Daniele, with his blond goatee and short sleeves despite the temperature, instead proposes a spritz, which I consume on the terrace at the new tables made from the baskets of the historic Balma lift.

We Alagnesi are fond of the memory of that slope (which was an off-piste, and a mouth-watering one at that).

It is no coincidence that we became famous for the Freeride Paradise!

A quick glance towards the Bors glaciers, the old Indren station and I tackle the Olen descent.

The Mosso Institute and the restaurant

A few hundred metres from the entrance to the track, I veer to the right; I feel like visiting

 the Mosso Scientific Institute. A leap back in time as the institute was founded in 1907.

Now it has been renovated with skill and passion and there is an interactive, multimedia museum.

Ancient instrumentation alternates with films and narrations.

The Rifugi Monterosa has opened a restaurant with glass windows everywhere right on the terrace of the institute (the project later envisages an accommodation facility with beds as well).

It is thus possible to eat turned towards the Capanna Margherita or looking at the valley and distant borders.

I go there willingly.

Annina, who runs the establishment with Erika, is a familiar face, but only to those with a good leg and who frequent refuges.

The wine cellar is respectable, to the envy of low-altitude restaurants.

I see the staff in the kitchen.

 Isham and Erica, always them, always together; now at Mosso now at Capanna Gnifetti.

Annina and Giulia offer me a ‘Bacio di Dama’ biscuit, strictly made by them (I am witness to this, as they knead the dough as they speak to me).

Time is a tyrant.

The black Olen slope awaits me! The entrance is a gully, the grooming is perfect, the snow is almost chalky

 Everything is so intimate here.

I think that solitude in the mountains is never real solitude, I think it is rather immersion and contemplation.

How lucky I am to live here!

L'articolo The ‘Alagna’ skier proviene da Alagna.

Would you like to go sightseeing with us?

We are now going to visit the most suggestive corners of Alagna and show you all the opportunities and unique experiences that Alagna can offer you!

Do you want to experience unforgettable weekends full of emotions?

Come on, let's go!

Wold

Here we are at the Wold… If you want to learn to ski, the Wold ski lift is for you!

Children learning to ski, ski instructors and a restaurant on the slope will welcome you.

Next to the ski instructors' hut you will find a small field where the youngest skiers can have fun and a small bobsleigh run!

The Ski Area

Take the winter shuttle down to the centre of Alagna and head for the ski lifts.

There are 200 km of slopes waiting for you!

This is a vast ski area that allows you to reach Gressoney and even Champoluc!

A day in the company of your friends on the wonderful ski slopes will bring you much joy!

The freshly groomed slopes, the fresh morning wind and the sun warming your face will arouse unique emotions in you.

The ice rink and cross-country track

If you are not interested in alpine skiing, there is no shortage of sports on offer: the skating rink in Alagna and the cross-country track in Riva Valdobbia could be a fantastic alternative!

From this year, the opening of the cross-country track will be guaranteed for the entire season by a new snow groomer and a snowmaking system. This novelty is dictated by the Alagna municipality's motivation in believing in this magnificent sport.

Skating is a much-loved activity for young and old alike, and you can practise it on Alagna's shining rink. The spectacular ice will allow you to experience a unique morning.

… And a hot chocolate after a morning of skating is not to be missed!

In addition to all these opportunities, there are also the many walks that inspire so much wonder.

Snowshoeing

In winter, hiking takes on a wintery guise and becomes snowshoeing. By snowshoeing you can reach the heart of the mountains surrounding the village of Alagna: to Follu in Val d'Otro and to the Walser hamlet of Peccia in Valle Vogna. You can also walk along the Riva cycle path and the little path from Alagna to the Wold.

Our sightseeing tour is over, now it's your turn to try these exciting experiences for yourself!

L'articolo Alagna at 360 degrees proviene da Alagna.

The snow covering the fir trees and the chimneys smoking in the fresh morning air are manifestations of the advent of the new season, welcomed with much joy by the people of Alagna!

As you well know, the winter season is a very important period for our colorful village: this will be enlivened by passionate skiers, many exciting events and those who love the mountains in its warm Christmas atmosphere.

The opening of the ski facilities

What will most arouse your attention will almost certainly be the opening of the ski lifts!

Starting December 6, ski on your back and off you go on a new adventure. Freshly groomed slopes, Sunshine that will warm your face and hot chocolate are waiting for you charged with energy!

The exciting news

And don't forget that the sporting opportunities offered by Alagna are not just about downhill skiing.

If you are a fan of Nordic skiing, you will be happy to learn wonderful news… This year the opening of the Riva and Alagna cross-country ski trail will be guaranteed throughout the season by a new, more modern snow groomer and snowmaking equipment!

This innovation is dictated by the great motivation of the Village of Alagna in believing in this special sport!

Ancient winter traditions

This fantastic time of year brings with it famous and unforgettable customs and traditions.

Among them, one cannot forget the one on December 26 and the one on January 6.

In fact, all the boys and girls were always looking forward to December 26 so that they could go to the Boxing Day dance, where there was no shortage of merry dancing, fun and lots of joy…

Originally, St. Stephen's Day was held in private homes, but with the construction of the Alagnese Union Theater in the early 1900s, the dance found a new official venue. Here the tradition of the famous “Youth Ball” was born.

The event required a precise dress code: dark suit, preferably black, for men; traditional costume and white apron for girls. The evening, in addition to being a time of celebration and sharing, was also an opportunity for cute pranks. Particularly memorable was the rope game: two young men would mingle with the dancers with a hidden rope and, having spotted a couple-often soon-to-be-married boyfriends or lovers eager to keep their relationship a secret-they would throw the rope around the two, binding them tightly. The act would elicit laughter and applause from onlookers, making the evening even more lively. To prevent other engaged couples from suspecting, the “players” would be replaced with each successive round of dancing.

The boys and girls from Riva Valdobbia would go to the dance in Alagna and return on foot in the middle of the night, and despite the harsh winter weather, with all the merriment in their hearts, the cold did not make itself felt!

Tradition has it that on the night of January 5, the girls would put a cup full of water outside the window and the next morning, the drawing that appeared on the ice created would represent the work of their future husband!

We wait You for the time when our little village is surrounded by the beautiful snowy mountains to experience days full of happiness with us!

L'articolo Alagna's shining winter season proviene da Alagna.

Come and explore the Freeride Paradise

Alagna Valsesia, located in the heart of the Italian Alps, is a haven for winter sports enthusiasts. Its privileged position near the massive Monte Rosa makes it an ideal starting point for those seeking the pure thrill of freeriding. Enthusiasts can access a paradise of untouched snow and thrilling slopes, in an environment that offers unique challenges and rewards.

The Allure of Unspoiled Nature

One of the most fascinating aspects of freeriding in Alagna Valsesia is the total immersion in unspoiled nature. Breathtaking panoramas and the silence of snow-covered peaks create a magical atmosphere. The sensation of being in harmony with the surrounding environment during a vertiginous descent is an experience that goes well beyond the mere practice of a sport.

Have fun in safety

Before embarking on the freeriding adventure, it's essential to consider safety. Equip yourself with the right gear (COLD-WEATHER APPROPRIATE CLOTHING, AVALANCHE BEACON, SHOVEL, PROBE, HELMET) and rely on experienced guides who know the terrain. Awareness of weather conditions and risk assessment are crucial to ensure an exhilarating and safe experience.

If you're seeking an experience that combines adrenaline with the splendor of nature, Alagna Valsesia is the place for you. A perfect mix of excitement, challenge, and beauty, this corner of the Italian Alps is ready to offer you an unforgettable adventure. Get ready to ride the peaks, feel the snow under your skis, and experience the magic of outdoor sports in one of the most captivating places in the world.

L'articolo L'Adrenalina del Freeride proviene da Alagna.