Anyway there are not so many places in the world where you can find tapped Pilsen, decent snow park and several tens of kilometers freeride lines? Here you have everything at one resort!

Passo Tonale is a small village that is located on the border of Lombardy and Trentino, in a mountain pass, nearly two thousand feet above sea level. In fact, Passo Tonale is one of the ugliest Italian villages I've ever seen. Even when you are climbing up by the winding road and staring at the glaciers up there, spoiling a good impression prefabs, whose architect was inspired by old skyscrapes. Tonale is connected to the neighboring resort of Ponte di Legno (1257 m) by a cabin, and together provide nearly 100 km pistes. Cool thing is that a lot of lifts start directly in the village, so needless to ski bus or car. Everywhere you can go on foot and on skis usually drive to the apartment. Distance from Prague is less than 800 km, with only the last about 80 kilometers in not on the highway. If the forecast reported snowfall without wheel chains do not try this pass over .. Prices are slightly above average. In high season day pass will cost 37e, six days, then it costs 185 Euros.

The official website of Passo del Tonale ( www.adamelloski.com ) is trying to amaze that there are three snow parks. Bullshit in the cage. There is only one - Adamello Freestyle Arena. Such a better  Italy's average. The park is shaped daily by a snowcat and by shapers hands. Shapers are always at least two and jumps have a clay foundation. Freestyle arena is divided into three zones – PRO riders (in quotes), Medium and Easy. Already at the entrance to the park is a kind of a selection - you have to pass old cab from the cable car .. if you miss, you have nothing to do in the park. In the PRO zone you can find the following: Lines of three kickers, and every has two platforms. Size 5 to 12 meters. Then there is the spin box, speed rail, cupro box and rainbow. Starting by funbox follows teh rail only part -  pipes, boxes, mini rails, wall ride and fun ride. In the middle of the park is a stylish wooden house, a few chairs, music and chicks. All this serves fast fourchair, starting right in the village and ends where it begins Adamello Freestyle Arena.

In the Tonale you can also find excellent pub El Bait, where you can buy Pilsen and Gambrinus beer. And they do great buns. A great aperitif lots small canapés gratis. Well, just got to GO THERE! Sure, but due to the park and Czech beer you will not probably go to Tonale. Now that serve the highest caliber: Powder! NO, at lot of powder!!

Rule number one - When it snows in Tonale it is always at least half a meter. It is possible to ride in powder near the slopes, of course, where are snow fields without trees. But the best from the backcountry can be found on the south of the Tonale. Where is the glacier called Presena. Numero uno are skialp tracks Sgualdrina (in Italian it means sluts) and Cantieri (Italian laborer .. perverts). The best part is that there is no need to hike .. or just a bit, if you are snowboarders. But you need to have a skipass. A car. The best are two cars. One of them you leave at the parking few miles from Tonale. And then you ride by the first cab to Paradiso, then by ramshackle doubleseat to the glacier and with a T-bar more than three thousand meters above sea level. Stare down towards the Tonale and the right side of the valley begins to parallel valley called Sgualdrina. The first part is a bit steep, and if you are above the first - which can rarely, usually is also already ridden. Then the valley expands, and you can choose which way to go - in the middle of the plain, mini canyon on the left, right drops. The terrain is very various but a bit confusing.

Track Cantieri begins where ends and begins the T-bar on the glacier. Again stare towards the Tonale and Cantieri valley, which is parallel to Sgualdrina whore, you have by your right side. Compared to light Deva is shorter, but not exposed to the sun, so the snow is much better. Guys who are not afraid, can hike up a ridge between Sgualdrina and Cantieri and go down right where those two valleys converge. When your skies or board stop and you are at the flat, take a notice!! The valley continues. By a waterfall and sharp ravines down, but it is possible to ride it down with  a little of courage. But after that will take you about one and a half hour of hiking back to Tonale.  So follow the ridge on the left. Winding path leads through here and by which you can walk around the ridge . Now  a surprise is waiting for you. There is a  tunnel. When during the winter snows a lot, the entrance to the tunnel can be only a square meter hole carved into the snow. And this tunnel you have to find because there is no another way from there. Well, then you can continue along the path, then a piece of tree riding and you're in the parking, where you previously left the car. Hurray for the next round!

For another piece of freeride you do not even need a car. Just skipass. Its name is Canalino di Diavolo. Devil's Pass. It's not so bad when you're on top. But from the bottom of the village looks quite evil. This time you ride a cabin Paradiso. Stare at the Tonale. Look to the right. And there is a ridge that you see from the Tonale. You will keep riding him from the other side and as high as possible. Because you will not have to climb a lot. Once the Devil's pass over you, climb up. And then just drop down and you ride powder towards the Tonale.

A bit difficult for physical condition is the exit from the glacier  Pisgana or Pisganino which leads to Ponte di Legno. You will take a cabin, doubleseat and lift up and continue up towards the ridge on foot. The first is a view to the valley in front of you when you need to keep right and this will be hard work. Which meters you will go lower, the more you will need to hike up back. To hike up into the Pisgana pass is quite hard hike. And still you have to hike up the glacier. The ride down but worth it. Elevation is about two thousand meters and is over ten miles long freeride line. In Ponte get into the cable car and after a while you are in Tonale pass again.

There are obviously many more ways to enjoy powder snow - Il Dito, a steep narrow pass, where you need to hike a lot uphill, then - when there is little snow - you have to run down the rope, and just ecstasy when you are going down. Or go down the slopes Alpino and drive down the valley toward the cabin way station of Ponte di Legno in Tonale.

Well. There are many options. And since it really snows in the Tonale, it is more that obvious that you will meet here with powder. We all remember the fantastic season 2008/2009, when the Presena got 28 meters of snow. And then spend money for the fly ticket to Alaska!

Freeride is prohibited in Italy, but in Tonale is tolerated by patrols. Mainly Sgualdrina, Cantieri, Pisgana and a ridge at Alpino are skialpinist tracks. So hiking on them is allowed. If you are unsure which way to go, grab a mountain guide. Although it costs something, but you will not get lost. Or go to El Bait .. familiarize yourself with the local freeriders, buy them a  Pilsen .. and they will take you up there.

Author: Romana Schmerausová