Freeride on the North face of Monte Pasquale
I was yes and no 18 years old when together with Criss I climbed the north face of the Monte Paquale with ropes, ice axe, crampons and ice screw… “who knows what it will be like to get down here on skis !?” I was wondering
Yesterday I can finally give an answer to that question… “Going down on skis, on perfect powder, the north of Pasquale??” “it’s a crazy cool!!!”
We started from Solda me and the crew of wonders with the Mose (Enrico Mosetti) and Zeno (Zeno Cecon).
Starting from Solda is not the most appropriate idea, you can think, in fact, to going up to Cima Solda, go down to the Casati Refuge, go up to the Cevedale and then deviate to the top of the Pasquale with its almost 2000 meters in altitude and millions of km it’s pretty long but the plan was simple… Today Pasquale, one night at the Pizzini refuge and tomorrow Gran Zebru with descent towards the North-East towards Solda. A plan that couldn’t have been more appropriate than that.
We were at the top of the Pasquale, usual ritual selfie and we face the North… no trace, smooth, perfect and with 30/40 cm of powder… what more can we ask for??
We make 5 controlled turns to study the snow situation and we stop next to the ice lens a few meters from the top. From there, down straight, fast, surfing on the north of Pasquale, with the powder up to the knee. In a second we were already at the base of the wall. 600m non stop in just over a couple of minutes… One of the most beautiful skiing in my life.
I think that in such perfect conditions it will be really difficult to find such a wall.
Thanks Mose of intuition!
