I had heard from many that the Pusteria and the adjacent valleys offer wonderful trails for cross-country skiing. So I started getting to know the area, beginning from Casies valley, which gave me an unforgettable day.
Cross-country skiing: Casies valley (Gseiser Tal), South Tyrol
It was not easy to choose in which valley and which itinerary to start exploring the cross-country trails of this area.... Too many trails that were marked out to me, and which promised enchanting scenery....
In the end, staying in Bruneck, I decided to start from the nearby Casies Valley (Gseiser Tal, in German), about 30 minutes by car from the main city. So, I took the SS49 national road in the direction of Dobbiaco/San Candido (Toblach/Innichen), I passed the Anterselva valley (which also promises memorable cross-country skiing days, and which I intend to visit shortly), and I reached Monguelfo, from where the cross-country trails of the Casies valley begin. Having in mind to get to Santa Maddalena, at the bottom of the valley, I didn't start from Monguelfo, but I continued by car entering the valley for a while. And it was immediately a show.
The East - West orientation of the beginning of Casies valley means that the valley floor, in the first part, remains in the shade, and is therefore rather cold (keep it in mind, if you want to start skiing from Monguelfo; in addition, consider a nice initial ascent). The landscape was intact, as if it had snowed the day before, with the trees still loaded with snow, and a beautiful white blanket on the ground. I passed the spectacular Castel Welsperg, the turn for Tesido, and I parked in a clearing on the right side of the road (see my map below), where I saw other skiers, and where there is a clear explanatory sign of the cross-country trails of the valley (see my full slidegallery). In fact, the track runs alongside the parking lot.
In hindsight, it probably would have been better to start skiing a little further on. In fact, it is not enough to have heard that Casies valley is an excellent destination for cross-country skiing. But it is necessary to have other detailed information, such as those provided in this article (on logistics, the length and difficulty of the trails, on the rental and waxing centers), to better enjoy the day of skiing.
However, I put on my skis, which had been properly waxed the day before in Bruneck, and began my skiing trip, not before buying the day ticket online. The first part of the route was climatically very cold ...., but immediately exciting ....
