Ski, will we really be back on the slopes in February? (and how?)

The capacity of closed lifts – cable cars and gondolas – is reduced by 50%. The ability of chairlifts are limited to 50% only in case you are forced to keep the dome lowered to protect yourself from wind and bad weather. You must keep a distance of at least one meter when you are in front of the ticket offices and the distance must be well marked and the queue controlled. There is an obligation to use the surgical mask which can also be inserted inside a neck warmer equipped with a special pocket: you will find many for sale near the slopes and they make life a lot more comfortable.

And the quota restrictions on slopes – that is, the limited number calculated on a percentage of the maximum capacity of the area – is decided day by day according to a thousand different parameters. THE shelters will remain open and will have to comply with the rules that manage the catering: table reservations for lunch, halved seats at the table, coffee served only at the counter, no administration of spirits …

Yesterday, the CTS has finally approved the safety protocol for the operation of the ski lifts. A highly anticipated moment for snow fanatics, but necessary but not sufficient to guarantee the residual hopes of being able to ski from mid-February until Easter.

Will it be next February 15th? «In the Dolomites, the entire tourist supply chain was ready to start, both in December and after the Epiphany and even more so on January 18th. Unfortunately, the evolution of the infections made it clear that there were no conditions for the government to have the green light. We took note of this with a sense of responsibility, albeit with great regret, ”he said Andy Varallo, the president of Dolomiti Superski.

The latest Dpcm therefore set the possible reopening date in mid-February which would be subject to the acceptance of the security protocols but also to the numbers of infections. It goes without saying, we all hope that in a few weeks the numbers will be more acceptable, but at the moment we cannot be sure: mobility between regions, which today is extremely limited, also depends on that. If only the Lombards could ski in Bormio and only the Valdostans could ski in Cervinia, the reopening itself would make less sense.

It should also be said that, between now and February 15, the Government will also have to clarify the consistency of the refreshments assigned to the installers. If that is true the Dolomiti SuperSki and the Ponte di Legno Tonale ski area have already confirmed that they will open anyway (and this also applies to the Valle d’Aosta lifts), it is equally true that there could be smaller districts that will have the advantage of keeping the refreshment closed and collecting. The good news is that the slopes are ready, the natural snow is extraordinary and the facilities are perfectly accessible.