| The Sestriere ski resort was purpose-built so long | | | | you won't want to miss a run down Sestriere's |
| ago because it is a very snow-sure place. The | | | | slopes. In all, there are over 400 kilometers of runs |
| altitude reaches well above 2000 meters, so snow is | | | | and over 65 lifts with nearly 1000 snow guns. There |
| not only likely but also guaranteed. A family actually | | | | are 58 km and 31 blue runs here, keeping the place |
| started the resort and was forward-thinkers in their | | | | uncrowned and moving. Additionally, the red runs |
| own right. In fact, they had snow cannons and snow | | | | cover 193 kilometers and number in the upper 90s. If |
| machines in the early 70s and 80s before other | | | | you're an expert, you'll have around 70 km of ski |
| resorts even considered spending that kind of money | | | | runs with 32 official black slopes. The tallest peak |
| to guarantee visitors snow. Almost forty years ago, | | | | you'll have access to in Sestriere Italian ski resort is |
| Sestriere was making snow when not enough fell to | | | | 2840 meters, with access to 1840 and 2035 meters. |
| guarantee visitors a good time. If you're a skier | | | | If you like human power rather than gravity, take a |
| looking for a ski-sure place this holiday season, look | | | | trail on the cross-country courses; there's over 8km |
| no further than Sestriere. The Via Lattea is actually a | | | | of these awaiting your skis. In case you're wondering |
| pass that links several other ski areas. The name | | | | where to stay, here is an idea of what you can find |
| itself means Milky Way and once you see the white | | | | and the altitude that each town is built at. To the |
| glistening snow, you'll understand why the name | | | | east under Mt. Genevris, you'll find Sauze d'Oulx at |
| makes perfect sense. The Milky Way-or Via | | | | 1509 meters-Oulx proper is just down the mountain |
| Lattea-Pass interlinks Sauze d"Oulx to Montgenevre | | | | from here. Sestriere ski resort lies at 2035 meters, |
| (located just over in France) by way of Sansicario, | | | | under Mt. Rognosa and Mt. Sises. Grangesises lies at |
| Claviere and Cesana. The four ski areas (towns) that | | | | 1839 meters in the shadow of Roc del Boucher. |
| make up Sestriere are Sestriere Colle, Sestriere | | | | Clavier, more to the west of the range, lies at 1760 |
| Borgata, Champlas du Col and Champlas Janvier. If | | | | meters and under Mt. Gilmont and Mt. Dormillouse. |
| you hit the slopes late enough in the season, you | | | | Just farther west and about 100 meters higher lies |
| could have access to over 430 kilometers of skiing | | | | the town of Montgenevre, just south of Mt. |
| under one ski pass right out your back door. This | | | | Chenaillet. These towns and ski resorts all have |
| guarantees powder-rich slopes and the Milky Way is | | | | doorstep access to the slopes, so if you find a good |
| always white and dusted with several meters of | | | | price in accommodation in one over another, take it |
| snow. Sestriere is in the Susa Valley within the | | | | and know that you can easily get back and forth |
| world-renowned Piedmont of the Italian Alps, where | | | | from one resort to another in no time. The apres ski |
| you can literally see France in the horizon. All levels of | | | | venue isn't too shabby if you'd like a night out alone |
| skiers will have no trouble finding snowy slopes. Right | | | | or with your family. If you're a young partygoer, |
| near the resort itself, the hills just undulate oh so | | | | you'll have no trouble finding a party or two to keep |
| carefully, inviting beginners to try a ride or two. The | | | | you up into the wee hours of morning. When you're |
| nursery slopes beckon and don't scare away | | | | here, try looking for The Cavern, The Irish Igloo, The |
| beginners and children skiers alike. Even if it only | | | | People Pub, and the Tabata disco. You can get more |
| snows higher up, the nursery slopes are well covered | | | | to eat than pizza here too. Try the El Giget, Du |
| with snow too with all the snow cannons. While little | | | | Grande Pere, Pinky or Zio Popy for good service and |
| Johnny is practicing on the nursery slopes, you can | | | | some good eats. These places have been given good |
| take a ride down the Kandahar Slalom Giovanni | | | | reviews by local and foreign crowds so you won't be |
| Alberto Agnelli run as long as you're an expert. If | | | | let down even if you pay a lot for some of the |
| you're into the natural challenges of the mountains, | | | | meals. |