With climate change and global warming at the centre of the conversation around skiing, it’s more common to read about ski resorts closing than new ones opening.
That makes ‘Homeland’ – a new ski-touring only ski resort in the Lombardy region of Italy – even more notable.
The resort opened last winter above the small village of Monte Spluga, offering 11 marked touring routes covering 36km.
Founders Tommaso Lazzuna and Paolo Pichielo were inspired by the boom in ski touring seen across Europe during the pandemic.
All equipment available for hire
The modern base station offers rental options for everything you could possibly need for a day on the mountain, including touring skis, split boards, skins and an avalanche backpack including transceiver, shovel and probe, plus a four-season sleeping bag.
The relatively modest cost of €55 per day compares well to the cost of a lift pass in most ski resorts.
Evidently, with no snow groomers, lifts or snow cannons, the overheads are low. Is ski touring the future of snowsports? It’s unlikely, but innovations like this deserve all the support they can get.
And if you can make it this weekend (08 December 2024), there’s a free open day:
