By Roberto Giovannoni
 

A big welcome to a new group formed with the clear intent to encourage awareness and passion and to ensure that everyone can enjoy themselves in the winter months in the mountains. It ought to represent an unforgettable experience.
 

The term altitude, by definition, indicates distance from sea level. Altitude of a mountain. For example the 1.550m of Madesimo, the 2.984m summit of Pizzo Groppera or the 8.848 m of Mount Everest. But altitudine also indicates the vertical distance from “level zero”. For Altitude Collective altitudine is that desire to go beyond “level zero”, and beyond therefore the environment in which you are at ease. It doesn’t matters at what altitude you are “comfortable” or what “experience levels” you might have off piste: the only limits that do not allow us to go further are those endowed by knowledge. Altitude Collective is a team of young professionals in Madesimo that is united by a genuine love for the mountains, snow and teaching.They organise lessons, both individual and group suitable for everyone: beginners, experts, young and old. Their aim is to impart knowledge and passion ensuring enjoyable experiences in the winter mountains and at the same time conveying an awareness of the environment and the dangers that characterise it. Essential stuff.
 

Altitude Collective proposes lessons of a minimum of 3 hours, crucial in order to introduce a subject as complex as it is fascinating as the approach to the winter mountain environs. The instruction takes on a range of topics: freeride lessons, telemark, freestyle, free touring and safety camp. The proposals are based on three main pillars: observe the environment, the equipment used and the circumstances; Get to know the technical variations, tools and required actions: Take action, experimenting in the field and gaining confidence in what you have learned.
 

Altitude Freeride encourages people to raise their game, literally, to extend their “comfort zone”, providing them with advice and technical knowledge that allows them to enjoy themselves everywhere whilst avoiding any dangers. To get in touch with the Altitude Collective instructors check out online www. altitude-collective.com, or alternatively at their base at Acquarela the bar/restaurant on the slopes at Madesimo.

Acquarela is not simply a refuge on the slopes. Acquarela recounts stories. Stories of encounters, celebrations and lazy afternoons under the sun. Stories of abandoned skis in search of a bombardino, of masters and their dogs arriving on foot. The first coffee of the day and dancing under the stars.Stories of children and their love of cakes, of cakes being gorged, of happy tummies full of cakes. Acquarela talks of smells. The aroma of steaming yellow soup on a foggy day, of sandwiches with bresaola and warm cheese in your hands, of wine enveloping the table top. The scents of traditional dishes and colourful, exotic spices. Of apple fritters and freshly baked cakes. And Acquarela tells of sounds. Sounds that mingle with the laughter, and combine with tinkle of cutlery on a plate just emptied. The sound of music in the distance which beckons, and that of music in the heart which moves. Sounds of bottles uncorked celebrating the latest descent. Acquarela reveals photographs. Photos taken at sunset prior to heading home. Photos of a robin stealing crumbs. Of a friend dancing on a table. Of an outside swing under snowflakes. Acquarela will tell all if you let her. And if you add a dollop of cream, she’ll tell you even more. Acquarela is located at the heart of the Madesimo ski slopes and is an umbrella bar gushing with stories, smells, and Alpine sounds. You can’t miss us!