So close they’re

So close they’re practically semi-detached. Like all good neighbours they get along famously, swopping recipes, intermarrying, sharing mountains and slopes. Yes, they’ve had past disagreements, but that’s all forgotten now. Skiing the Milky Way And, beyond little Claviere, is the Via Lattea –The Milky Way – 400km of pistes and the resorts of Sestriere, Sauze d’Oulx, San Sicario, and Cesana. You can choose to stay within a local sector, or buy a lift pass for all. Top Tip: find your ski legs in Montgenevre, then venture further afield. It’s entirely viable to ‘do’ the Milky Way in a day, but remember: Quality v Quantity. Time for some cross-border action. There’s no queueing for Passport Control, but it is a bit of a slog. After a hold-your-nerve schuss down a blue trying to keep some speed, the run flattens out into a walk as you realise you’re in Italy. Fantastico! Even more fantastic is the name of the sector, Monti de la Luna. It was here I had one of the most memorable runs of my life, not on a steep black, or some narrow couloir, but a simple green. From the Colla Bercia 2293m to Cesana 1360m, piste #90 (numbers not names in Italy) meandered down a farm track overhung with branches heavy with snow, forming an ice-tunnel, dappled shadows contrasting with shafts of piercing sunlight. I slowly snow-ploughed the more to prolong my enjoyment of the moment, the place, and my senses. I don’t believe it could ever be that perfect again. To finish, back at the top lift, the rickety old hostel Baita della Luna served awful burgers, but wonderful homemade Zuppa de Ceci con bruschetta (Chickpea soup with bruscetta) It’s the simple things that stay. Michael Cranmer was a guest of Montgènevre Tourist Office, www. montgenevre.com He stayed at Le Hameau des Airelles courtesy of Zenith Holidays, www. zenithholidays.co.uk