UKC Forums - Dolomites photo - what are the white dots?

Dolomites photo - what are the white dots?

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Chris Harris 02 Jan 2016

http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.php?id=269307

Shot is the Sella group, Passo Pordoi bottom centre, Val Gardena centre left.

Any clues on the nature of the white dots lower left?

My best guess is each one being the product of a snow cannon, but I don't think it's been cold enough & if it is, why just that area & not the whole Sella Ronda?

Nice pic.

pog100 02 Jan 2016

In reply to Chris Harris:

they look more like the remnants at the end of the season? What date is it?

Chris Craggs Global Crag Moderator 02 Jan 2016

In reply to pog100:

It was taken on the way to Kalymnos - mid November. I was puzzled by the white patched too - looks like a big golf course!

Chris

DerwentDiluted 02 Jan 2016

In reply to Chris Harris:
My first thoughts looking at the pic too. Not a golf course I'm sure. Looks to me like dumped aggregate so I was thinking ski development or avalanche protection works.

Post edited at 14:56

OP Chris Harris 02 Jan 2016

In reply to Chris Harris:

Definitely no golf course there, wouldn't want to play one with that much sand!

This is the area on Google maps, satellite view.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@46.5221198,11.7644902,2839m/data=!3m1!1e3

FactorXXX 02 Jan 2016

In reply to Chris Harris:

Italian version of crop circles?

deepstar 02 Jan 2016

In reply to Chris Harris:

Mozzarella Balls after harvesting being dried in the sun

Padraig 02 Jan 2016

In reply to Chris Harris:

BB camp?

balmybaldwin 02 Jan 2016

In reply to Chris Harris:

How about ski lift pylon earth works? I notice these are often built up in boulderfields around the base of each pylon.

They are in straight lines mostly so that's my best guess

elliptic 02 Jan 2016

In reply to Chris Harris:

It'll be snow cannons. We've been out here this week staying at Mike Kann's place, they've had no natural snow but plenty of pistes are open with the manufactured stuff. Quite odd looking actually, like lots of small but well groomed glaciers snaking down through the meadows...

Chris Craggs Global Crag Moderator 02 Jan 2016

In reply to Chris Harris:

Here is a better shot of the area,

http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.php?id=269344

Chris

jon 02 Jan 2016

In reply to elliptic:

Definitely patches of manufactured snow around snow cannons.

James Rushforth Global Crag Moderator 02 Jan 2016

In reply to elliptic:

Elliptic is right. It's piles of snow created by snow cannons. They started the first ones up around the 1st of November. Despite having no snow here for 2 months 3/4 of the pistes are open with artificial snow created by the cannons, an extraordinary feat really.

On the + side its been the best season I can remember for climbing; have been climbing on the south faces nearly every day through November and December.

OP Chris Harris 02 Jan 2016

In reply to Chris Harris:

Mystery solved, thanks & Happy New Year to all.

Let's hope they get some snow soon!

Casa Alfredino 02 Jan 2016

In reply to Chris Harris:

They are patches of manufactured snow. They make snow and they end up as snow mounts beneath the cannons and the area you are looking at is Plan di Gralba.