European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 10, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse A Stirr lilies a Tumble dad two re frs Haat Down j Stupe h is Milf i mount find. Mediterranean Bureau scores of ski bust skill the ionian sea past Palm Trees and .1 Low Sun starved tourists bathing in relatively warm Winfut Walers before starting Iho Long Steep climb up mount . The buses have mini fim ill Ovit Sicily and Iron Hie Hunt Suu Hern part if die italian Mainland bringing Aser skiers to Etna. During this sex Lerm by mild Winter Etna has had the Only decent skiing a to in found anywhere South of Rene the huge Black Trine of Elna Italy s highest Mountain and Europe s biggest and most virile Volcano is visible or so Mill s. Ii dominates northeastern Sicily Ivi Island larger than new Jersey and i he Home of nearly 5 million people. From Etna s Loisy fool High Summit it s possible to see All if Sii ily the i Sipari islands to i he North Malm 1u the South incl Jar it it Strail of Messina ninth Ollie coastline. On i he in if ski slopes on Elna s mirth swli1, ill buses anti n . One of the most tremendous look Ila i in 3% b.c., when Oil lava flow reached ilic1 sea. Thy in oct were in 1169, when the tily of Catania i is mites away was overwhelm i d and its 15, inhabitants were buried in ruins. In 1669, when lava spilled across the or 4 1 Day and killed 10,000. And in 1 b13, when an eruption and Wilh nuke took 60,0 lives. Major eruptions this Century were in 1510, when 2j new craters were formed in 1923, when ejected lava remained hoi for 13 months in 192b, when the toxin of Mascali Wax destroyed and in 1950-51, when the Nova Lowed for More than a year dumping More than fl50 million c ubic meters of detritus. The ski buses ascent through attractive Stone villages today the slopes of Etna art1 heavily populated before encountering the Snow Lino amid strands of Beech Birch Oak and Pine. There after a drive of nearly two hours up from the coast Many of the cars Park alongside the Road some to put on Snow chains for lilt rest of the journey but most simply to. Disgorge passengers to frolic in the Snow a rare treat for sicilians. On sundays the Arua s busiest Day although thousands of cars choke hit Fea dirty to the ski area the slopes to to Btl Earb Melv crowded. A Greal number of the italians come to Slid on he lower slopes and thai lakes the pressure off the area s lit l . A Day s All lifts ski pass crisis 2.1,1x10 lire about 119. Skiing is rather limited and All the slopes Are ascended by Poma lifts. The first lilt takes skiers up Aboul 5of Yards in the top of the bog news Slop. The in from Here to the base Lodge culs through Trees and is crowded with Slidders. Another Poma lift slightly longer than the first takes skiers from the top of ref beginners area to a Point above the Timberline where Broad Villas he in opt Mii up. The landscape is Barren in this land of clinker and dark Grey Tava. k Kuy and Sharp and can quickly gouge ski Pullums. For this reason experienced Etna skiers use rental skis or a beat up pair of their scum Best skis on the Volcano s Pisut a "1 real gear on the Mountain i d hither put lava gashes in the Bottoms of those skis than mine said la. Lack rust 27, a Light infer with vr-24 at is Gonella Nas nearly Ihrie hours away by car. Rust a native of Alloway n.j., r i s the skiing on Etna As great Island entertainment adding mostly Bunny slopes l on a recent sunday conditions on the lows crusty but overnight 5i guaranteed no Bare s n conditions were far Werler in the Middle level reached by a \ conditions were Excell inches of new powder base Clouds covered tin much of the Day and is visibility from Lime to surrounding terrain s d Cones popped of of i appearances. Some 20 below Etna s main i my the run from the to Peppy real with Small n Down for a fast cruise i approximately a mile i exhilarating off piste r powder mount Etna s challenging but in will intermediate skier for an other piste closer and served by two Morf considerably to the Moi opportunities. In Forter 12 Tir pct rom Juanc Nodi 10, Isbel
