The day before yesterday I headed to the summit straight from the bottom, i.e. from Malga Ciapele at approx. 1440 m, as befits the queen of the Dolomites. With skis (at one spot also with skins) I went to Passo Fedaia (2057m) and by the lake first along the little road, then up the track through the scree (here and there marked with red dots or lines). The track through the scree was quite nasty due to too little snow in the lower part, also frozen from precipitation two days prior, skis were sliding. About 150 m above the lake conditions improved, I took a short break at rif. Pian dela Fiacconi 2626m. There the cable car from the west side of Fedaia ends, which has interesting cage-like standing platforms instead of chairs for passenger transport.
From there on, still on skis, I continued on the glacier to approx. 3150m, where I left the skis. In summer a well-equipped ferrata starts here, leading up the steep rock step towards the north ridge, but now it was almost fully snow-covered. For Dolomite conditions the modest 100m height was devilishly steep (my estimate 50° or more), the ridge to the summit luckily much easier, wide and fairly level.
At the summit (Punta Penia, 3343m) I was alone, sky cloudless all around, not a breath of wind, magnificent views.
Returned the same way, view from the ridge down to the glacier along the slope where the ferrata is in summer was quite frightening. Snow completely wind-crusty, ice and occasional rock underneath, so descended very carefully. Cables peeked out of snow only at two or three spots for a meter or two. Two ice axes and crampons were very handy.
Skiing the first 600 vertical meters was pure powder joy (about 20 cm, fallen and wind-blown into this lee position). Next 600m down from Pian dela Fiacconi a bit worse, mainly rock tops sticking out of snow due to this year's desperately poor snow cover. Seemingly small, poorly visible but very dangerous rocks with fixed base can stop, twist, overturn you while skiing... No sense wasting words on the moguls on the ski slope last 600 meters down from Passo Fedaia.
GPS altimeter showed (due to minor intermediate descents and ascents) 1970m ascent or descent and 24km distance. With gorgeous weather and wonderful Dolomites it was a day never to be forgotten!