Not many have heard of a place called Seceda. However, the moment one looks at this photo of this jagged peaks, they can immediately recognize this iconic formation. I was fortunately to arrive and witness this amazing scene just in the nick of time. The valley was socked in clouds until the late afternoon, and it wasn't until 3pm did the fog descend revealing this amazing landscape.
Alpine Meadows
The Italian Dolomit hold a special place in my heart. Its combination of rugged mountain landscape comprised of jagged peaks arising in subgroups without a pattern, interspersed by beautiful alpine meadows with cows still ringing about, and cute Tyrolean villages villages linked by scenic byways make it a haven for the hiker in me seeking better creature comforts.
And this scene from the Seceda area of the Dolomiti highlights the amazing landscape of the UNESCO World Heritage site. And this is one of the 13 photos featured in my 2023 calendar available to purchase at this link.
Val Gardena
South Tirol, Italy
Dolomiti in Moonlight
A whirlwind of a trip to Italy took me to 3 diverse destinations. But throughout the trip, there was one constant, a bright moon, that proved to be a focal point for various photos I took during the trip. Here in the Dolomiti, the near full moon rose to prominence over the jagged peaks at twilight.
Dolomiti
Alto Adige, Italy
When Out of Officee
A few years ago, I decided to take a break from work and go back to school for a couple of years. And while that was a high loss of opportunity cost (compared to staying at work), I never regretted that decision. Apart from those two years being a life-changing decision, I got quality time to take leisurely trips and enjoy the outdoors, do backpacks in amazing destinations and tick off a few bucket list items.
Driving cross country was one of them. Revving up my Civic through those sinuous mountain roads while enjoying glorious sunsets with vistas of endless peaks was nothing short of sublime. That trip made me realize that there is so much out there to see, and I have but experienced just a fraction of it.
Perhaps one of my most memorable trips was to the heart of Italian Dolomites. I spent a week climbing steep rocky terrain, hiking through incredible landscapes and witnessing incredible sunrises and sunsets from rifugios aptly placed on mountain-tops. And while the days were exhausting, the urge for photography kept me going. The Dolomites are like nothing else.
Looking back at those pictures from mountainous north of Italy, memories come flooding back to me of this amazing trip, replete with the delicious food paired with crisp local wines, friendly company, towns and cities steeped in history and culture, and so much more. It pains that I cannot travel and retrace my steps at these destinations, but I hope that fortunes turn in the future.
But this trip, and the many others I took during a two year break from work, taught me that gathering experiences by immersing yourself at a location, and expanding your worldview is perhaps as important, if not more, than the pedantic knowledge obtained through books and lectures.
Light and Dark
The clouds lapped above me, carried by the cool yet constant breeze sweeping over the valleys and mountaintops. With the clouds came the dynamic interplay of shadow and light, constantly changing over the canvas that was the rugged landscape all around - dozens of canyons, hundreds of peaks, and an endless moving panorama of breathtaking alpine scenery.
I could spend an eternity at top of this rifugio, but I had to move on to the next amazing destination in the heart of the Italian Dolomites
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Italy
The Mightly Dolomiti
It was the last leg on the first day of hiking in the Dolomiti. A steep hill loomed in front, an ascent that seemed to get longer the more closer I got. The evening sun was shining brightly, and I prodded on, encouraged by the thoughts of a cool shower, delicious pasta and wine at the rifugio for the night.
I turned around, looking back at the way I had come. The Cinque Torri (5 Towers), which seemed mighty up close, was dwarfed by the towering Tofana di Rozes rising 3000ft across the valley. Clouds marched across the region in a brisk pace, and alternating light and shadows followed them across the rugged geology. The dramatic profile of the Tofana was in full view, along with the innumerable hiking trails and climbing routes that cris-crossed this jaw-dropping terrain.
Scenes like these were all over this beautiful region of Italy. I, for one, will never forget this incredible trip.
Rifugio Averau
Cortina Italy
Sunrise from Above
I stood by the edge of the trail, peering down onto the valley below and the seemingly endless mountain ranges beyond. I stared at the deep canyons and mountain peaks mired in a lightening fog, while clouds of all shapes and sizes were colored in pastel hues hinting of a glorious sunrise ahead. Despite the freezing winds, a sleepy tenor and a fatigued body, I was feeling elated.
I was atop a mountain peak near Rifugio Lagazuoi, in the heart of the Italian Dolomites at sunrise. I had been trekking up and down, and through and around these jagged peaks for the last few days, and today was my last one here. I still have vivid memories of the dramatic topography that I had witnessed over the last 72hrs, coupled with very delicious local cuisine. Whether it was the beautiful scenery I had witnessed, or just the joy of traveling there, looking back at those images brings the wanderlust back.
Here's to hoping I get to see more of such beautiful places, and witness sunrises like the one from the heart of the mountains.
Rifugio Lagazuoi
Cortina, Italy