25 Mar 2026

Winter adventure on the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines

DESCRIPTION

To experience an adventure, you don’t need to travel to the ends of the earth to exotic and remote places. You don’t need to take planes, trains, or other modes of transportation that take you far away geographically. The desire for adventure is something that lies within us and finds its fulfillment when it sets in motion the deepest, most intimate part of who we truly are. When I plan an adventure, I think about what I can take away, not what I can add. I distance myself from others, from comfortable surroundings, from the warm season, from the places I know. I simply put my skills, my experience, my determination, my fears, and my desire to learn more about myself on the line. I think it over and over again before setting out; as Walter Bonatti would say, I dream it and plan it until I feel I’ve reached the right compromise with myself. Yes, because one must strike a balance between allure and risk. Without risk—the possibility of failure—there is no adventure. I took this photograph on the ridge of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines in November 2023. On a cold winter morning, the sound of my footsteps on the faint, icy trail created a rhythmic line against the voice of the wind blowing steadily. Here I was near Lake Scaffaiolo, heading toward Mount Spigolino and then on toward the Croce Arcana Pass. In the background stands Mount Cimone, the main peak of this stretch of the Apennines.During the hike, one continually negotiates with oneself between what one is willing to face and what no longer seems manageable. This inner dialogue must be conducted with the utmost sincerity to avoid voluntarily exposing oneself to additional risks. Adventure fosters growth precisely in this way—by getting to know oneself a little better and learning to be honest with oneself.