AN AUTUMN EXCURSION WITH A VIEW

Morning has broken like the first morning

Bathed in sunshine A picturesque mountain hut during an autumn hike

A PLAY OF COLOURS ON THE STEVIA

Dawn at the Stevia is a sight to behold: treat yourself to this beautiful hike, diving deep into the colourful spectacle of nature, walking by the calm lake reflecting the majestic Sella range.

The end of October is when the larches show off their colours in all their splendour for a brief period of time. The day promises to be a sunny one, offering the ideal conditions for our hike up to the Stevia – one to remember. A picture which is worth more than a thousand words and warms the cockle of your heart.

6.30 a.m. Off we go at first light. A fresh breeze is about on this beautiful autumn day. Let’s kick off from Daunëi with our hiking rucksack, packed with provisions and our photo equipment. The weather is ideal, and nothing stands in the way of a pleasant climb and beautiful pictures. 6:50 a.m. The Sassolungo is already tinged in its famous red and amber crown as the first rays of sunshine caress its surface, while daybreak gradually gives way to the sun. The first stage of our excursion takes us through a forest. It is still cold, enough that we can see our puffs of breath forming in front of our face, and the path winds its way through the forest, gradually becoming stepper and steeper. As soon as we exit the forest and leave the trees behind us, take a quick break to admire the view. The trees stand out from each other only by means of their lighter and darker hues – the colours still muddy in absence of stronger light. But this is only temporary as we continue ascending, the light becoming stronger with every step, splashing across the now colourful forest, which makes autumn in Val Gardena something quite unique. The closer we get to our destination, the steeper the climb, which will put our physical fitness to the test for a good hour. The view, however, is the perfect excuse to stop every so often for a quick break: stand still, take a deep breath, and admire the panorama. Not a moment too soon and, as soon as we reach the top, the first rays of sunshine welcome us as they crest over the top of the Cir summits. The sun continues rising at a tremendous speed, which only leaves us a moment to take in the overwhelming feeling upon experiencing our surroundings bathed in a pool of light and the autumnal breeze blowing the cobwebs away. The time has now come to explore the area, and seek fascinating moments to capture on camera, fleeting moments made into everlasting pictures. The grass glistens, the light refracting from the dew droplets in an amber shower, while the trees light up in different hues of green and yellow – and the mountains only add to the beauty of the moment, framing the whole scene in the background, nature coming to life under the warm gaze of the sun. The clear, blue sky is disturbed, only now and then, by an evanescent puff of clouds on the horizon. A surreal combination of the craggy tips of the mountain summits are set off by the softer curves of the meadows. A thing of beauty which does not last long. The rising sun starts to cast its light across a gradually wider area, as we start to understand how beautiful the autumn sun can truly be. 8.32 a.m. Time to head back. We smile, happy as can be, a warm tingling in our bodies. We have captured the perfect autumn day forever.