It is said all over the World that looking at a Mountain can boost your mood, enrich your Soul. Its like Magic.

I dont know if its the fact that they tower over us, the majesty of Mother Nature in all her glory, making us feel small on a Planet that has so much to offer, filling us with possibilities, or if its the great unknown- whats up there?? I have to find out!- but the saying is truth- “the Mountains are calling, I must go.”

So she called, just when I needed her real bad, and I went.

This ritual of an almost weekly hike up Etna these past months has completely changed me. Where I can get into a funk and feel lost with the hustle of Life lately, I can completely relax mentally and set my spirit free in the mountains. The challenge of the Hike, the wind- heat-cold-rain, the terrain, the quite. It seeps in and I become a Kid on Christmas, every time…. Every trek is pulling me deeper into this L O V E.

On this particular Autumn day, we found the foliage… A flood here in Sicily caused so much damage the week before, and a cancelled trip to a cabin up in one of Italy’s National forests, so I didnt think we would catch the Seasons Dress this year…. I wish I could put into words how my heart screamed when we started our accent! Husband was thoroughly annoyed as I bounced around in the passenger seat, making him pull over for pictures, and jetting into the trees as soon as we parked! Amber and Gold. Ahhhhhhhhh

We ended up back in a spot we have hiked multiple times…. Sentiero Naturalistico Rifugio della Galvarina

You can park there…. Up the Hill to the South (covered in Pine) is a short hike, with the most tranquil little open spot nestled in the trees (photos below) If you hike back down, just jet over across the street where it is just a Hikers Playground to the North! We were determined to see Etna’s peak covered in Snow, so made our own path and just headed up- and up- and up. It became incredibly windy, like almost blew us over multiple times, and started to rain, but by Golly what fun!

We tried. haha.

I highly encourage you, even if your NOT at all a Hiker, if you live here, go up the Mountain. I say this all the time, but I dont think I would make it living here without her. Japan gave me this amazing gift, this love with the mountains, but Etna has made me more of a Trekker, and every trail up there she has shown me just how special she is…

Till next time, xoxo