Hiking through the World War I tunnels in the Dolomites was a profound and sobering experience, offering a raw glimpse into the unimaginable conditions Italian soldiers faced on these mountain battlefields  The steep, jagged paths leading to these tunnels gave me just a fraction of insight into the soldiers’ relentless climb and daily endurance. It’s one thing to read about the war, but standing in the very spaces where men lived, fought, and struggled for survival made it painfully real.

  This is the bottom of the Lagazuoi moutain where we began our journey to the top. It was a 9 hour trek.

Not only was the hike to the entrance difficult, but these are the stairs located inside the mountain that we had to climb all the way to the top, it was the most strenuous thing I’ve done. 

Once we made it to the top, although so exhausted I also felt so empowered that I was able to complete this hike. It was a once-in-a- lifetime experience.