Marmolada was important to me because of what I learned while admiring the beautiful view from above. A view like no other, the height at which you stand and the distance you can see make borders disappear and the problems of humanity seem trivial and distant. It is a place of meditation, of clarity, and a place that makes you believe in a better future for our world. I want other people to see what I see when I lean over the guardrail – the beauty of the world and how so many problems in our life are of our own design as a species, not naturally occuring. Marmolada is a place where the majesty of nature is on full display. The dramatic mountain peaks on all sides, the sparkling water in lush green valleys below, and the hypnotic roiling of the clouds around you paint a picture of a world of boundless beauty. The air is crisp, cool, and fresh. It carries the smell of wet rocks and clean dew. Standing on top of the viewing platform, your head spins; both from the height and from struggling to comprehend what your eyes are showing you. It is important for us to realize that places like this can change how we see the world. The only inhabitants of this place are the few who chose to see from a new perspective, those who chose to consider a different point of view. The view from above.

The pictures below were the best I could do to capture the sights, ideas, and emotions atop Marmolada. Each picture has been given a title that encapsulates what was going through my head when I took it. These titles strive to give the viewer a better feeling of what it was like to be there in that moment, and additionally aim to personalize each image, giving the bones of a story for the viewer as they admire these photos. What story does your mind tell as you ponder this marvelous natural spectacle?

Endless Sky Covers Humble Mountains

Nobel Mountains Gaurd the Lake

Clouds Held at Bay

Massimo in the Sky with Diamonds

Castles in the Sky

From the Eyes of a Soldier