I think we all can agree that this was one of the most challenging days of the trip. Both physically and mentally. But I can also say that it was one of my favorite days because of the feeling of accomplishment once we reached the top, following down to the rifugio, and also the fact that we witnessed some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen, and lastly the feeling of connecting with the mountain that we forged during the hike up.

We powered through the hike, step after step, helping each other out and singing “Glory Glory” in the dark tunnel to keep everyone going. Then of course, the ultimate scare was the thought that we had lost Massimo and Sire and that they were stuck inside the mountain. Immediate relief was felt when Sire texted that they were at the rifugio, and the knowledge that they were okay, I think, showed how strong of a team we were because everybody had their purpose and roles and we all worked so well together. We definitely felt a swing of feelings whether it was fear, excitement, nervousness, fatigue, and ACCOMPLISHMENT when we had conquered the day.

Also I have to mention the previous day, where we visited the open air museum with the trenches and filmed the short film. That day was a great prerequisite to then hiking through the tunnel in the mountain and walking across the battlegrounds on the other side of the valley that we had been looking at all day. 

I will always remember this day and think about how physically stepping up to the top of a mountain, walking through history, and feeling those emotions along the way truly connected us to the mountain, rather than taking an easy way out by taking the 3 minute gondola ride up.