i first discovered the mountains at age 10 when driving through the alps for the first time. it was on a family trip to the garda lake. i will never forget that first encounter. it was as if a magical world opened up to me and somehow i instantly knew that these giants of rock and ice would come to be an important part of my life.
today i go on trips to the mountains whenever the opportunity presents itself. however, being a resident in a country with very few vertical challenges, that doesn't seem to happen as much as i would like :) so in the meantime other activities such as running and surfing are pursued.
being in the mountains is simply the best thing i know of. it is where i feel real, where i am the happiest - either alone or in the company of others and dear ones. it is where i become one with spirit and it is what i constantly long for.
in this regard i like to refer to a quote by the great gaston rebuffat who said:
"In this modern age, very little if nothing remains real...For me, only my time spent in the High Places remains the reality of my existence. It is the only thing that is real and true. It is my life."
Here is a geographical overview of some of the mountainous places i've been to:
