For travelers and adventurers, always planning for the next big trip, the next grand adventure, it’s easy to overlook the beauty of our own backyard. I have to thank my classmates, Devin, John, and Molly, for showing me a new, incredible area just outside our city. Our little foray into the toe of the Dolomites outside Lecco was a much needed respite from the onslaught of medical school during our final weeks of the semester. 

From Milan, we took a train to Lecco, then a bus to Funivia Piani d’Erna. The old gondola cable car whipped us up the mountain to the summit of the Piani D’Erna, where we started hiking. After a few hours of detours, and exploring the ‘low side’ of the mountain, we changed course and started climbing a trail leading to the summit of Resegone. 

We meandered through the forest, gaining ground, and hitting pockets of snow. Before we broke for lunch, we’d wrapped around the north side of the mountain, and we were largely in the shade. The cooler north aspect held much more snow, and soon we were plodding through knee-deep birms. 

We kept climbing, through the snow. After lunch, we followed the trail to a ridgeline, which connected a series of peaks in a chain leading to the summit of Resegone. A fog rolled in, and blanketed the forest through we we walked. Soon, we were near treeline. The snow was waist deep in spots, and steep rocky precipices flanked us on either side. We’d lost the trail in the snow, and were following terrain feature to the best of our ability. I scrambled through snow, rock, and bushes to a highpoint, a mini summit overlooking Lake Como. From there, the fog had completely engulfed the route to the summit. With no trail, steep drops on either side, and unreliable footing in the snow, we decided to turn around. 

Back at the funivia, we waited at the top station for the next cable car to shuttle us back down to Lecco. We explored the other side of the mountain, were a few Via Ferrata trails lead to a cross-memorial. The sun set, illuminating the valley below in a golden twilight. 

With soggy socks and tired legs, we shared hot chocolates and cold beers were shared at the base funivia station.