Of all the mountains I had planned for Italy, Monte Antelao was the one I kept thinking about. By the time I was standing beneath it, the anticipation had become something much more immediate: a long climb ahead and a mountain that needed my attention.
There was no glacier crossing or via ferrata on my route. There was loose rock, exposed ground and plenty to think about as I climbed. The higher I went, the wilder it felt.
It was the most technical hike I had done up to that point. I had to be patient and keep making decisions, rather than simply put my head down and walk. That is a part of the day I want to remember just as clearly as the summit.
And then I was up there, with the Dolomites around me. After looking forward to this mountain for so long, it felt good to finally stand on it. Punta Penia was still ahead of me on the trip, and I already knew these five days in Italy would stay with me.
There were thousands of kilometres of driving wrapped around those climbs. I would remember the mountains long after the travelling was over. Antelao, especially, gave me a lot to bring home.
