As it's the new year I figured i'd give you a sneak-peak, world exclusive into the intimate runnings of the Dolomiti Appreciation Society...
Okay so it's not the Nandos black card, you don't have to be on TV to join and you won't get free chicken if you do. It's just a group of people who love the mountains, i Dolomiti to be specific, and anybody and everybody is welcome (P.S. we've got jumpers)
Welcome to the most beautiful mountain range in the world. The Dolomites.
The S-birds minus a particularly special HH
Some Dolomiti appreciatin'
Mountain peacocks?
View
The first of many sunset-gasms.
Then we headed back down the mountain for NYE, our coat pockets, back pockets, side pockets, front pockets, rucksacks, gloves, hats and socks all laden with prosecco, gin and beer for the festivities.
The Dolomiti Appreciation Society
At about 5ish we all
walked staggered back home and settled down for a 12hr sleep.. Naaat! At 8am Gabs woke us all up for first lifts so we could get a full day of Dolomiti appreciatin' in.
- How's everybody doing?
- Peakkking!
peaking [peek.ing] adj: to be feeling strong, a machine running on peak performance
troughing [trof.ing] adj: to be feeling not so strong, at a low point (usually in conjunction with a hangover)
Another key mantra of every society member is that sharing is caring. Specifically when it comes down to food. Every member must provide for their fellow members. We're not fussy, whatever's lying around the pantry will do. Baked potatoes, sandwiches, chocolate chip brownies, carrot cake, lemon tart, boiled eggs, apple crumble, chunks of cheese, yesterdays pizza etc. Put them in your pocket or your hood and they become hood sandwiches and pocket potatoes.
Below is the communal eating of a pocket baked potato. No word of a lie.
One word. Two syllables. Gra-ppa.
It makes you harder, better, faster, stronger and most importantly, gnarlier. It also makes your insides burn and your face muscles twist into the always attractive post-shot face. It's wonderful.
This is Troy's pre-shot face (i thought it unkind to upload the post-shot face)
Then sit back in awe at yet another mind-blowingly beautiful sunset
Typically we were still in a bar at the top of the mountain long after the piste was closed and so had to get the lift back down. Not letting it dent our spirits we filled the cable car with our out-of-tune and out-of-time renditions of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot before heading to Bats Bar where the Welsh boys showed us how to do it properly.
What a NYD!
The next day was Giorgia's birthday
The mountain equivalent of birthday beats is birthday snowballs. One for every year. We ended up getting a bit carried away and the whole thing descended into a mass snowfight.
I know I seem to harp on here a lot about trees. The lack of them, my love of them, missing them etc, but the Dolomiti trees and the off-piste between them is one of my favourite things to do. Ever. You will undoubtedly go down too low, turn off too soon, hit a few trees and end up in the river with a 30minute hike back up to the piste looking red, puffy and sweaty. Think of it as an initiation. Giorgia's still on probation.
To the left we have a lift pass tree and to the right we have Gin coming out of the trees.
Can you spot the birthday girl on her bum in the trees?
Delyth looking gnarly in the trees
Giorgia also gnarly in the trees
Chairlift between the trees
The team in the trees
Che carina!
One more thing, hot chocolate in the mountains is exceptional. None of that pansy powdered stuff, this is big and bold. Either because you're cold and frightened or because it's halfway between a drink and a dessert, it's exactly what you'll be needing. Now wash it down with a
skywasser, raspberry juice and lemon juice. Another important Dolomiti mantra -
hydrate or die.
And then all too soon the week was over and I was on a bus back home. Just in time for another sunset-gasm in Verona.
At the risk of getting soppy on live TV, I am the luckiest girl in the world to have met these people. Everyone of them is so kind, caring, welcoming and talented. Some of lifes real peakers! Not to mention incredible cooks, Troy got five marriage proposals after his risotto alone. Cannot wait to
ci vediamo presto!
Pin It Now!
