Every so often, nature leaves me speechless. I often get this giddy feeling when I am completely and utterly overwhelmed by the landscape around me, mouth wide open like the proverbial fish. Oftentimes this sense of awe or wonder occurs when what my eyes are seeing far surpasses my brain’s ability to take it all in.

This happened in the Dolomites.

A mountain range in northeastern Italy, the Dolomites are a rather pale-colored, yet gorgeous set of peaks replete with a variety of recreational activities for all manner of seasons. Since it was summer, I decided to spend my days hiking, hitting up as many nature parks in the area as time allowed.

My first stop was Tre Cime, the iconic three peaks that are often featured on images flaunting the beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. I rose before the sun and hastily made my way to the trailhead. I felt like a kid at Christmas time as I excitedly laced up my hiking boots, readying my gear for the hike.

It was 6 miles of surreal sights: towering mountains, picturesque valleys, and a gritty rawness that was time-to-time contrasted by lush green stretches. I traipsed alone, savoring the solitude that comes from such an early start. One of the unique things about hiking in the European Alps is the mountain huts that are sprinkled along the trails. It was quite pleasant to arrive at a rest spot, and I took advantage of the Italian coffee and flush toilets.

There’s something about mountains that capture my imagination and fascinate my spirit. I ended the hike extremely grateful that I had chosen to dip up into Italy from the northern regions of Croatia.

My legs were tired and my lungs could feel the effects of a high altitude. But my heart… my heart was so glad.