TREKKING Pollino. The Garden of the Gods

I still remember with pleasure my first outing with Mario, our guide trekking River Tribe. I remember the desire to immortalize hitherto unknown landscapes, looking for the best shot. So, after countless shots, I decided to put down the smartphone and enjoy the mountain.

The coordination between steps and breathing allowed me to follow his silence, which is not silence, to finally immerse myself in that ancestral and uncontaminated territory. The scents of the forest and wet earth, the paths that get lost among the sharp profiles, give life to one of the most beautiful excursions in the Pollino Park, which culminates with the discovery of the kingdom of giant Loricati pines at over 2000 meters above sea level. The symbol of the Park, the pinus leucodermis is a precious botanical rarity that populates the summits and rocky crags of the surrounding mountains. Imposing, shaped by the wind or clinging to cliffs. For centuries these trees, in their strangest form, have surveyed the territory in perfect harmony with the fluctuating clouds. Standing still at the top and observing them is an obligation, there are those who try to embrace them, there are those who sit contemplating, there are those who instead try to immortalize them in their splendor. In that moment you strip yourself of everything, of every social status and the mind ponders and filters, until the most cumbersome thoughts are cancelled. The loricates in particular create an evocative spectacle of life, death and rebirth, from which the strength of a still wild and primordial nature seems to manifest itself. It's the time when the heart is lightest.

But this is only the final destination, the journey always begins the evening before - as Mario, our guide Trekking, tells us - the organization, the backpack, the accessories, the equipment and the right adrenaline to face a day in the mountains. "The mountain is a way of living life. One step in front of the other, silence, time and measure" just to quote a thought by Paolo Cognetti; every day spent in nature alone or together with clients is a unique day, this is what Mario tends to underline to River Tribe clients before each excursion in Pollino. When you think about the majestic setting of the Pollino, it's no wonder that the "adventure" factor reaches exponential levels. The hiking trails, the itineraries for the mountain bike and the climbing cliffs offer moments of pure emotion and fabulous views.

The meeting at the River Tribe base, before departure, is a way to discuss and prepare. A way to get to know each other better, socialize and prepare for an experiential walk in synergy. In this dimension we learn and share respect: for nature, for animals, for human beings, for life. The smallest things, the ones we usually don't notice, become very important.

It is an almost circular route which has as its destination the Garden of the Gods near Serra di Crispo. After the last briefing and a check of the equipment, especially the footwear (very important), we start from the gigantic beech forest of Colle dell'Impiso, up to the Piani di Vacquarro where, immersed in the woods, silver firs make room. The path winds between valleys and cliffs, climbs up the flat hills of ferns and cists parched by the sun, descends into dewy clearings edged with precipices and topped by steep ferns, crosses streams of crystalline clarity, until some obstacle blocks the way and, thus, for long hours, observing a magical place.

The vegetation stands out for the great richness of the species present, which testify to the variety and vastness of the territory. The presence of holm oaks, junipers, myrtle, maples and broom surround the free horses and grazing cattle, a black woodpecker that stops pecking sensing our presence, while an eagle, a red kite or even a griffin curiously observe our every movement from above. All these ingredients make the trekking Giardino degli Dei with River Tribe an unmissable excursion in the Pollino, the largest National Park in Italy. A rediscovery and revaluation of territories which also becomes an extraordinary means of socialization. Nothing is capable of sweeping away heavy and negative thoughts like the pure air of high altitudes.

So it was... among paths, valleys and streams of water I catapulted myself into that sense of impenetrability and mystery that permeates this place of inestimable naturalistic, historical and anthropological value.

Once we arrive at the floors of Pollino, the majestic sentinels await us, these beautiful loricated pines that guard Serra delle Ciavole, to reach Uncle Peppe, a unique specimen and symbol of the Park, even more so after the cowardly attack suffered years ago.

We are at the gates of the Garden of the Gods, from here on the Calabrian side the Timpa di San Lorenzo, Falconara, Civita and the Raganello Gorges are clearly visible. The scenery, with the Ionian Sea in the background, is evocative and mesmerizing.

An emotion that has nothing to do with everyday life, but which allows us to renew the right energy inside to give life to new ideas or simply the awareness that a better world is only possible if we respect it. After about 6 hours of walking and a packed lunch break under the giants of Pollino, we return to the base.

The questions, the curiosities, the desire to know other itineraries or hope for a close encounter with the local fauna. The return phase is the saddest part because you wish it would never end, but it is the moment in which you come to terms with your discovery with that feeling of having found a part of yourself in the effort. So you're already thinking about the next adventure, what to put or remove from your backpack, a peak to conquer.

Maybe always with us, ready to welcome you and pamper you and make you live an unforgettable experience. 😊