The Flying Banana Viewpoint

It's never my intention to take significant risks in a foreign country thousands of miles away from home. But sometimes, life takes you to a point of NO return - it's just that simple!!

October 28, 2024: Sunny / 55F

Got up early for our morning shooting assignments at Lago di Misurina in northeast Italy. Nothing special, we decided to head back to the Natural Park Three Peaks, where we spent the entire afternoon the day before hiking with hundreds of other people on the trail - it was insane. The park was much quieter early in the morning when everything was still sleeping in serenity...

Around 9 am, everyone packed up ready to go back to the hotel, when I noticed a trail leading up to the edge of the mountains -- looks like, standing at the edge, I'd be able to get a much better view of the other side of the mountain range -- the real Dolomite type of mountains. I casually asked if anyone wanted to "take a walk" with me. No one - not a single person - wanted to make the effort to see the other side of the world. So, I started walking toward the seemingly "very close" edge of the mountain by myself.   

 

Wow, half way through, I realized it wasn't that close! As I climbed higher, I met some hikers on their way down. When asked how the trail was ahead, they smiled and kindly told me: "Oh, it's not bad. When you get to the top, the trail splits into two ways -- left and right. The left side trail is narrow and is on the cliff side, but the view is amazing. The right side trail is definitely safer, but there isn't much of the view..." I made my decision right there and then - I'd definitely take the LEFT trail.

As I headed down on the left side of the trail, it got narrower and narrower, and even before I had a chance to contemplate my options, the sheer cliff was right in front of me on my left side -- thousands of feet straight down. Since I was so afraid of height, my steps slowed, heartbeats increased... I continued, moved as cautiously as possible -- half of a step at a time -- until I really couldn't continue moving forward.  I was literally paralyzed. On my right was the tall cliff straight up. On my left was the deep cliff straight down. In front and behind me was the narrow trail path... "Can I go back?" No, because I would be facing the same deep cliffs and narrow path going back. 

At my most hopeless moment, a young couple approached me. The lady asked me: "Are you okay? Do you need help?" "YES!!" I couldn't remember ever accepting "help" from anyone so quickly and definitively.

To me, they were God sent angels. With their kindness and generous help, I completed the LONG, narrow trail and even reached the very tipping point at the end of the trail -- locals refer to it as "The Flying Banana Viewpoint."

Thank you, Stana and Mark, for saving my life and showing me how beautiful the world is!

Picture 1 was downloaded from the internet - just to give you a better perspective of where the "tipping point" is in the vast Dolomite mountains. I stood TALL out there!!!

 

Sentiero Bonacossa Trail

Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Dolomites, Italy

October 28, 2024