Mount Etna is the highest and most active volcano in Europe. The night before I came to Sicily, Etna erupted and I was hyped up to see the action. Lava fountains of 500m sounded sick.

Wow

I’m not sure if for good or for bad, but the eruptions didn’t occur during my 3 day stay in Sicily. At that time I had trouble reconciling with the environment and naturally I thought of climbing Etna. And on my 3rd day in Sicily, when the weather was the best, I did.

There’s just one bus a day to the foothills of Etna, leaving from the square in front of the train station of Catania. A return ticket costs €6,60. On the way to Etna it luckily stopped in a town, where I stocked up. The bus arrives at Rifugio Sapienza, which is at 2000m (Etna’s peak is 3357m).

Rifugio Sapienza

Beginning

Getting higher than the clouds

After getting higher than the clouds, the proper path almost disappeared and was covered in snow.

Snow

Having regular shoes didn’t help. I was thinking of how I was going to get down afterwards.

White

After reaching 2500m, we discovered that there is actually a proper road, where big trucks drive.

Trucks

Despite the fact that it’s prohibited to go beyond the 2500m mark without a guide, we continued our ascent. The peak was luring.

Luring

Shadows

It became colder and colder the higher we went.

Craters

Snow, Craters, Sea

The highest we reached was about 2800m, where the path ends.

Highest point

The way down was amazing. From 2500m we took another proper road, which was longer.

The snow beautifully contrasted with the black rocks.

Contrast

Gradually the snow disappeared.

No snow

Antonio Spina memorial

On the way down we inspected other craters.

Soft and fluffy

Craters

Lush volcanic forest

Antenna

I enjoyed the hike a lot and it definitely helped me reconcile with the environment. It was the highest point I’ve ever been to.