One of my favorite parts of living in Italy so far has been exploring the Italian Alps. I grew up without spending much time in the mountains, so being surrounded by huge peaks, forests, glaciers and small mountain villages has been completely new to me.
I first visited Bardonecchia during my first weekend in Italy. I traveled there alone and hiked about 14 miles over two days, camping overnight in my hammock. More recently, I went to Cogne with a group of friends. There, we hiked about ten miles, gained around 3,000 feet of elevation, stayed in a small mountain village and experienced more of the local food and culture.
The two trips felt different, but together they showed me how much the mountains influence the way people live. Food, transportation, architecture, tourism and even the rhythm of daily life are all shaped by the environment.
