All Roads Lead to Home – Sophia Pante

Feltre, Italy

The crisp autumn air greeted us as we walked out the front door to begin our walk to Rome. The day was fresh, bursting with potential, as the first rays of morning sun penetrated the misty sky and illuminated the cobble stone streets of Feltre. It was a fantastic time to begin a new adventure, October 10th, or 1010 as the cosmic architect in me looks at dates. 1010 is the cosmic code of this Universe that represents the infinite potential and experience of the Absolute Reality. It is a cosmic code that promises those that tune into its energy a portal or gateway within space to a new experience or reality. I was keenly aware of the fact that when one enters the 1010 for a phase shift, reincarnation, or reality change, one can never be certain what the reality will look like on the other side. However, I was confident that through it there would be a sense of continuity or fluidity to my reality. So, blissfully unaware of what awaited us, Christos and I set off from our front door eager to hike from our home in Feltre through the Valle di Seren to the top of Monte Grappa.

We were aware that this hike would be the toughest of the entire trek to Rome, clocking in at around eight hours and over 21 miles (34Km) with an elevation gain of 4275ft (1303m). This alone is a grueling prospect but to be day one of a nearly two month walk seemed a bit ambitious. The hike was through the forest and mountains with no place to stop in between for meals or lodging. Given this, we (or I) felt the only path forward was to knock out the hike in one shot and put in a long and grueling day of hiking right out of the gate. Anxious to get started in the cool morning temperatures, we snapped a selfie of our first steps and headed down to one of our favorite spots, La Torrefazione, for a quick cafe’ before getting started. We were greeted with the familiar “Ciao Reggazi” , a warm greeting for friends and a reminder from the Universe that we are becoming a part of the community of Feltre. An underlying theme of our reality that would become so loud during our walk that we would not be able to ignore it. Yet, in the early morning hours, we simply delighted in the familiarity and friendliness of Feltre and set our sites on the next town of Seren del Grappa.

The road to Seren del Grappa was busy with morning traffic as we marched single file for about an hour and half to the one and only town on our route for the day. After stopping for another cafe’ and getting provisions for lunch, we strapped on our packs and headed for the hills. Nature was coming alive as we descended deep into the valley. The tingling of bells from cows grazing in the hills bringing our awareness fully into the present moment and to the beauty that surrounded us. Zinnias, dahlias, and other domesticated vegetation and flowers lined the road where the occasional house popped into view. Along the creek bed the purple clover, electric green grass, and other wildflowers gave the impression of an endless summer on this cool October morning. The entire valley filling every sense of the body with glorious sounds, smells, sights, and the majestic presence of Creation as we walked through its center, a river of love and light surrounded by tall walls of trees on either side. The beech trees starting to show signs of turning, changing into their fall wardrobe that littered the hills in oranges and yellows. We walked along this way for about an hour, delighting in the exquisiteness of nature and the serenity and peace of this magical place.

Finally it was time to begin our ascent. Around 10 a.m. we began climbing, first coming to a little dam built to contain a small stream that fed into the main river running through the valley. Looking over the ledge to the bottom of the dam there was a small and inviting pool. The shimmering hues of green and turquoise illuminating from the water felt tropical and foreign in this land of limestone and trees. I made a mental note of its location for a future summer’s day and we turned northward to continue. This was the beginning of a day of climbing. Our path now headed up into the hills as we began the process of slogging up the mountain. The cool morning was quickly turning into a hot day and the deluge of sweat had begun to flow from our pores as if our own inner dam had burst inside us. The road we traversed earlier on the valley floor was slowly becoming a tiny tract of winding land below us. We came across a sign and found that we were walking the path of the Al Cristo. This seemed a fitting name since today Christos was leading the way as we marched up the path through dispersed mountain huts and a tiny village steeped in silence, only the birds and our foot steps making waves within the stillness. We continued to climb for quite a ways when over the trees on an adjacent cliff a steeple appeared in the sky. This church steeple was a beacon of light calling to us as a place of refuge. A haven to rest and refill our water before carrying on upward towards our destination.

Churches all over the world serve as places of refuge for all weary travelers of space and time. When we have eyes to see these places as points within space where the pure energy or Force of Creation pools, we can utilize them as a sanctuary to refill our life force without being attached to the dogma of religion or other stories they carry. These places are literally gateways, wormholes, or whirlpools within space where the love of Creation can be felt. Where one can let go of unwanted energy and refill on the pure energy of Creation. The steep climb without any flat breaks was a killer. Tuning into this church as a beacon of light and a source of fuel and refuge gave us the burst of energy we needed to make that stretch of the trek. In front of the church was a grassy knoll where a gazebo sat with a table and benches inside. Adjacent to the gazebo was a stone water fountain with cold fresh water to fill our water bottles. Metaphysically and physically this became a refueling station for us. After eating a snack, refilling our water and our energy, it was time to move on. Looking behind us, we could see the green Serene Valley and the Dolomites towering over the landscape of the surrounding valleys, natures fortress walls that literally served as such during World War I and II; and we could just make out Feltre in the distance. The land here carrying so much history of our planet’s story and geology, of our human story of civilization, wars, pilgrimages, and even the future narrative of New Earth, Terra Nova, the heavenly days yet to come for humanity. The hills surrounding us felt like Gaia’s loving arms draped in green velvet gloves embracing us and all of humanity as we made this most auspicious journey up the mountain.

We spent the rest of the morning ascending into a higher destination. The elevation pushing the body physically to keep up with the ascension of altitude. My consciousness no longer centered in the heart as my body demanded all the attention. The sinews in the legs coming alive, pulling on the calf muscles as they used all their strength to drive each leg one after another constantly up the steep road. Silence permeating the repetitive action as all the air I could breath in was ravenously consumed by the lungs and muscles to fuel the challenging climb. It was a chance to rest the mind and tune into the body, becoming fully conscious of the miraculous human physical experience. Thighs screaming for a rest as we put one foot in front of the other in rhythmic step like the soldiers that marched these trails before us. I glanced down at my Fitbit and find my heart rate is 123 beats per minute. Ahhh, I think, my spring training has paid off. My body is responding well to the demands of this climb. I am feeling incredibly grounded into my body and this human experience as the entire Universe centered in my being and moving this body through space. The pure Force of Creation pouring into every bone, muscle, and fiber of my body. The heart and lungs expanding with each breath as love pours into me as I move forward. The earth beneath my feet responding to the higher frequency energy and releasing the density from the ground below me.

Continuing to climb, exhaustion is felt and the need to stop and refuel this human machine consumes my thoughts. Suddenly the hills seem steeper, the air hotter, the thirst unrelenting. I tell Christos it is time to begin looking for a flat spot to have our lunch break. We continue a little further when we see the Madonna and Child up ahead. Oh Madonna! You have saved us with your shrine and sanctuary. The cool stone and shade providing relief to these weary travelers. We have climbed to 3050 ft with still another 1200 ft to go. My hands are shaking as I unwrap and eat my sandwich, my muscles in desperate need of fuel from the steep sweat soaked climb. After water, a cheese sandwich, and a mandarin, my muscles have recovered and the shaking has subsided. The body grateful for the fuel and the rest. We eat our desert of dark chocolate and electrolyte tablets in the cool shade of this little stone shrine. A little whirlpool within space where the energy of Creation has created a sanctuary to rest, release, and refill. Filled with gratitude for my body, for the Madonna, for Creation, and for my beloved travel partner Christos, I was recharged and ready to continue climbing.

We continue the climb into a changing landscape. The dense forest and lush undergrowth is giving way to giant conifers draped in evergreen tinsel. Dispersed within them the yellowing leaves of the beech trees are preparing to drop from their branches for a season of dormancy. The climb continues as the air cools and the sun hides behind the colossal Norway Spruces. A welcome reprieve to these sweaty hikers on this unseasonably hot fall day. I feel as if I am walking between realities as visions of Colorado mountain conifers and yellowing aspens flow into my awareness from another point in time and space. Linear time dissolving into the full quantum experience of awakened consciousness and the sensation of being in both places at once dominates my experience for a while. It has been one hour since lunch of continuous slogging uphill, sun baked and sweat drenched. The constant ascent is beginning to show as my heart rate reaches 160 bpm and my body feels the fatigue of fives hours of climbing. My consciousness has once again centered itself in the body as the hamstrings and tendons in the legs feel the exertion of sustained pressure from the angled steps I must take to climb the mountain. The discomfort is the bodies alarm system that the muscles need more oxygen and water. We make a quick stop for water and rest. This vital life force is sent to the flesh, pacifying the lungs and legs enough to continue the climb.

Finally, we begin to break out of the trees. It is like shooting out of the birth canal into a new alpine world. We leave the protective cool shade of the conifers for the open land of the higher elevations. It feels like a victory because there is not much more elevation to be gained. However, our enthusiasm is soon deflated because we have gone the opposite direction of our final destination. It was a direction that cost us 150 feet of elevation and 45 minutes of our day. However, the view alone was worth the price. We had come to a fork in the road earlier and I checked the map for the direction which appeared to point this way. Divine intervention must have brought us here but at this stage of the hike our wearily bodies did not feel to heavenly about having to backtrack. Especially Christos, the Al Christo route was energetically draining for him and having to backtrack did not help. Finally, we were able to reconnect with the trail and regain our loss of elevation, inching closer to our refugio for the night. A glimpse back at the Dolomites and Feltre and they have become a tiny blip in the landscape. How distorted time and space can make something seem. A great reminder of how our perception creates our experience of reality.

We continue to walk for another hour when we approach a closed refugio. It is an opportunity for rest and another reminder that we must make it to the top of the mountain tonight to the only open refugio this time of year. After a much needed rest, we walk another mile up the hill to a closed hotel that overlooks another set of valleys. The landscape is breathtaking and acts as a fuel source to help us climb the final few miles of our trek. From here, we can see Cima Grappa, the top of Monte Grappa that is home to the Sacrario militare del Monte Grappa, the largest World War I memorial. It is still three miles to the base of the monument where we will end our journey. We set off for the final ascent and hardest climb of the day. My body is on fire as we begin the final leg of the days hike. Every step that we take towards Cima Grappa is like walking through cement. The energy is so dense and the physical body is on fire as we walk the paths of such tragic human suffering. Across the valley we see our refugio for the night, our talisman that is leading us to rest after a long day of walking. The entire day culminating in a crescendo of purifying energy. From Christos pouring out his love along the Al Christo, to the fires of purification burning in my body along the way to Cima Grappa, to the blissful morning in the forest and magnificent physical performance of the human body. It was a grandiose experience of energy that filled me with so much love and joy. The entire range of emotions, physical sensations, and experiences of the day epitomized the Divine experience of being fully conscious within the human form.

Christos and I arrived at the refugio after eight hours of hiking continuously up the mountain. We were drained, out of water, hot, sweaty, ready for a shower and genuinely happy for such an amazing hike. We approached the counter and asked for a room. To our sheer astonishment they said that they were closed for rooms. I had emailed to see if they were open and had rooms available but I never confirmed the room so they closed up for the day. I trust in the Universe, if we were meant to stay there then we would have had a room. Instead, we were meant to return to Feltre. The owners were angels that offered to drive us back to Feltre. On the way down I had such terrible motion sickness that I swore I would not go back up the mountain by automobile just to walk down the other side. We would simply have to start our next walk at the base of the mountain on the other side in Bassano del Grappa. However, first we needed to take a day to rest. The day’s hike ended right from where it began….back home in Feltre! A theme we would quickly realize the next time we ventured out to walk…. but we will save that story for next time.