Helmut, Roman, Family

Sushi Set "It feels good to be lost in the right direction."
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  Europe 2014 - retro  
Eat sensibly, exercise regularly, die anyway.

It took a long time for this website to come online, despite my best intensions it almost took one decade or some nine years before the photos can see the light of day so to speak. Sometimes things just have to ferment well before they can come to their full fruition and as for this trip it is worth a lifetime of memories. I was lucky to be able to spend some time with my childhood friend, my late father my family and most of all it is a homage to adventure in some of the most beautiful parts of Europe, where every new day revealed a formidable challenge and it was a special priviledge to experience them with an old friend. The reason for this site coming to life is that another trip is about to happen and after a long hiatus Helmut and I are in touch again. How have we changed and how does this memory play out, is going to be interesting to observe. Here is looking back at a dormant part of life that is rising to the surface once again.

Soca River Rafting

 
  Slovenia Soca River Rafting Helmut and Roman Getting ready
 
  Training in the canyon Helmut's van Finishing the raft

Leaving Lupijana we headed for the Soča river in Slovenia, where the rafting is graded as class III-IV. With water so pure that it is drinkable along the wary, the river has a distinct emerald green colour, is considered to be one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe. Its water flows across waterfalls, small waterfalls, and cascades as well as through narrow rocky gorges, and along the way it has carved surprising canyons and pools.

Arco Diving

Dive Buddies Helmut and Roman Excitmen before the dive Bubble time
Just cruising The redeemer Surface vista Helmut Okay

Lake Gards is one of the most adventure rich destinations in all of Europe, and we spend a week mixing it up: Sport Climbing, Slab climbing; Multipitch, Via Ferrata; Mountain bike tour; Canyoning; Diving. We just kept going and rested by switching to a different terrain. The Underwater Christ the Redeemer Statues have proliferated around the world. Origianlly called Christ of the Abyss (Italian: Il Cristo degli Abissi) is a submerged bronze statue of Jesus Christ by sculptor Guido Galletti, which is located in the Mediterranean Sea, off San Fruttuoso, between Camogli and Portofino on the Italian Riviera. Others can now be found in Key Largo, Florida and at the shore of Lake Garda near Arco. In about 15 meters of glacier water the statue is close to shore and provides a great introduction to the deep lake.

Arco Day 2 - Via Ferrata - Che Guevara

 
  Multipitch slabbing Main wall The slab vista High on the slabs

While Arco and Lake Garda are famous for rock climbing, it is also a heaven for via ferrata. We used Fabio Della Casa's trilingual edition of Ferrata dell'Alto Garda (Via Ferratas in Lake Garda), 2014 edition as our guide. With hundreds to choose from we just decided to pick the most difficult one in the guide. It ended up being Ferrata Che Guevara with over 1220m of climbing and a full day adventure. The climbing is relavtively easy but the views are magnificient and the alm at the end is worth a spot in your memory palace.

Garda Slabs

 
  Multipitch slabbing Main wall The slab vista High on the slabs

This multipitch slab climbing area is a small climbing spot in Nago, Torbole sector right near the lake shore with views to die for. Here you can find easy slabs and hard deep water solos.

Malcesine Bikeride

 
  Helmut and Roman Road Obstacles Malcesine Summit Downhill finale to the lake

Mountain Biking is another favorite pasttime in the Valle del Sarca near Trentino. We hired bikes for a day and took the cable car up Monte Baldo for a day of downhill mountain biking.

Multipitch Arco

 
  Flowering Limestone cracks Roman on Belay Exposed pedestal mid-route
 
  Helmut exposed Exposed pedestal mid-route Helmut & Roman Belay

Needless to say that Arco is a climbing mecca, besides being one of the best sport climbing desitinations in Europe, is also features one of the most diverse multi-pitch selections in the world. We used Diego Filippi's guidebook Arco Walls rock climbing guidebook Vol.1 for multipitch routes.

"When life knocks you down, roll over and look at the stars.”

Arco Canyoning - Vajo dell Orsa, Verona, Italy

 
  Canyon Start Helmut rapping Canyon Pool
 
  Canyon Finish Sealing the Neck Roman rapping

If diving, climbing and bike riding is not enough for you, then one of the many canyon's might pique your curiosity. We couldn't help ourselves and even tough we did not bring any canyon gear, we repurposed our rafting gear and taped the seems of our thin tops shut with gaffer tape. It lasted for a while but the cold water eventually got to us and turned us into a quivering mess by the end. We chose Vajo dell Orsa for our day long adventure. The canyon is a short climb up from the road and starts fairly easy with some nice inocuous drops down waterfalls but don't let that deceive you as the gorge narrows, the drops get longer, steeper and narrower with water pressure increasing dramatically into tiny pools. Get ready to be humbled and bring your rope skills along for the ride.

Vienna Days

 
Family Lunch   Old friends Kletterhalle Wien
 
Helmut and Roman Lago di Garda   Kung Fu Schule Helmut in Arco

This page was recreated in March 2023 in preparation of another trip to Europe and a reunion with Helmut. This time the whole family and Leo will be part of the aventure. Lets see if we can relife some of the adventures.

Resources:

Vajo dell Orsa, Verona, Italy: full approach and video.

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Copyright 2005 Dr.Roman Rosenbaum. All Rights Reserved.