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redazione
I was born in Pinzolo on 21 January 1955 where I still reside. My family has been running the Rifugio XII Apostoli since 1948, so already at an early age I find myself spending most of the summer in the mountains at an altitude of 2500 metres. It was for this reason that my childhood instinct led me to climb the rocks surrounding the hut.
At the age of 11, I roped up for my first real ascent of the Torri d'Agola. The periods I spend at the hut are longer and longer until I spend the entire summer there. At every possible moment I devote myself to my little climbing trips. In winter I go to school and compete in skiing competitions, and in summer I work at the hut and climb. At the age of 20, I become a ski instructor and my passion for climbing and the mountains continues to grow, so I start training assiduously. In 1979, I become an Alpine Guide. The period of solo climbing in the mountains also begins. In 1980, I leave Europe for the first time for the United States to get to know other climbing realities. I travelled around Colorado and California for three months. In 1981 we started talking about Patagonia with friends and in 1982 we found ourselves together in those mountains. We manage to reach the compressor that is 50 metres from the summit of Cerro Torre along the Via Maestri. The following year, together with Maurizio Giarolli, we will summit Cerro Torre. A little later we were joined by Elio Orlandi and together we climbed Fitz Roy, Aguillaumet and Poicenot. The following year it is the turn of the Himalayas. The goal is the Makalu m 8465. I will only reach an altitude of 7000 metres. In 1986, just to try a new experience, to experience the thrill of speed on skis, I started to participate in a few Kilometro Lanciato races. In 1988, with 211,640 kilometres per hour, I remained the Italian recordman for five years. But the allure of Patagonia got the upper hand and in 1985 we climbed Cerro Torre in winter, staying 11 days on the wall. During the winter at Torre I also had my first experience as a cameraman, making a documentary for the programme Jonathan, hosted by Ambrogio Fogar. I had new experiences in Alaska, on Baffin Island and again in California, but the lure of Patagonia was always strong, so much so that to date I have carried out 20 expeditions to those lands. Over the years, I have shot 11 films, first in 16mm and then on video, which in addition to touring the world participating in festivals, I use to hold evenings or conferences in Italy. Today, with my wife Gabriella, my sister Luisa and her husband Stefano, I manage the XII Apostoli refuge, which has been completely renovated, and I continue my activity as a Ski Instructor in Pinzolo and as an Alpine Guide.
I was born in Pinzolo on 21 January 1955, where I still reside. My family has run the Rifugio XII Apostoli since 1948, so even at an early age I find myself spending most of the summer in the mountains at an altitude of 2500 metres. It was for this reason that my childhood instinct led me to climb the rocks surrounding the hut. At the age of 11, I roped up for my first real ascent of the Torri d'Agola. The periods I spend at the hut are longer and longer until I spend the entire summer there. At every possible moment I devote myself to my little climbing trips. In winter I go to school and compete in skiing competitions, and in summer I work at the hut and climb. At the age of 20, I become a ski instructor and my passion for climbing and the mountains continues to grow, so I start training assiduously. In 1979, I become an Alpine Guide. The period of solo climbing in the mountains also begins. In 1980, I leave Europe for the first time for the United States to get to know other climbing realities. I travelled around Colorado and California for three months. In 1981 we started talking about Patagonia with friends and in 1982 we found ourselves together in those mountains. We manage to reach the compressor that is 50 metres from the summit of Cerro Torre along the Via Maestri. The following year, together with Maurizio Giarolli, we will summit Cerro Torre. A little later we were joined by Elio Orlandi and together we climbed Fitz Roy, Aguillaumet and Poicenot. The following year it is the turn of the Himalayas. The goal is Makalu m 8465. I only reach an altitude of 7000 metres. In 1986, just to try a new experience, just to experience the thrill of speed on skis, I started to participate in a few Kilometro Lanciato races. In 1988, with 211,640 kilometres per hour, I remained the Italian recordman for five years. But the allure of Patagonia got the upper hand and in 1985 we climbed Cerro Torre in winter, staying 11 days on the wall. During the winter at Torre I also had my first experience as a cameraman, making a documentary for the programme Jonathan, hosted by Ambrogio Fogar. I had new experiences in Alaska, on Baffin Island and again in California, but the lure of Patagonia was always strong, so much so that to date I have carried out 20 expeditions to those lands. Over the years, I have shot 11 films, first in 16mm and then on video, which in addition to touring the world participating in festivals, I use to hold evenings or conferences in Italy. Today, with my wife Gabriella, my sister Luisa and her husband Stefano, I manage the XII Apostoli refuge, which has been completely renovated, and I continue my work as a Ski Instructor in Pinzolo and as an Alpine Guide.