The Olympic Spirit Isn’t Just for Athletes

The Olympic Rings in front of the Dolomite mountains in Milano Cortina Olympics

When the Winter Olympics ended, I was unexpectedly sad.

For two weeks, those mountains I love so deeply — the Dolomites — were part of my everyday life. While I worked, they flickered across the screen again and again, and each time my whole body softened. Seeing them felt like being close to home.

One of my favorite moments was texting my mom to ask if she was watching. She said yes… and then added, “Every time I see those mountains, I think of you.”

She has never seen the Dolomites in person — only through the thousands of photos I’ve taken over the years. I know she wishes she could experience them firsthand. The Olympics were the closest she’s come.

When the Mountains Connect People Across Distance

But it wasn’t only my mom who was transported by those images. My phone started lighting up with messages from colleagues who had become dear friends during my time guiding for the The Ranch Dolomites pop-up. As we watched, we reminisced — “Remember that trail to the glacier?” “Remember driving to Verona after work for the opera?” “We stood right there.”

Those weeks in the mountains forged bonds the way shared adventure often does — quickly, deeply, and in a way that lasts. Long days on trails, unpredictable weather, laughter over strudel at rifugios, quiet moments watching clouds roll across the peaks… experiences like that don’t just create memories; they create friendships.

The Dolomites have been part of my life for more than a decade — not just as a visitor, but as someone who has worked, guided, explored, and returned again and again in every season.

A Place That Keeps Calling You Back

And it’s not only the mountains themselves. Northern Italy wraps culture, history, and beauty into one unforgettable experience. I’ve sat under the stars inside the ancient Verona Arena for opera performances more than once — thousands of people gathered in a 2,000-year-old amphitheater, candles flickering, voices soaring into the warm night air. Time feels suspended.

After more than twelve years of returning to this region, the Dolomites no longer feel like a destination. They feel like a place where pieces of my life are anchored.

And that’s exactly what I hope to share on a Vitality Active Travel trip — not just beautiful scenery, but the feeling of being welcomed into a place that matters.

As I watched the Olympics, I found myself crying more than once — not just for victories or heartbreaks, but for the humanity of it all. Athletes pushing themselves to the edge, then embracing competitors moments later. Strength and tenderness existing side by side.

Olympian Alysa Liu said, “I love struggling, actually. It makes me feel alive.”

That line stayed with me. Because the kind of struggle that makes you feel alive isn’t about suffering — it’s about being stretched just beyond what you thought you could do. Not the danger zone, but the stretch zone. The place where growth lives. The place where stories are born.

And it struck me: this is what happens on a Vitality Active Travel trip.

Most people arrive not knowing anyone. Some are excited, some nervous, all hoping for something — adventure, connection, confidence, joy. Over the days, something shifts. We celebrate small wins and big ones. We support each other through hard climbs and tired legs. We laugh a lot. We become a team.

By the final day, saying goodbye never feels easy. I always cry — not from sadness exactly, but from deep gratitude for what we shared.

So consider this your gentle warning:

if you travel with me, there will likely be tears on the last day — the good kind. 🤍

Spring in the Dolomites explodes with wildflowers and glowing alpenglow at sunset.

If those mountains stirred something in you while watching the Olympics, I’ll be returning in 2027 with another small group. Private tours are also available.

If you don’t want to wait, there is still limited availability on this year’s Katy Trail cycling trip and the Nepal hiking adventure.

If you’ve been waiting for “someday,” this might be your moment to choose something that makes you feel truly alive.

Message me if you’d like details or want help deciding which experience would be the best fit for you.

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