Costa Pulita, Southeastern slope of Pania della Croce, Stazzema-Pruno Trek, Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane, Toscana, Italy. 8-9-2006, 4:10.
This image is from an overnight traverse around Monte Procinto, Monte Forato and Pania della Croce in the Alpi Apuane range which started in the village of Stazzema. The plan was to go light with minimal food and water, being confident that we would reach Rifugio Rossi in about five hours to spend the night. Nothing went as planned, and after a series of mishaps, we found ourselves out in the dark near Foce di Valli, a pass below Pania della Croce, with no food or water. I took this photo at 4:10 am before we resumed the climb. The 10-minute exposure shows the open southeastern slope of Pania della Croce, known as Costa Pulita, under pure moonlight. The white parts in the image are marble.
The rising sun and the marble reflecting the heat made the 400-meter elevation gain up Pania della Croce quite a chore. At some point, I ran into severe dehydration and had to take a long rest. Not having had a sip of liquid for 18 hours, we drank three liters of Powerade and just as much water each in less than an hour at the rifugio without a single call from nature.
Canon EOS 33, Tamron SP AF 28-75/2.8 XR, 10 min, f/5.6, Fujichrome Provia 100F
