by Carlo Musmeci – Ag member of Cai Acireale
…. Is it possible to climb the mountains up to an altitude of 2000 meters in the morning, find yourself at the seaside in the afternoon, about a kilometer off the coast and in the evening in the city centre?
Well yes, it’s possible! And this is what we “experienced” on Sunday 16 June 2024, us boys of the CAI Acireale youth mountaineering group!
Sunday morning, 16 June 2024, we young AG members of the Acireale section (Carlo, Silvia, Sebastiano, Gianmarco and Daniele) headed to the southern side of Etna, at an altitude of 1900 metres, near the Giovanni Sapienza refuge, the most important tourist of the highest volcano in Europe, together with the guides AG Felicia Cutolo, Rosario Arcidiacono and Salvo Spina to participate in the “Sicuri sul Sentiero 2024” event.
Here we met members and supporters of the other CAI sections in the area gathered for this important awareness event organized every year by the Sicilian Alpine Rescue.
From the Piazzale Sapienza of the refuge, the excursion began which took us to 2100 metres, at the base of the recent eruptive cone of 2001. At this point we witnessed the interesting simulation of recovery of an injured person who had fallen inside the crater cavity. And it was during the explanations given to us by one of the members of the Alpine Rescue that we learned how the 2001 eruptive cone took the name of one of their colleagues, Laudani, who tragically died a few years ago during recovery in critical conditions on the slopes of Etna.
Returning to the square at 1900 meters, it took little to descend in altitude and in a moment arrive at the Port of Catania: here we were hosted on board the sailing boat of Dario Salvo and Felicia Cutolo, who explained to us many curiosities and techniques of knowing how to navigate safely.
All this has generated a sort of connection between the rules to follow for safety on mountain paths (thanks to the explanations of the Alpine Rescue) and the equally important rules for safety at sea.
For all of us kids, living and sailing on a sailing boat was a new and interesting experience. The view from the sea is magnificent: if in the morning we saw the sea from 2000 meters, on the boat, on the contrary, we admired the imposing profile of the volcanic building that stands out on the Ionian side of Sicily.
And this was also an opportunity to make a toast together and celebrate the appointment of Professor Felicia Cutolo, Asag companion of the CAI of Acireale, to the role of coordinator of the CAI-School Working Group.
Finally, returning to the port, we concluded this intense, tiring but unforgettable and precious day by visiting the historic center of Catania, walking along the main squares and baroque streets of the city: Piazza Duomo, Piazza Università, Piazza Stesicoro and Via Etnea.
And so, at the end of this formidable day, we were able to exclaim: “I can’t believe it!!! …We were in the mountains, at the seaside and in the city on the same day!”
