Video: Moments in the Italian Dolomites

This video takes us to the Italian Dolomites with professional photographer Gürel Sahin as he captures some of the beautiful landscapes that exist in that place. Over the course of the clip, he shares with us his love for nature and passion for photography, two things that come together to create lasting memories of the places he visits in his journeys. Those are the moments that stay with us for the rest of our lives, and are captured in the images that he takes. He finds plenty of them in these mountains.

MOMENTS with Gürel Sahin - Dolomites, Italy from Palatina Media Group on Vimeo.

Video: Winter in the Dolomites

The Italian Dolomites are one of the most beautiful places in all of Europe, if not the world. This video confirms that, providing almost three minutes of fantastic timelapse imagery from this fantastic setting, which is where many great Italian climbers have cut their teeth over the years. If you want to know just how magical of a place the Dolomites are, just sit back and enjoy this short clip. It is definitely worth the time.

WINTER | DOLOMITES 4K TIMELAPSE from Martin Heck | Timestorm Films on Vimeo.

Video: It's Time to Play Outside (In the Italian Dolomites)

When we get caught up in the mundane grind of our daily lives we sometimes need a reminder how important it is to get outside and play, something that is good for our bodies, spirits, and minds. This video not only points out just how important it is to go outdoors, but it uses the Italian Dolomites as an example of the playgrounds that are waiting for us. There aren't many places on Earth that can compete with that. Watch the clip, then go outside to play.

Dolomiti Paganella, Time to Play Outside from StoryTravelers on Vimeo.

Video: Climbing The Monte Rosa Chain

Last summer, mountaineer (and Adventure Blog reader) Marc Lambert traveled to the Italian Alps to do some climbing along the Monte Rosa Chain, a series of mountains that top out at 4634 meters (15,203 ft). Marc was kind enough to share some video footage from his adventure, which featured some scary looking knife-edge ridges along the way up to a series of summits. There are definitely some beautiful views to be seen here, but if you get queasy just at the thought of steep drop offs, you may want to pass.

Congratulations to Marc on a job well done and thanks for sharing the video mate!

Join an Epic Mountain Bike Race in Italy this Summer

Are you looking for a good challenge to keep you motivated in 2016? Like to ride mountain bikes? Then check out the new Romagna Bike Trail race that's coming to Italy in August. In its inaugural year it already appears to be shaping up to be quite the event.

Located in the northern region of Italy, Romagna is rich in history and culture. It is known for its diverse terrain that ranges from flat, wide-open spaces, to rolling hills, and steep mountains that I'm told don't rival the Dolomites, but will test the legs nonetheless. In modern times, Romagna is also renowned for its excellent food and wine too. In other words, it is a perfect place for a bike race.

The Romagna Bike Trail event is scheduled to begin on August 27 with participants setting out from the Piazza del Popolo in Ravenna, the most historically prominent city in the region. The course will cover more than 600 km (372 miles) with the route featuring everything from paved tracks, dirt roads, and mountain single track, with just about everything in between. Race organizers say it will also feature more than 12,000 meters (39,370 ft) of vertical gain, just in case you didn't think there would be any climbing involved.

Once the race is underway, participants will have to be complete sell-supported out on the course. The event will run non-stop, so much like in adventure racing it'll be up to them when they decide to stop for a rest or press on. They'll also have to be able to deal with any mechanical issues that might arise as well, particularly since the trail will take them into remote areas.

Speaking of that trail, the route for the race is still being designed at this time. The entire 600 km path will eventually feature a series of interconnected roads and bike trails that will take participants across the entire Romagna region. Approximately a month before the race begins each of the racers will receive a GPS file in the GPX format that will provide them with the exact course details. They can then use that data to help them navigate their way through the race.

You can find out more about this event on the race's official website. It is mostly in Italian however, so if you don't speak the language be prepared to use Google Translate.

This looks like it'll be quite an interesting event, and who wouldn't want to take part in a bike race in cycling-mad Italy?

Video: A Highliner Talks About Fear While Suspended 2800 Meters Up

This short, but beautiful video, takes us up to 2800 meters (9186 ft) as we join highliner Hayley Ashbury as she walks a thin rope across two spires on Torri del Vajolet, a peak located in the Italian Dolomites. While doing so, Hayley shares a quote from the book Dune by Frank Herbert about controlling her fear, something that seems very fitting considering where she is at in the clip. This is 90 seconds of pure terror wrapped up in an incredibly well shot video.

Highlining 2800m in winter.'Hayley'- 90 seconds about fear. (Dir. Stian Smestad Music by Nils Frahm) from Stian Smestad on Vimeo.

Nat Geo Gives Us the World's Best Via Ferrata Hikes

We've all seen videos purporting to be of the "world's most dangerous hike." More often then not, those clips usually show us a terrifying via ferrata – or "iron way" – which has been built onto the side of a mountain somewhere, often in some state of disrepair. But most via ferratas are completely safe and offer unique experiences to hikers looking to visit some beautiful destinations. These paths usually find their way up climbing routes, where fixed ladders, cables, chains, suspension bridges, and other manmade structures offer access to a place that would otherwise be unreachable by all but the best rock climbers. They can be thrilling, exhilarating hikes to say the least, and aren't often for the faint of heart.

Now, National Geographic has compiled its own list of the 10 best via ferrata routes in the world, with locations such as the Italian Dolomites, the Canyon Des Étroits in France, and Catalonia, Spain all represented. Each is accompanied by an equally impressive photo and description of what makes these places so special as well.

Having done a few via ferratas in my travels, I can attest to how they are both scary and exhilarating. Of the few that I've done – none of which are on this list – they have all been more physically challenging that a traditional hike, but had amazing payoffs in the way of outstanding views and a sense of a rewarding accomplishment at the end. That makes them completely unique from any other more traditional hike I've ever done.

If you've always wanted to try a via ferrata for yourself, give this list a look. These are some of the very best in the entire world. I know I want to give several of these a go now.

Video: Italy From Above

Take a scenic journey across Italy with this video, which gives us a fantastic view of the Italian countryside as shot from a drone. The video is the latest in the GoPro Awards, in which the camera maker gives cash prizes to the best short films created using their gear. In this case, those cameras managing to capture some enchanting shots of one of the most beautiful countries on Earth.

Video: Paragliding Through the Italian Dolomites

We've seen some amazing videos from the Dolomites in Northern Italy, but we've never seen those famous mountains from this perspective before. This video was shot on a 50 km (31 mile) flight in a paraglider that soared high above the iconic jagged peaks that are a trademark of the region. This four-and-a-half-minute clip will give us a look at these mountains that most of us will never see, and it is well worth the trip. Enjoy!

Amazing day in the Dolomites from Robi on Vimeo.