For many years now, my friends and I have been part of Gruppo Alpinistico Presolana that is much more than just a collection of mountain enthusiasts. Founded by the parents of some of us, this group has been passed down through generations like a precious treasure, an inheritance steeped in passion and love for the mountains.

Experiencing the mountains in good company is a rare and invaluable gift. It’s about discovering silence and, within that silence, finding the voice of the infinite. It’s walking together, yet feeling connected to something greater, deeper. It’s sharing glimpses of pure beauty, moments that take your breath away and fill your soul. It’s engaging in physical activity while discovering new passions, new peaks to conquer, new horizons to explore. And all of this is not just for ourselves but to allow others to experience the same emotions in the face of boundless landscapes and untouched nature that seems to belong to another world.

The Gruppo Alpinistico Presolana was founded fifty years ago with this noble intent: to introduce the mountains and share their beauty with anyone eager to discover them. Over time, the group welcomed more and more people, who contributed to its organization and management with enthusiasm and dedication. Everything remained rooted in a local dimension, and this expanded group has become like a large family, where everyone finds their place, their role, their heart.

When I joined the group about twenty years ago, I immediately felt a sense of warmth and familiarity, as if I were home. It always felt like being among dear friends, connected not only by a passion for the mountains but by a kindred spirit that is rarely found elsewhere.

For the fiftieth anniversary of the Gruppo Alpinistico Presolana, it seemed fitting to celebrate this spirit and this community in the best possible way. So, along with Fabio, Nando, and Gianluca, we decided to create a film that captures the essence of the group, what it is and what it represents, through the words and memories of some key figures who have made its history. In this journey through time, we connected what the GAP was "yesterday" with what it is "today," building a bridge between past and present, guided by the testimonies of those who have lived and continue to live this passion with the same fervor.

This extraordinary adventure, which we experienced with joy and lightness, turned into a short film that became a finalist at Orobie Film Festival and at Sestriere Film Festival in 2018. It all began with a project sketched out over an aperitif and a beer, choosing locations to film, discussing how to tell this story, and who to involve. From the first video shot to the final release, the preparation took two years.

We completed 53 outings, exploring the most enchanting destinations in our beautiful Orobic Pre-Alps, gathering 280 minutes of HD footage (375 gigabytes). Each shot was carefully selected and edited, a task that kept us busy for another whole month. We also created timelapses, meticulously refined and integrated into the final video. The film was produced as a DVD by a Bergamo production company, distributed in a package featuring a booklet with historical images of the group and evocative texts.

Here, you can watch the full film. Enjoy the view and the journey through our beloved mountains!