Fausto De Stefani is a mountain lover who climbed all the fourteen eight thousands meters high mountains, from 1983 to 1998.
Only about 44 people has reached to achieve this.
Fausto fights against the businesses of the mountains: nowadays, climbing a mountain, specially in Himalaya, it is, mainly, a way to increase our ego. Instead of this point of view, Fausto talks about the mountain like a space where one can have the same glance of God, where there isn't necessary the conquest of the summit, but a different sight of the world, primarily aimed at man than at rock. Going on mountain is a spirituality activity, and success is when an inner change happens in our soul. Man can't be stronger than mountain, but Man can change the way to watch the world.
After all highest mountains on the Earth, he climbed the fifteenth eight thousands mountain, the highest: he has collected money to open a great and high quality school in Nepal, the Rarahil Memorial School.
Now he lives near Mantova (Italy) where he has built a park, on an hill with sculptures, meadows and wood, to learn children to stay in touch with the natural world, and our soul. I wish to visit his place and meet him, with his rare humility, out of fashion in this historical and social time.
He has fonded also the association Mountain Wilderness, to preserve and safeguard mountain environment.
In these pictures, Slegati Company (two good artists with a lot of empathy) show on theatre, with a great sensibility, the rich life full of experience of Fausto.
First of all, at the beginning of every true travel, there is the imagination: like to be on an hot air balloon, to watch the same things with new eyes:
And before any travel, it is important to listen to the stories of old age people, who stimolate the fantasy of children.
Turn off Tv, and starts to listen who has a story to tell, faraway from our western culture of an unique thought, every day more dangerous, specially in Europe.
Thanks again to Compagnia S-legati! (Mattia Fabris and Jacopo Bicocchi)
Pictures taken with Nikon D800.
07.03.2024.
Pavullo nel Frignano.