Buzzing mobile phones, steered by logarithms dictated by emperors that tear society apart were left behind. There are still ‘quiet’ places where insects tell other news. Those that survived the pest of ecocidal chemicals.
Web
catch
A heathy landscape harbors spiders / catching pollen-spreading bees.
Organic
Bark
The bark was fissured / a voice lamented /
blown apart,
yet unheard amidst / the turmoil, basic /
at an organic / glorification.
(photos and texts by Drager Meurtant, September 12-13, 2025)
In the summer of 2010 we made plan to hike in ‘greatest and wildest natural mountain park of Western Europe’.
By train arriving in Milano end of August 2010, the two of us checked in at Hotel Berna and had one day to explore the city.
Milano Cathedralwaiting for connection (Arona)
The third day a train took us to Premosello, and we hitch-hiked to Colloro. From there we walked to camp at alm of Chapella Madonna di Lut.
There the sole of one shoe turned out to be completely broken. We had to return and then take train to Domodossola to buy new shoes. Next attempt started in Mergozzo and we walked via Bracchio, towards Vercio with Sanctuaria Di Madonna de Grazio (camp). A lady very early in the morning sang for hours.
L’Oratorio della Beata Vergine delle Grazie
From there a long walk in beautiful mountain area and forest followed. On the way we passed many abandoned houses, alone on itself or in small group.
Forest and mountains in Parco Nazionale de Val GrandeAlong the way, house of farmer
Our path continued via Cortecca to Alpa Ompio, from there north to Alpe Basseno then down to bridge “Ponte di Velina” crossing ravine with river, and further north to Velina and Baserga. A sign indicated that in 1944 partisans escaped from nazis with 50 prisoners at an enduring trek through these mountains.
Baserga, hide-out for partisans in WW-II (if memory is right…)
Route went further N. East to Baserga (signs indicating risky passage), Alpe Vota, Montazzo, a overgrown abandoned hamlock. The path became stairs and had steep crossings of rivulets.
note the sign…
Along the way we did encounter several abandoned houses in the woods.
someone created stone creatures…
At sundown and over 14 hours on the way we arrived at Corte de Merino, where we could set up the tent and have simple dinner.
In the morning the trail went to Cicogna, then followed sentiero Struttenheim (1891) towards Pogallo, where we had camp along the Rio Pogallo.
Rock cairn or stone man
Return was to Cigogna with several steep mountain clefts.
A mountain cleft of hundreds of feet…A river deep down
Then we went all the paved way to Rovegro (no hitch hike available), a village that looked like poverty ruled. There old roman way did lead us to Cossogno, after passing the “Ponte Romano di Cossogno e Cascate”.
Ancient houses
In this village citizens allowed us to camp on small terrace of the Campo de Sport for our last night in the mountains…
Camp in Cossogno
From Cossogno we hiked to Verbania where we took ferry across the Lago Maggiore to Baveno and boarded train to Milano.
On the ferry towards Baveno
Photos by Drager Meurtant 2010, analog film, taken with Chinon compact camera and Fuji film
Today was different: it started grey and fairly cold. One year of 21st century pandemic, has certain effects. Dominant is the feeling of uncertainty. There are roadblocks at the border. Still, after six months with meetings by ‘skype’ only, the three of us met at small parking-place, to walk in the forest.
three photographers meet one tree
No kissing or hugging, we focus on nature, and some human acts.
inscriptions from earlier date
One should not carve in skin of trees, but testimonies often are built on scars.
yet another scar
Going north, a logger had felled a tree and new life settled on the cut surface.
The face of a logger
Tiny leaves left from autumn, have shadows imprinted on bark.
fragile shadows
About fifty years ago, someone planted stakes on (and with a) purpose. One straight, the other leaning for support, joined with an iron nail.
so much at stake
Here, there is quietude, and the option to choose which way to go.
the other way
At another time, one may meet a fellow traveler on this earth, his/her shelter being a hole in the ground.
Fox hole
Someone took a token of belief, and by placing it in old tree trunk, fixed time and memory.
token
The clefts and riggles of bark of this birch tree surpass abstraction.
birch
“Three of us is enough: not afraid of tension or to separate fields, and create boundaries”
the three of us
text and images (c) Drager Meurtant, March 7-8, 2021
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