Parco Dell’Etna in the north east of Sicily is a dynamic landscape. When I visited in 2013, there were nineteen eruptions, hence climbing up to the crater was prohibited. Etna, Europe’s highest volcano is 3323 metres high and also the most active. We spent a day driving around the national park, but soon realised that the best way to see it was with a guide, so we shared a 4 wheel drive with two other travellers.
We set off from Monte Sartorius, on a 5 kilometre trail to 2000 metres. A bright sunny day but getting cooler the higher we went.
Getting higher . . .
Some of the lava has very sharp edges, some gives way under your feet, concentration is necessary!
This path felt rather precarious, narrow, no grip and a steep drop.
Looking back down towards the valley
This was a two to three hour walk, steep in some places but not particularly challenging. It was a bit of a knee killer though and I could feel that I’d done something the next day, the reward outweighed the pain though!
Lucid Gypsy 
Brill”’ great reward..
Your post reminded me of along ago climb on Mt. St. Helens in the US. The devastation from the eruption was astounding. Excellent choice for the challenge!
You must be spry and agile as a billy goat. I can’t climb anything without hanging onto a railing. Good for you. Thank you for the fabulous photographs, Gilly. Marvelous views. ❤ ❤ ❤
Oh, shame about the knee, Gilly! That’s not a nice reward. Is it fully recovered? Lovely views though and I enjoyed the telling. 🙂
That was a beautiful walk but I hope the knee is better! 🙂
Love the pics. Very beautiful. Can’t wait to see more. I have followed. Please return. http://www.lbequeen317.wordpress.com and http://www.battleofbroke.wordpress.com
That was quite some climb, Gilly. We did something similar in Costa Rica, and the lava was really wet and slippery because it was raining. Unfortunately we had no reward, as the Arenal volcano was shrouded in mist, so we couldn’t see it. 😦 Your views here are spectacular. 🙂 One really has to be so careful with knees, especially when clambering down again.
Wonderful views … you’ve captured them beautifully. I could never have made it with my destroyed from dancing knees. My heart would have been in it but my knees would have said, “No Way”, Thank you for posting this never to be seen in person by me beauty.
Fascinating … !!!!
A lovely walk Gilly – one I’ll never do, so particularly thank you. The photos give a great sense of the walk up and the views out. I’d need my spotted gum walking stick for that narrow track with no traction and a steep drop.
Stunning views, Gilly, thanks for the post as I’ll never do this….my balance is shot to bits!
This is a great one! The reward is reaching the top! I can’t wait to hike!
Well done!
Thanks Jane!
Amazing scenery so pleased you had the reward of those views and so could share them with us
The reward certainly seems well worth your effort. Hope the knee didn’t take too much of a beating.