The original version of this story was published on The Inertia.
Italy’s Mount Etna is Europe’s tallest and most active volcano. It’s also a very popular destination for skiers from all over the world. In fact, February happens to be the start of the peak ski season in Sicily.
During the winter months, an eruption on Mount Etna can provide one of the most unique and awe-inspiring images that Mother Nature can provide: snow and lava meeting. Sure enough, Mount Etna erupted this week, and stunning images and footage poured onto the internet. Landscape shots with rivers of lava, flyovers from drones, and plenty more provided proof of Mount Etna’s unique place in our natural world.
A handful of skiers and snowboarders took it all to another level this week. They didn’t let a little lava stop them from making some runs. Admittedly, making turns down the snow-covered slopes of an active volcano while it’s actively spewing molten lava is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Still, how many people would a) think to do so and b) actually follow through on the idea?
Marco Bassot, for example, is a snowboarder and mountain biker who does some pretty extreme stuff. His social media pages are filled with wild moments. But even he said the opportunity to go snowboarding next to flowing lava made for “the most mind-blowing run ever.”
“This fracture started some days ago and created a huge, intense, and impressive lava flow for more than 1,000m,” he wrote on Thursday. “I’ve seen many things in my 40 years of life, but riding side by side of a flowing river of lava is one of the most special, impressive, and breathtaking experiences I’ve ever lived.”
