Snow, Stillness and Espresso: Morning Begins the Retreat from Modern Life to Alpine Telemark at Hotham

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. (Plus, some other links here might be affiliate links too, which help keep this site running at no extra cost to you!)

The Sensor: 37°01S 147°16E · Elevation 1500m · 06:33 · Sunrise Clear & 1°C · Gear: Bialetti 2 Cup Espresso Maker, Portable Single Burner Camping Stove, Gas Burner Ring Reducer

Alpine Observation

I love the simple things. The distinct pleasure of a tiny cup of freshly brewed espresso, from the stove top. I find it impassable the idea of beans freshly ground, any other than Vittoria’s Organic Coffee. It’s strong, but smooth, with a balance of delicacy and fine sophistication, without being ostentatious. Hell, I’m making this coffee in the middle of the bloody bush, but damn, I’m swept away to the Dolomites and the Cinque Terra as I follow the wafts into the dreamy cool mountain air.

I’ve digressed, but hey, when you find things that are done well, that have endured the test of time, and that are borne from artistry that came from passion, not some business plan and a need to maximise profit and metrics, then I’ll take that willingly and pointedly every time. Give me depth, give me history, culture, give me meaning from the source of inspiration that has stood the ebbs, flows, highs, lows, anonymity, and guts of determination borne from single-minded belief in what one’s doing.

These beans they soothe me. And for 10 years at least, I drank them without knowing a thing about their source. I hadn’t needed to. But one day, I dug into the depths. I discovered that Vittoria Coffee began in Australia in 1958, over 60 years ago. They began roasting their own premium Arabica beans locally, in a time when instant coffee and having a Lipton or Bushells was the go to. Two Italian brothers Orazio and Carmelo, introducing their taste of Italian heritage to Australia from Sicily, from their much loved daily ritual, a simple espresso coffee.

My ritual. The sacred beginning to my day. Every day. It is the moment of my morning church. A time to pause, reflect, share thanks. And in the best of moments, catch the glint in the eye of my dearly beloved, as they nestle their cup, and curl into the sumptuousness of the early morning dreamy sunlight. And the subtle rising of the corner of lips, as a smile emerges from the depths of pure life’s essence.

I’m a sucker for artisanal European things. Life with essence. Spirit. Inexplicable connections that inspire and energise, not because of fancy graces and elaborate flaunting, but because they speak from the heart. It’s the unwritten message. The one that flies into your chest and wings around, making you all giddy and full with the sensations that life has somehow just become better, without the instinct to have to understand why or interrogate the feeling. It just is. My gravel bike is custom made steel, from near Venice, by a small company, funnily enough, established by two Italian brothers… I met them at the factory. They couldn’t speak English. But standing there in their presence, I couldn’t help but swirl in the childish giddiness.

When the sun had begun to shine in the confines of the cool alpine air 20 minutes earlier, effortlessly peeking through the snow gums, it was from within the cocoon of my sleeping bag that the enthusiasm for the day rose unhindered. My telemark skis and boots lay close by, primed for a day of winter adventures in the heights of Hotham Heights. There was not but a disturbance outside, still the muffled sounds of the winter sloth permeated life all around. But for the crow, blacker than black, cawing from the thick and creased tree branch with a sprawling view of the plains.

Camp was easy. A tiny plot. The bare essentials, and the luxury ones that provided boundless comfort.

My vigour for a day on the tele skis was electric. Equalled by the ease and pedestrian nature of a schedule-less schedule. Time was immaterial, clocks and dings swept away by a mind clear and open, freely roaming the alpine landscape, neither curious nor stunted, just simply taking in the rolling valleys and white blanketed peaks all around.

One click on the stove and the gas ignited it’s glowing blue flame. Resting atop this miniature furnace was the cool stainless steel Bialetti moka espresso pot, housing my methodical beginning to the day. Fresh cool clear water poured in, not too high though, just under the valve. The freshly ground beans spooned into their chalice, cleanly flat across the top, all granules accounted for and never pressed nor compacted.

My twin espresso cups, already the milk swirled lightly into the bottom. Placing the tiny cups upon their lofted deck, the blue furnace would soon warm the milk as the coffee dripped and cavorted, for the favour of delighting my taste buds and inhales of steamy aromatic arabica about my being.

True sanctuary. Already the day was enough. A mind clear and at ease. A body awakened and naturally pulsing and moving with purpose.

Ahead lay the curiosities of a day of adventure with fellow snow pals, sliding the slopes and gliding the in betweens, sharing the brilliance and loftiness of the Victorian High Country, cruising around on telemark skis way up in the clouds and letting life emerge from the desires dancing around happily in the soul.

Cradling and slowly turning the cup in my cold fingers and palms, deeply contended in this present idle, I sat in the glow of the morning sunlight, immersed in crisp winter air and welcoming the cool ambience of silence in Nature.

— Living breath by breath in fluid movement outdoors.

Enhance Your Breathing

To enhance your breathing functionality and capacity, here are a few suggestions for ways to develop more easily right away:

1: Oxygen Advantage Online Breathing Course – (Link to Official Course Page)

2. Follow guided exercises for improved sleep, managing stress and anxiety via the OA App. (Link to Official App)

3. Join a 1-on-1 coaching session with me to savour the immersion into deeper presence. (Link to 1:1 Coaching Session)