Pescatori di sogni added to Pizzo della Sella (Sicily) by Massimo Flaccavento, Claudio Trovato

We cross the Sferracavallo waterfront in total silence when, near Barcarello, a deep voice rises from the sea. It's an emotional moment. Cradled by the waves, the notes of Malafemmena come to life thanks to a solitary fisherman absorbed in his work in the heart of the night. We listen passionately for several minutes, then leave him alone, immersed in his own passion — the sea and his work, a tough job that spares no one but ultimately rewards you with starry skies and unique moments in contact with the great blue.

We switch on our headlamps and set off towards the walls of Monte Gallo. This is how our little adventure begins, charged with emotion even before setting off.

I'd noticed this beautiful line with my friend and colleague Fabio Olivari, and with his permission, I extended the project to Claudio Trovato, a friend and strong, passionate climber from Scicli. This is the third time I've embarked on a project like this with Claudio, and given the esteem I hold for him, I'm certain it's going to turn out well. Above all, I'm just happy to be here with him, once again in a place I deeply love.

We begin the first pitch with the utmost calm, because we have no desire to rush things, only to climb, to enjoy the place and a beautiful starry night on the wall. And so it is that, at the end of the fourth pitch, as evening falls, we prepare for a bivouac that couldn't be more spectacular. Our phones have no signal, and in an era where everyone is constantly connected, this makes everything even more fascinating.

It's November, and the mild temperatures gift us with an unusually warm evening, so much so that we struggle to fall asleep and lose ourselves in a thousand words, tracing the trajectories of airplanes beginning their descent towards Punta Raisi and the fishermen's lanterns scattered across the Tyrrhenian Sea. Lives at opposite ends — sea, rock, air, hearts beating and ardently chasing the most precious gift: life!

Dawn finally breaks, if only to allow us to get moving again given the discomfort of the ledge we bivouacked on.

After two pitches, there's a moment of doubt on the slab of the sixth pitch, and then we finally reach the base of the headwall. Suspended grottos adorned with splendid formations frame the final three pitches, which, on exceptionally high-quality marble-like rock, lead us to the top of the face.

The summit is actually just the end of the walls; the true plateau begins a little higher, at the end of a wild ledge and a short, fifth-class scramble. Logically, we decide that this will be the end of Pescatori di Sogni, as there are no more difficulties to overcome.

After a hug and the customary ritual photo, identical to many others yet unique and unrepeatable, we slide down the ropes on abseil. A well-deserved spleen sandwich and a nice ice-cold beer await us because, let's be honest an adventure cannot be considered truly complete without a beer.

Happy adventures to all from Massimo and Claudio.

- Massimo Flaccavento, Nicolisi

Info: sicilymountainproject.com