For many of us, going to the mountains is tied to our favorite activities like climbing, hiking, trail running, or ski mountaineering. However, some people have chosen the mountains not only as a place for recreation but also as the heartbeat of their work and lifestyle. This is the case of Valentina, a 23-year-old who decided to embrace her passion for the peaks in her own way by taking on the management of Rifugio Pernici, located in a small valley that surrounds Lake Garda.

A dream taking shape.

Valentina’s story with the mountains began when she was a child. "I’ve always been sporty and a mountain lover" Valentina recalls.

"Ever since I was little, my parents took me to eat polenta in the mountain huts, and maybe this dream started to take shape back then. I started doing athletics at the age of 6, and on Sundays, we alternated between competitions and mountain hikes. My earliest memories are of Tibetan bridges and pulleys in the Rocca Park in Riva del Garda; I was maybe 5 or 6 years old. As I grew older, I joined the youth mountaineering program, and in 2018, I took the course to become a mountain guide.” The mountains have always been a constant presence in her life, pushing her to practice sports like trail running, climbing, and ski mountaineering. Her love for these activities led her to find ways to finance her passions by working in mountain huts during the summer and winter seasons. These on-the-job experiences allowed her to appreciate the different rhythm of life in the mountains, a slower, more static pace compared to the hectic rush of those who come to the mountains for just a day. But it is precisely this rhythm that gave her the strength to dream of one day managing her own mountain hut. And when the opportunity arose to manage Rifugio Pernici, Valentina decided to go for it.

The challenge of managing a mountain hut.

Being in charge of a mountain hut is not just a job; it’s a true lifestyle. Valentina has learned to balance her passion for the mountains with the daily responsibilities of managing a facility that welcomes hikers and nature lovers. "It’s wonderful to finish work and, instead of getting into a car, just put on your hiking boots and head out for a walk in the woods," she says. However, challenges do arise, especially in managing relationships with customers and collaborators. Despite her experience in other mountain huts, being the owner requires a different approach, and the young hut manager is learning to balance authority with serenity, creating a welcoming environment for everyone.

A bond with the land.

Valentina has not only embraced mountain life but has also sought to create a strong bondwith the local area by collaborating with local producers to offer her guestsgenuine, high-quality products. Milk, cheese, and meat all come from farms inthe valley, and Valentina is proud to promote a more sustainable lifestyle,where every resource is precious, especially water.

Looking to the future.

Despite the challenges, Valentina looks to the future with enthusiasm and determination. "The mountains have two different sides for me: one more adventurous and carefree, which brings great emotions, and the other more chaotic and frenetic, but still capable of offering priceless moments of serenity," she says. Her dream is to create a mountain hut where everyone feels welcomed and cared for, and to fully live what, for many, is just a fantasy. Even though there are some fears, Valentina knows she has the right people by her side to help her on this journey. Every day, the young hut manager finds time for herself, often enjoying a walk at sunset, a special moment when daily challenges seem to fade away in the face of the unparalleled beauty of the landscape that surrounds her.