Join me on a breathtaking journey through the Italian and Austrian Alps in Biking Into Awe – A Backroads Adventure, where photography, nature, and healing converge. As a physician and photographer, I share how the power of awe—captured through light, landscape, and motion—can be a transformative tool for managing anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. This travel documentary-style video highlights an unforgettable Backroads cycling trip through the Dolomites, offering inspiration and practical insights for both professional and amateur photographers, nature lovers, and anyone seeking to reconnect with their well-being through adventure and mindful visual storytelling. Whether you’re curious about therapeutic photography, scenic cycling routes, or simply want to experience the soul of the mountains, this is a journey worth taking.
#BikingIntoAwe #DolomitesPhotographyTrip #BackroadsAdventureDolomites #TherapeuticPhotography #PhotographyAndMentalHealth #PhotographyForAnxietyAndDepression #AweAndHealing #CyclingTheDolomites #ItalianAlpsPhotography #AustrianAlpsTravelVlog #BackroadsBikingTour #NatureTravelInspiration #PhotographyAndMindfulness #PhotographyForPTSDRecovery #LandscapePhotographyTravel #TravelPhotographyForMentalHealth #PhysicianPhotographerTravel #HealingPowerOfPhotography #AdventureTherapyTravel #DolomitesBikeTour #mybackroadstrip #Nikon #insta360x5 #cottoncarrier
Links:
Website: www.artiedocphotography.com
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/artiedoc/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@artiedoc
My Medical Home https://www.drarthurchildsmedicalhome.comMy gear and editing :
Cotton Carrier HYKER SLING BAG https://www.cottoncarrier.com/pages/hyker-slingbag-launch
Cotton Carrier CCS G3 Gray Harness For 2 Cameras. https://www.cottoncarrier.com/collections/best-sellers/products/g3-dual-camera-harness
FJORD 60-C ECONYL® WITH RCI UNIT. https://www.nya-evo.com/products/fjord-60-c-with-rci-unit
PGYTEch 11 L One Mo https://www.pgytech.com/products/onemo-sling?_gl=1*d99trw*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_JzABhC2ARIsAPe3ynp_jS0Nq6m3xjcxZD7018SN390WwdSHq8HT8u7HEsJOMB9rMR8xXKcaAmdAEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAACqpWTTTDbhlMh27EWTTp8H6SJDzt
Nikon Zf https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1788062-REG/nikon_1761_zf_mirrorless_camera.htmlNikorr 100-400mm S4.5-5.6 VR S
Nikkor 24-120 f 4 f4 S https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1669886-REG/nikon_niz241204_nikkor_z_24_120mm_f_4.html
Nikkor 14-24 mm f 2.8 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1578224-REG/nikon_nikkor_z_14_24mm_f_2_8.html
Bike Holder Mount for DJI RC Pro Controller Bike Clip Bicycle Handlebar Mount Compatible for DJI Mavic 3/Air 2S Remote Control Drone and Action Cameras Accessories : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP9PFCWY?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
Laowa 10 mm f/2.8. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1811371-REG/venus_optics_ve1028mf14nz_laowa_10mm_f_2_8_zero_d.html
Video:
@Insta360 x 5
DjI Pocket 3
Drone :DJi Mavik 3 Pro Cine
@Cotton Carrier
DJi mini-mic 2
Lightroom Classic
Photoshop
@PhotoPills
@Rivian MY favorite vehicle !!!
@Mult.dev for map videos
Color/ Film Grading Software : Dehancer : https://www.dehancer.com/featuresWebsite
USE PROMO CODE ARTIEDOC10 for 10% off on checkout
Awe The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life in Paperback
by Dacher Keltner (Author) : https://a.co/d/0darHDbu
00:00 Introduction
03:24 How To Film On a Bike
05:59 Bolzano To Merano
10:20 Merano to Reischach
19:48 The Dolomites
27:40 Lienz Austria
31:12 We Climb
37:54 Our last Climb and its a Beauty
39:11 Final Farewell
39:38 Concluding remarks
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat up here. Hey there. Well, as I promised, I’m back with part two of our amazing trip to Italy. Part one was all about Venice, about the town, about the city, about the history, about the culture, about walking around this amazing, amazing city with a camera in hand and taking in the light, the buildings, the architecture, the canals, just the whole millu that is Venice. So, if you haven’t had a chance to really check it out, I’ll leave a link up top and go see it. I know you’ll enjoy it. And for this video, we’re going to talk about the second part of our trip where we headed up to the northern Alps of Italy.
We met up with our back roads team and got ready to get on our bikes to travel throughout the Alps, the beautiful Dolommites and even up through the border of Austria. Now, Backros is an amazing travel adventure company. It’s headed by a guy by the name of Tom Hail, whose philosophy is to make sure everybody has a good time, to make sure that everybody of all different levels and ages can enjoy the outdoors, can enjoy nature, and can be immersed in the cultures of the places they’ve chosen to visit. And that’s why I love this company so much.
Now, I’m not getting paid for this video. I’m not getting paid to say this at all, although this was our fifth adventure with um Backros. And Tom, if you’re listening, I think we’re owed a little present for our fifth trip. But anyway, it was a great trip. I hope you’ll join me. Stick around for the whole video. Like, subscribe, ring the bell so that you can get alerts for the next video, and come along on this trip where we enjoy people, we enjoy history, we enjoy culture, and I enjoy just physically getting out there in the world. Let’s do this. Carrying a camera on a bike is no easy task. You have to think about safety. Obviously, you don’t want the camera getting in your way. You don’t want any of the controls, in this case for my drone or the Insta3 to get in the way of my maneuvering the bike in any way. You don’t want anything in your ears because you need to hear the traffic. You need to hear the signals. But I was able to figure it out. So, as you can see here, I had a blast. It was fun. It really didn’t add to my weight from the standpoint of feeling off balance at all. I felt safe at all times, and I was able to carry all the things I needed to make this film. Just incredible. This setup for me has been working perfectly. I have my controller for my drone right here. Got my GPS sitting there. My phone popped on there. I have a controller for my Insta 360, which you’re seeing me viewing me right now. and my backpack holding my camera so I can stop and take pictures and then pull my drone out from the back. Wow, I feel like Dick Van Dyke on the Mary Poppins with all those instruments on them. But it works. It just works. And although I’m carrying a lot of weight, I really don’t feel it. The cotton carrier is ergonomically perfect. And what’s really cool is I’m getting navigation signals through my glasses. So I don’t really have to look as much down at the GPS to know where we’re going. Since this is a about a 50-mi ride today from Italy to Austria and we will be crossing the border from Italy soon into Austria. So I can just relax and enjoy. Well, after a three and a half hour ride from Venice to the town of Bolzano, we settled into our hotel to get ready for the first day of biking. Known as the gateway to the Doommites, Bullzano is also home to one of Europe’s oldest mummies, Oatsy, the Iceman, discovered in a glacier, which we would be riding to the next day. Our hotel wasn’t what you might call in the scenic part of town. But despite this, nature always has a way of making things right. The next day, we met up with our group, our backros leaders, set up our bikes, and had our mandatory safety lecture. And then we started the fabulous ride from Bzano to Morano. From Bosano, the road winded gently into the Adi Valley, a land sculpted by vineyards and orchards. The Adiji, Italy’s second longest river, flows besides us the whole way. And I get a chance to take in the fresh mountain air, to get familiar with my bike, and to take turns getting to know some of my new backros friends. While I stopped to take some pictures, I soon realized that my normal process of composing a shot, waiting for the perfect light, or capturing a scene, would be well, a lot more difficult than I expected. I was torn between the sheer enjoyment of riding and experiencing the open road versus stopping to set up a composition. But as the week progressed, I found it much easier to enjoy the scenery, remain observant for spontaneous compositions, and I got more relaxed about the whole process itself. Woohoo. Hey, that was lovely. See? Bam. After an incredible lunch at a local centuries old lodge, we hit our first climb towards Castell Veruka. As we climbed, the valley opened up below. A living canvas of agriculture, history, and movement. The mountains stood sentinel above us. And well, it was just the first day. And this trip was delivering not only scenery but stories etched into castle stones and vineyard rows. That night, after a great swim in the beautiful pool at our local hotel in Morirano, we took a walk as a group down to the town of Morirano, a beautiful medieval town with cobblestones, a beautiful river flowing right through it coming down from the mountains. And we stepped into a little cottage which turned out to be a Michelin style restaurant. After a seven course of meal, we could barely move. We made our way back to the hotel, hit the hay, slept like a log, and woke the next day for another adventure. body is now in Bolzano. His name is Oti. Did you hear about the Icemani? So the Iceman is there in Bolzano. So this is a little story and this ballet is famous for osi but for many other things that day two we start our morning in Morirano and make our way into the Vanasta Valley. A group winds their way through beautiful lush vineyards and apple orchards. And we get our first peak of the majestic snowcap mountains of the oats Alps. In Glurn, South Tyia’s tiniest city, we make our way through cobblestone streets, defensive walls, and wooden shutters painted with centuries of style. The air is crisp and the views are just spectacular. And as the scenery scrolls past, so do the orchards, castles, and soft silhouettes of the towering peaks. Today we have to work for our lunch and we make our way up a mountain to a medieval castle where we’re greeted by a local baker and freshly baked bread just just out of a centuries old stone oven. Bonjouro beautiful.
They are baking bread. My goodness. And the risimo bread comes from their farmer. And the butter of course is from
May. May I May I
You have to.
Oh,
you have to. This beautiful
This is the best appetizer you can have. Oh my god. Perfecto.
Ah, because the bread is still warm.
Perfecto. It’s really good. probably the bread. Well, that was just a tease for us. For as we entered these centuries old castle walls, what awaited us was the most incredible pasta I’ve ever had. And to top it off, our chef couldn’t let us go without hearing a Tyrion rendition of Amazing Grace. I’m still smiling thinking about it. All night with some of the best pre-ride carb loading one could have. We headed back out onto the open roads. The landscape changes as we go from open fields and rows upon rows of vineyards to covered forests and once again the cool rush of the glacial rivers besides us. I can’t keep track of the amount of times we crossed the Adi River, but each bridge crossing was more thrilling than the last. Our afternoon destination, Force Brewery, a South Tyrrollian institution since 1857, where a cold brew becomes not just a reward, but a ritual. Proof that balance matters. Ride hard, rest well, and savor the view. We return back to the hotel manan in Morano where another savory Italian feast awaits. After which this night will be spent dreaming of snow-covered mountains, the cool breezes and rushing waters of the Adi, medieval nights, and the best tasting pasta in the world. The next day, we climb higher into the heart of the eastern Alps. We start off in the morning in the Porter Valley, a land carved by glaciers, rivers, and stories older than roads.
I love these woods. They’re so spectacular. We enter the Rienza Canyon. Narrow, shadowed, and dramatic. Awe doesn’t always live in wide open views. Sometimes it’s in the silence between canyon walls, in the rhythm of the breath, though
and of the wheel.
It’s beautiful. Maybe not super safe to fly the drone here.
No, no, no. I don’t think so.
I crashed my drone three times
before losing it into the river. I will show you the video later on. Yeah, absolutely. It’s just so cool to have, you know, this beautiful nature, then amazing infrastructure and architecture,
then old bridges.
This is the next level, huh, for us in Italy.
This is the next level. And the fact that they maintain these bike paths are just fabulous.
You don’t know how many cyclists go through this bike path. There’s a lot of tourism involved.
I’m sure.
Yeah. And you know you have infrastructure so everybody comes here for families it’s great.
Yeah I see people want to take the train back is so easy. What? Brun. This is beautiful.
Nice. Very very Austrian, very German. No.
Ah, yeah. Love it.
This kind of construction here. You see, you can see it’s very German. Uh-huh. We roll into Berek and then take a turn into the Arn Valley. Lush meadows, wooden barns, and the whisper of the Arn River beside us. The ride is smooth, the scenery grounding, and boy, what a view. This is the most incredible valley I have ever, ever witnessed. Wow, this is just more spectacular than ever. Look at this valley. Riding straight up towards the Swiss Alps. We stop beneath the castle toeers, a medieval stronghold that still watches the valley. Lunch is served under its gaze. Rustic and relaxed. These are the meals that stay with you, not just for the taste, but for the company. After lunch, the road ascends again towards the falls plateau. We finished the day in Rishak at the foot of the Kron Plats. One more ridge crossed. One more memory made. Another beautiful day here in the valley. Oh, there’s Allesandra from Backros. Today’s ride begins gently tracing the Rienza River beneath a canopy of forest light. The path is open, the air crisp, and far ahead the Dolommites stand quietly watching. If I’m riding, I have my Meta AI glasses be my Ray-B bands that allows me to listen to music. But out here, I just want to hear the birds. I want to feel the wind rush by me. It is the most incredible way of improving anxiety. depression, post-traumatic stress, just getting out with nature, and enjoying the world around us, taking it all in, putting all our worries behind us. And yes, we shouldn’t forget some of the terrible things going on in the world. And we should work and strive to make the world a better place. Not everybody can enjoy nature. But you need to take a break. Turn off the news. Go out wherever you may be cuz the world is full of beautiful places. Many in your own backyard. As we roll closer to the Austrian border, the peaks begin to rise bigger, bolder. more defined. The weather is perfect and the rhythm of the ride draws me deeper into the moment. As a photographer, I’m always tuned to the play of light, the drama of shadow, the quiet geometry of the world unfolding before me. But on this ride, it’s my other senses that come alive. The sound of cowbells echoing across the pastures. The sweet scent of honeysuckle and pine. The cool breath of glacial air rushing alongside me like an invisible companion. Even the hum of my tires feel like part of landscape. And then the hills. Ah, yes. The hills alive with the sound of Well, okay, that’s for another movie. We arrive in San Candido, framed by the jagged sexing group of the Dolommites. This town, also called Inen, is where Italian culture blends with mountain resolve. A gondola carries us into the sky toward a mountain hut nestled among the peaks. Up here, the world softens. The ride becomes more than a climb. It becomes a shared pause. Friends are just friends again. No rush, no rolls, just the joy of sharing something special.
Me, too. Cowbells. We’re remarkable cows and wherever we go, it’s a mag. That’s right. We’re cows. That’s right. We’re cows. Lunch is simple, slow, sacred, and delicious. You don’t just taste the view, you breathe it in. The Dolommites rise like a cathedral around us. And somehow the food, well, it just tastes brighter, lifted by the sun, the silence, and the joy that only nature can serve. And we’re off. Woohoo! Here we go. Yeeha! Whoa. We descend into the valley, rejoining the trail and drifting gently onward towards Austria. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. The border comes and goes without fanfare, seamless like a breath. The shift is quiet but real. And then Leenne’s welcomes us with a dolomite still standing watch. A timeless Austrian town tucked between two rivers offers rest and reflection for the next two nights. I know even before we unpack that our final days here are going to be something special. The next morning, I rise before sun, chasing a promise whispered by the mountains. And there it is, the peaks glowing with a soft otherworldly light. And rosadira from the ancient Latin word meaning to turn rosy. It’s not just color. It It’s alchemy. When the Dolommites catch the low sun, they blush with pinks, golds, and violets. They say it’s the soul of these mountains revealing itself. And in that stillness, well, I understand why Later, Alisandra and I ride alongside the Iceland River. Our wheels tracing the rhythm of the water. We talk of these sunrises, of wonder, of why these slow journeys matter. There’s joy in motion, yes, but also in the quiet moments that catch you by surprise.
Pink during sun sunrise and sunset.
Yeah. It’s called It’s called Rosadira.
Eros. Yeah.
And that means pink or
basically means colors of pink. Yeah. And it’s a it’s a word that is is a local word that and it doesn’t happen all the time but basically there is a legend associated with this rose because they’re not that many mountains they covered in rose when they’re you know hit with the sunrise and sunsets
right
and I seen it only once in three months that I worked here last year. So it’s very rare.
Well
but when it happened it’s incredible.
It’s incredible.
Yeah.
You can’t come here and not be inspired by somebody.
I agree with you.
Their life story what they come back with. Mhm. Some people have fascinating life stories as well. Some are guides. Some are were advocates when they were younger.
Yeah.
Some people have just, you know, come along to the place and call their partner. There is always something going on and people have been so sweet to me. Honestly, I when I started this job, like I didn’t know what to expect in terms of people and like my expectations have been going through the roof. Honestly, like
reality is incredible.
Yeah. The people are good. Yeah.
You know, for the most part, they’re good.
95%. Yeah.
Yeah.
You can’t bump into the 5%.
I’m sure you do. That’s why you have to focus on the 95%. Yes. Yes.
My goodness, how beautiful is that?
I’m going to stop taking picture. Sounds good. See you soon. A mid-m morninging stop in Matray brings a splash of local color and a much needed dose of strong coffee. From there, we ride toward a quiet Poleian farm where a picnic awaits. But first, we climb. The forest trail to Cals is well serene and steep. This alpine village rests in the shadow of Austria’s tallest peak. the mighty grass clockner and the effort it takes to get there. Well, it mirrors the awe you feel when you finally arrive. Halfway up, the mountain offers a gift. A majestic waterfall cascading through the trees, cooling us, lifting us, preparing us for, well, that final push. Heat Heat. Heat. And as I near the top, well, the trail opens and with it a vast, magnificent valley stretches out before me. In that moment, I understand exactly why I’m here. The joy of discovery, the healing beauty of nature, the crisp mountain air, the light, the silence. It’s all a kind of remedy for the soul. A reminder of what matters most. Joy, friends, family, and this incredible world we get to move through. Then there’s the descent. Fast, fluid, freeing. I feel the need for speed. Woo! Downhill the best. Just like coming downhill after that long uphill climb. Woo! Big come back. Look at that river. Yeeha! A few more rolling hills, one last climb, and we reach our reward. lunch is laid out at a private local farm. Rustic, simple, nourishing. The kind of meal that feels well earned by effort, by stillness, and by wonder.
Is a Dubai typical pastry.
Are you just showing or
you have to taste all of them? And the strawberry are fresh from the season from here from Austria. Wow. Wow.
Wow. That that sounds good. On the ride back to Leens, I get to share a quiet moment with Sarah, our third back roads leader from the Basque country of Spain. We talk about the road behind us, the stories we gathered, and what it means to move through the world like this, one pedal stroke at a time. Now, what’s your favorite thing about being a guide to back? Lindic. I think that makes sense to me. I can’t believe if Barbara was your age, this would be what I’d be doing it too.
But yeah, I was psychologist and it’s something that would kill me.
But come on, the body is so deep to go out there and discover, right?
Yeah. Where else have you been with back?
I just started. You just started
got to provance France and here but now I’m going to
journey. Oh, you know
there
that’s supposed to be beautiful.
Yeah.
Oh, you’ll enjoy. It’s so good.
Yeah, it’s really cool job at the end.
And you meet so many people and you learn so many things.
Exactly. Like really, really good. I love the downhills. Our final day, we ride through the D Valley, meadows unfolding, forest groves whispering past, and the quiet elegance of Levant, where Gothic, Romanesque, and Baroque architecture stand together like a conversation across centuries. One last climb, and it’s a special one. Tristata Lake awaits. Still, glassy, cradled in trees. This is where awe settles in and silence takes the lead. Back in Leens, the journey begins to land. We say goodbye to our guides, our fellow riders. But we don’t leave empty. Because the Dolommites don’t just give you memories. They leave you with something deeper, a stillness, a sense of wonder, and a quiet truth. The best journeys echo long after the pedals stop. Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey. If you made it this far, thank you. Truly, this video was well, a labor of love and a tribute to the amazing friends made, the unforgettable moments shared with my Backros team and my beautiful wife. If you feel inspired, leave a comment. I’d really love to hear from you. And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to like and subscribe below. Until next time, and keep chasing the light, wonder, and the beauty that surrounds us.
2 Comments
Gorgeous!
Love this