Volcano in Italy Erupts with Skiers on It

Giuseppe Distefano/Caters News.

Italy is home to some breathtaking ski destinations, from the Dolomites to the Alps. But if you’re looking for a truly unmatched skiing experience, look no further than Mount Etna in Sicily. It’s one of the only places in the world where you can carve down fresh powder while an active volcano erupts next to you. Yes, you read that right. Skiing and wicked hot lava flows right next to ya—what could go wrong?

Recently, professional skiers in Italy found themselves on Etna’s slopes as the volcano erupted, and instead of immediately yeeting themselves off the mountain, they just… kept skiing. Apparently, dodging molten rock mid-run is just another Tuesday for them. I don’t know about you, but the second I see lava creeping toward my skis, I’m breaking every speed record getting off that mountain.

To be fair, these skiers weren’t completely reckless. Safety precautions were in place (whatever that means when you’re literally skiing near a live eruption). But still—how do you even end up in this scenario? One minute, you’re enjoying a scenic Sicilian ski day, the next, there’s actual lava melting the snow beneath you.

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Mount Etna proves that some people crave extra adrenaline. If bombing down a steep black diamond isn’t thrilling enough for you, maybe try outrunning an eruption. Personally, I’ll stick to mountains that don’t occasionally explode.