Their colour is yellow, but that particular lemon yellow, even a little “fluorescent”, which is also trendy nowadays: they are the angels of the Civil Protection..
Lately we have seen them on many occasions, despite ourselves, in the recent and tragic events of the earthquake in central Italy, or in the latest natural disasters such as floods or avalanches: many little yellow ants filmed from above by some drone, busy providing their invaluable and unique help.
This year, I was able to meet them a couple of times. The first time was in February at Lake Mortirolo in Valle Camonica in the Brescia area, at an altitude of 1800 metres, busy setting up a camp for an altitude dive but above all under the iceWhile the second time I “.. crossed paths with their bubbles” was during a beautiful experience at Lake Monticelli, a now fixed summer destination, under the Presena glacier, at an altitude of 2580 m.
They are the boys... and not... because there are many grey hairs, of the Civil Protection Diving Unit of the Province of Cremona who on these occasions have given rise to an internal training exercise involving two FIPSAS Diving Associations of Crema and Cremona.
They even tax themselves, ask for favors and favors from friends, but they never stop! Yes... because budgets are always tight and maintenance on underwater equipment and devices, which must always be kept in perfect working order to ensure the safety of themselves and others, is expensive and indispensable.
They are constantly working on the local canals and rivers, maintaining the banks and ensuring the safety of volunteers from other groups who work near the waterways, including clearing trees or, often, searching for missing people. They are constantly and technically ready to intervene: their spirit, passion, and tenacity never abandon them.
Here in the mountains, the desire to be together and the challenge of preparing everything, as they are used to doing, have strengthened. The logistics were challenging in every way. At Mortirolo, the lack of snow necessary to cover the access road to the refuge meant a double transfer by off-road jeep and snowmobile for all participants, the tanks and all the other equipment needed to safely complete the dive camp, including the two chainsaws, boxes with several dozen meters of rope, various carabiners, ice screws, and tarps; and this both on the outward and return journey!!! A huge slog!
The bright sunny Saturday day was used to set up camp above the surface of the lake, with over 50 cm of ice thick!!!!
This slowed down operations, especially considering that each ice cube extracted with saws, nails, and rope would have been a real sweat for everyone! Without ever forgetting the personal safety equipment required for this type of operation, good old Mimmo was busy with the chainsaw, in heavy boots and a wetsuit, alternating with the big boss Angelo Roth and Valentino, while everyone else, ………..around shoveling and tidying up.
Three holes measuring approximately two metres by two metres were dug, arranged in a triangle and spaced approximately 25 metres apart, keeping the cubes in a semicircle around the openings and cordoning off the work area with protective tape.
Only at sunset Ivan, carrying out the first scouting, carried the guide line from hole to hole, promptly tied to the outside with nails and carabiners, thus creating a safe underwater route for the next day.
Tired, sweaty, and wet...but satisfied and incredibly happy to have prepared everything safely on time, we tucked into polenta and pizzoccheri, washed down with wine and spirits distilled by our friend Paolo and Mary, the managers of this splendid refuge. It was hard to fall asleep, listening to the various underwater adventures of our fellow diners; after all the hard work, here comes the wonderful sharing and bonding with friends.
A sunny Sunday morning awaited us. The excitement and desire to dive was palpable, especially among some of our friends who had never been under the ice: their regulators were vibrating on their own, but not from the cold!
Once the 3 cm of night ice had been removed from the holes, we began diving in pairs, tied to the guide rope with a snap hook and a 3 m floating line: simply spectacular!!!
In complete tranquility and safety, we were able to complete the three holes, our noses pointing upward, just a foot above the ice. Outside, our bright yellow guardian angels, two for each hole, regulated and controlled the underwater traffic, helping us enter and exit the teeing hole.
Unique sensations!!! A quarter of an hour of relaxation, observing the various hues of the ice; seeing the various shapes of the cracks created by the night's expansion in the thickness; playing with the air we breathe, stuck beneath the icy surface. Especially fascinating is the exit from the bottom into the open hole, with the straight edge of the ice and the people outside perfectly visible.
Finally, we closed the holes with the same ice cubes and left everything as we found it.
In short,……two days spent underwater for fifteen minutes? Or like the Presena dive, moving the equipment, even with stretches to be done on foot loaded with weights and tanks, to enjoy the banks of the lake at 5 degrees for fifty minutes?
Nooo... it's not just that. It's the great passion for what you do, the desire to be with others, working and sweating, and then sitting around a table, laughing and joking with your friends; the seriousness of being part of a technical group, to which you give so much... but that "so much" is given back to you with so much satisfaction.
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