Alpenglow is a beautiful phenomenon. It occurs when the sun falls below the horizon and shines a gorgeous red glow on the mountaintops.

There is a legend that stems from the Dolomites about King Laurin who was the ruler of the dwarves. He mined in the mountains and took great care of his beloved rose garden.

The King of the Adige river decided he was going to throw a tournament in order to find his daughter, Similde, a husband. He invited everyone except King Laurin. So King Laurin put on a magic hood that made him invisible in order to attend.

When King Laurin saw Similde he fell instantly in love! So he took her and stole away with her on a horse. The nobles ran after him and were waiting for him at the entrance of his rose garden.

They fought him! And despite King Laurin wearing a magic belt that made him as strong as 12 men, King Laurin was losing the battle.

King Laurin put on his invisibility hood and hid in his rose garden. But the nobles could see where the King was stepping because the roses moved/were flattened by his steps. So the nobles captured him.

King Laurin was so angry at the garden for betraying him that he cursed it saying that no one will ever see the beauty of the garden ever again by day or by night! But he had forgotten about dawn and dusk.

So now we can still see the glow of the beautiful roses during dawn or dusk.

PS: I hope someday soon we get to go to the Dolomites (where this legend is from)! We have been dream-planning a trip there, looking at photos, and researching backpacking routes. Maybe next year? Fingers crossed!