When the weather becomes your worst hiking companion (and why a pair of serious hiking shoes can save your ass!)
Have you ever set out on a hike with all your energy only to find yourself wading through a river an hour later where just moments before there was only a trail? Or sweating like a camel in the desert when the thermometer soars to 30°C and not a breath of wind gives you a break? Welcome to the weather jungle of Fratte Rosa, the village where our handcrafted footwear is born and where we've discovered an archive detailing the last 100 years' worth of weather data, every drop of rain that fell and every degree on the thermometer.
A dive into the past: unexpected rains
Imagine a summer as you remember it: maybe a little rain every now and then, that mud splashing but not too much. But no: in Fratte Rosa, the story was a rollercoaster of tropical downpours and desert-like drought. 
Looking at this graph, the first thing that strikes you is the constant oscillation around the red mean line (about 902 mm). In the 1920s and 1930s, Fratte Rosa exhibited relatively regular seasonal changes: some slightly drier years, others slightly rainier, but almost always within ±200 mm of the historical average.
Since the Second World War, however, a more "exuberant" pattern has emerged: the curve widens, with increasingly sharp extremes. Maximum peaks exceed 1100–1200 mm more frequently, while low peaks—below 700 mm—become slightly rarer but still significant.
In short, while the annual average remains roughly stable, precipitation volatility increases: we find seasons in which the sky "dumps" water like an open faucet and others in which it seems to have completely forgotten about rain.
Summer's changing: from 21°C to 24°C in the last 40 years
If you think July has always been that warm caress that lulls you to sleep under the stars, think again. From 1985 (the year I was born) to today, summer averages have skyrocketed, upending our idea of hillside coolness. 
An average temperature of 21 degrees Celsius in 1985 was a godsend; 24 degrees Celsius today is a small portable oven. Imagine tackling a sunny ridge with a loaded backpack and feeling your insides baking.
The peak that burns your feet
But it's not just the average that's scary: July's maximum temperatures have actually leveled off. Until a few decades ago, a temperature peak of 29°C on a hill was already a notable event; today, however, reaching 33°C has become almost routine, with trails that retain heat like a grill. In these cases, having an upper designed to insulate from the heat and allow the foot to breathe can really help keep the soles cool and make walking more pleasant.
The nights that no longer cool
Fancy relaxing under the stars? Too bad summer lows no longer drop below 16.5°C. If you were hoping for a gust of wind at the end of the day, prepare to sweat under the tent like you're in a sauna.
Rain, rain and more rain
Over the past forty years, the average July precipitation graph in Fratte Rosa shows a clear downward trend. After peaks in the 1990s (over 130 mm in 1994 and 120 mm in 1999) and a rebound to around 80 mm in 2008, recent summers have consistently hovered below 40 mm, often around 20–30 mm, well below the historical average (≈38 mm). This decline suggests increasingly dry and sunny summers, with less rain that traditionally cooled the trails: another reminder to choose breathable and heat-resistant hiking shoes.
Conclusion: Why the weather is your most ruthless "trekking companion"
The picture is clear: Fratte Rosa plays dice with rain and sun, and if you start to understand its weather history, you can turn every hike into an epic adventure rather than a disaster waiting to happen. But only by investing in serious hiking boots can you say goodbye to blisters, mud that gets everywhere, and heat that bakes your feet.
Next time you plan a hike, don't just quickly check the forecast: look at historical numbers, study trends, and then put on your secret weapon: a pair of handcrafted shoes made just for you. That way, when the weather turns nasty, you'll be the one laughing in its face. Happy hiking, folks!
Sources
ilmeteo.it - Historical Archive
ossmeteo.uniurb.it