This is Mount Olympus, What would be Peak 13 of 50 on my Peak project across Europe? Normally a two-day hike, I would be doing it in one, but I would be faced with the hardest decision while hiking alone: whether I should scramble the most complicated part of the climb in these conditions or turn back without summiting superstitious unlucky.
A Stroke of Luck: Finding Shelter with a View Amidst the Unexpected
All I had to do was get off the bus and go door to door to the hotels. The second hotel I walked into had room for two nights. I am so lucky because I was told that everything is sold out and that was the reason that my thing was canceled, but oh my gosh, it was indeed Super Lucky at this moment. I had a view of the mountain.
%205-2%20screenshot.jpg)
Preparation and Pleasure: Fueling Up for Mount Olympus at Hotel Aphrodite
I would attempt the next day if the weather cooperated. This is also the perfect room because it had a fridge for my hiking sandwich and a coffee making machine for the 4 AM start. Hotel Aphrodite you absolutely saved me no matter how much research you do for these kinds of Adventures there's always stuff that has to be left to once you're finally there I needed food a taxi to the base and a helmet for the scramble this is my first real Greek meal and I've just had my first few bites of the green salad and it's probably one of the most delicious basic salads I've ever had I got a smoked mackerel and I think I ordered way too much food because there's so many potatoes and it's really affordable this is going to be about 20 euros and it's quality food you need to start loading up for Mount Olympus I could not finish it so it looks like my sandwich for the hike tomorrow is going to be smoked mackerel potato and tomatoes even if you don't like climbing mountains.
I'm here just for this food accomplished next was taxi and helmet can you believe it my friends this is the first Peak on this entire Journey where I'm actually at the base well before the peak starts planning getting better either that or my luck is getting a little bit better I actually had time to pack the night before foreign I went to this shop 55 Peaks and I'm so glad I did Monica, absolute legend, I need a Monika for every single big peak left on this journey. I asked her, "What's your honest opinion on the hike from Scala to Miticus? and she said, "How much running do you do?10K. She's like, That's not much.
From Base to Peak: A Stroke of Luck and Preparation Pays Off on Mount Olympus
I'm just going to say I'm like, well, I'm kind of on this mission to climb the highest peak in every European country. So then she tells me the different routes because I am going by myself. I think the best decision is to go with the path that I've been researching for the last while. I'm excited, a little bit nervous, but that's at's healthy. Parker ended up with a little bit of space for jackets because right now it's really warm like it feels like it's maybe 25 minutes feeling 100 ready and checking the weather forecast one more time I headed out to the taxi point and we started the 30-minute drive to the trailhead where I would quickly realize I had made a big mistake. I had completely forgotten a head lamp. All I had was the light on my phone.
%207-29%20screenshot.jpg)
I think of all the crazy monsters that are lurking in the darkness or the bears that might suddenly start appearing in Greece. I have to convince myself that this is not a movie. just real life and to never forget my headlamp again. the first trail marker. Hopefully, once we get above the tree line, we'll get the views. I would be taking the E4 Trail as this was the most straightforward route; it would include the intense scramble everyone warns about, even though Monica recommended I do the other row via farata. I didn't want to test my luck too much since I was alone and the weather wasn't ideal. We would soon find out, first stop, why do my eyebrows look massive? It's really weird because I'm the only one on the trail, so there's probably lots of people staying at the refuge. I hope that's okay doing miticus because if there's a lot of people climbing from Scala to Miticus, then it could be dangerous. We will see.
Navigating Reality: From Monsters to Markers on the Trail to Mitikas
The thing with scrambles is that if you get someone above you who kicks back a rock and it hits you, well, good night, you'll be Minotaur food. Here comes the sun and hits the mountain hut on the E4 Trail. This is the refuge that most people will stay at on their first day of the climb, so they will hike what I had just done on day one, or some people will also hike all the way from the tohoro where I'm staying, and then on day two they will continue to the Peaks at the top, Medicos, Scolio, and Scala. I made it to the mountain hut feeling really good. If I'm really honest, I'm in a bit of pain.
Taking a Breather: Navigating Challenges and Prioritizing Safety on the Trail
They just got my period; it happened, but I'm going to have a little break here. I'm going to switch out the duct tape on my blisters, and we're going to push for Scala. It's super duper cloudy. I was listening to a conversation, and they asked what it's like right now at the very top of Miticus, and I said it's very humid, so the rocks are slippery, and they said the rocks are too slippery, so don't do it. Maybe it won't be that humid, but Safety First Since it's still before nine, I'm making good time,
Pressing Forward: Battling Doubt and Embracing Mythology on the Ascent"
I think, because there's still a lot of people just having breakfast right now in The Refuge, and these are probably going to be the people who are going to be going up as well, so I'd rather be ahead of them. Sorry, this is a very steep look. don't mind me just that crazy Canadian and a t-shirt it's got like long sleeved jacket the wind started to pick up and with the clouds coming in I was getting a stream of nervous thoughts and doubt was coming in yeah our view is about to leave if something were to happen to me would anyone even know in moments like these I turn to different thoughts like the Epic mythology behind Mount Olympus the greatest Tales tell that this mountain was created after an epic battle between the Olympian gods and the Titans.
The winners the Olympians made this their home literally 10 seconds look around me that's where we just were now the decision is whether I should attempt Medicus which is over there or if I just go back self-doubt was hanging heavy could I do this so you can kind of see the outline This would all be exaggerated by everyone except for Monica. It was the hardest decision I had to make alone on a hike because there was uncertainty and fear of incapability and potentially worse versus the idea that I could do this and that others were just being dramatic and that I did have the skills and the fitness.
Crossroads of Confidence: Wrestling with Self-Doubt on the Path to Mitikas
The facts were that visibility was poor. It's a 400-meter class 3 scramble on the Yosemite scale, which means climbing a steep hillside. moderate exposure and hands are used in climbing I was prepared with a helmet and gloves and there were people coming back from having done it I knew that if I didn't at least attempt I would regret it for the rest of my life let's do this is probably up that way if this doesn't make you heart jump into your butt I don't know what will oh look at this I always make sure I have one marker ahead of me so I'm hurt you do need four some parts quite okay I can definitely imagine how this would be quite intimidating I can do this I feel like I'm surrounded by projectors look at these rocks like Shadows I can see the grease like I can guess myself so much but this is for anybody who underestimates themselves or has people around them who underestimate them do you know what you can do a lot more than you think you can yes unreal come here Grace How stupid is this? I can't reach Let's go, baby. Peak 13. Actually, this is a nice place to eat for lunch. Look at the sun last year. I had my first via farata ever in my life.
Unveiling Strength: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Triumph on Mount Olympus
I actually broke down and looked at me. It's like it's just amazing to see what the human body and what you can do mentally when you just put your mind to something, learning what you need to do to get to your goal, and then after that, you just keep growing and growing and growing. It's just incredible. I wonder how long it took me 40 minutes.
I wonder what my Slovakian friend went. He leftjust amazing to see what the human body and what you can do mentally when you just put your mind to something, learning what you need to do to get to your goal, and then after that, you just keep growing and growing and growing. It's just incredible. I wonder how long it took me 40 minutes. I wonder what my Slovakian friend went. He left like 20 minutes before me.
Descending Olympus: Tips for a Safe and Smooth Journey Down the Mountain
if you're someone like me where going up is a lot easier for you and coming down maybe scares you a little bit or it's not as good as your up game I guess it's actually much easier coming down I would say as well if you've got visibility is poor here you just have to follow the red and yellow markers you can see one like every five meters maybe 10 meters you just stick to that and you'll be fine you do definitely need a helmet you definitely need some gloves it's a lot easier and you need good sturdy shoes If you are a beginner when it comes to hiking,
%204-0%20screenshot.jpg)
I would definitely recommend getting a guide if you have experience with rock climbing bouldering via faratas scramble hikes. If you've done a few of those before, you'll be able to do this. I just want to share that because I couldn't find anywhere that wasn't being overly dramatic. It's always hard to judge right because you don't know what other people's experiences are, but I mean, you can see my experience;
you can see what I've done in the last year and a half, like obviously before that, I did other stuff as well, but so I hope that gives you an idea if you want to come do it yourself and hopefully you get a better view. I don't know if it's because I got a bit of confidence from that climb, but, uh, order coffee, but I'm flying down the mountain. I don't think I've gone down a mountain this fast with this kind of rock. Let's say confidence goes a long way. Don't understand yourselves.