Ithaka Bound

Thwarted…

…by Mother Nature and my own lack of planning.

Mt. Olympus wasn’t on my original itinerary, I decided to make the detour to Olympus when I realized it was only a couple hours from Volos, where I would spend the night after leaving the Sporades. Unfortunately, I am lacking all the necessary gear that would have made it a successful trek, like hiking boots, wet weather gear and a sleeping bag.

I’ve spent the past six weeks looking for boots, but they are a seasonal item here and sold only in winter. I considered getting heavy sneakers but since the snow on Olympus has only just melted and the biggest danger to hikers is slippery rocks on a trail that– according to what I’ve read–becomes dangerously narrow at times and takes a life every year or so, I think it best to wait. Also, to reach the very top–which I would have to do to feel like I had summited Olympus–rock scrambling is required for the last 100 meters or so. I need sturdy boots. I would hate not to make it due to a poor footwear choice.

Mt. Olympus takes two days (six hours each way) to scale and an overnight stay on the mountain is required. There are a couple of dorm-style mountain refuges to house people on the mountain, but if those are full I would have to camp out. Its just too much gear for me to buy and then lug around for the rest of my trip.

So, I will put Mt. Olympus, the Pelion Peninsula, and Macedonia on my calendar for next August. I like that idea better than rushing things now, what with my flip flops and all. The Olympian gods will just have to wait.

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