…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’d be spending the night after leaving the Sporades. Unfortunately, I lack all the necessary gear to make a successful trek: hiking boots, wet weather gear, sleeping bag.
I’ve spent the past six weeks looking for boots, but they’re 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’d 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’d have to camp out. It’s 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.
© 2009 – 2011, Ithaka Bound. All rights reserved.
