Traveling to Bratislava from Prague was a distinct transition. The two places look quite different and feel quite different.
I am extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to go and see Bratislava. To be there, to see it’s recent history right in front of me.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. When you explore a place by foot, you see everything and feel the soul the place.
The remnants of the turmoil that occurred just over thirty years ago remain. It was a real-life history lesson for me. One that I will forever appreciate.
Walking to the Old Town, we were submerged into the memories of a torn time. It’s a powerful experience going into St. Martin’s Cathedral, which is right next to the Neolog Synogogue memorial. From the top of the castle (not that high) you can see the town below and the new and much talked about UFO Bridge.
We had a second full day, and what better way to spend it than to explore the lush surrounding forest. An easy bus to the next town, Lamac, and you’ll find well marked trails through the most beautiful forest.
It was raining lightly which turned out to be wonderful. The thick heat the previous day was hard for me. The trees provided a rooftop for us, and the temperature was perfect for climbing the trails.
Our first stop was the observation tower. It was a really cool experience walking to the top. We were the only ones there.
We then continued on the trail to the town of Devin and to the famous castle. It’s worth the 12 euro to go in. We took our time and explored the underground caves. The view from the top was breathtaking.
It’s such a different experience for a Canadian to see up close something so old and fortified in history.
In the town, just below the castle, there’s a bunch or restaurants where the buses stop. We found one with Budvar, and traditional dishes. Of course, I tried the local potato dumplings with sheep cheese, smoked cheese and sausage. I think I ate 2 of the 3 wheels of cheese melted into the dish.
As we leave on the train now, I realize the Bratislava has a hold on my heart. It is definitely one of the most important stops for me on this trip.
I’ll also add that the people are extremely friendly. On our first night, we stopped in at a small, packed restaurant where you ordered and then found a seat. A young man could see we were trying to figure things out. He explained to us that people shared tables and invited us to join him and his girlfriend. Despite how young he was, he explained a lot of the history of the place. He was barely born at the fall of communism yet talked as if he’d been there.
The port in Santorina is insane in the membrane. If you get my reference, I owe you a beer.
The amount of traffic in the main port was crazy. I can’t imagine what it would be like in the peak season.
However, I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. Exploring a place by foot allows you to live it, feel it, breathe it. Rather than get on one of the buses and pack ourselves in like hot sardines, we hiked up the switchbacks along the beautiful rock face overlooking a magnificent view. The experience was amazing.
We made the trek over to Pyrgos, a quieter town, facing the other side of the island. Out hotel was a few minute walk from the main area. It was quiet. It was scenic. The town was also quite peaceful, and we experienced some amazing culinary delights.
Day 2 in Santorini, we hiked over to the busy town of Firo near the old port. It was really cool to meander through this beautiful spot. You need a little patience as it’s busy. It’s a shopping and tourist area. If you are willing to go a little past the town, you can scuttle down to Skaras rock and up for a lovely view of the volcano. Of course, the climbing results in fewer people. My kind of rock!!
We did pay for the view at one or the restaurants for a beer. This time, it wasn’t worth it. I’d say go to Skaras, then go back through town and past. There, you will find really good food.
Day 3 in Santorini, and we hiked a series of peaks. The first stop was the highest point on the island, Profit Elias. The trail from Pyrgos is lovely. The views are worth it. We carried on. At the top, there is another trail that takes you down, then up to a peak with nothing but a cairn on top, then down again. It’s a little rocky and a bit slippery, but totally worth it. The cherry on top of the double scoop sundae was making one last little climb to the top of the ancient city, Apollo Campeios Tempel. It’s worth the small fee at the gate.
Finally, we hiked down to the town of Kamaris on the cobble stone rode. There’s a touristy area with restaurants and shops along the black beach. We found a fresh fish place, Captains Corner, off the main area. The food was fantastic. We chose things we don’t get at home: grilled sea bream and squid. I also devoured a block of fresh feta with a Greek salad, as I’m now accustomed to doing every day.
The climbing wasn’t over. We made one more stop at the Santorini Brewing company. Pretty nice beer. It’s not really a tap room. They only serve it in bottles, and the space is tight. But we manage a spot in the shade to cool down and refresh ourselves.
The final climb was back up to Pyrgos. It wasn’t easy. Some steep sections, and it was hot. But, it was totally worth it to do the series of peaks. Totally worth it.
To finish off our last night in Santorini, we took a long swim, walked up a short bit to see the sunrise from an old fort, the had a drink with a million dollar view at Franco’sCafe. I imagine it gets hard to get into this place in peak season.
After a day of walking back to the port and waiting in a crowd like a cow in a herd cooking in the sun, I’m now on the final ferry of our trip. I would do it again in a flash to get up to the quiet side of Santorini. As busy as it is, the quiet places are amazing.
All you have to do is climb a little to find them.
Sifnos is a quieter island, and it’s full of hiking trails.
We disembarked the ferry, loaded with two backpacks each, and made the trek up the hill and over to the other side. As taxis whizzed by, I settled into a nice pace and relearned the lesson that when you travel by foot, you experience everything about a place. You see it, breathe it, feel it.
After the climb, we arrived at our hotel, up on a hill, overlooking the sea. The breakfast was still running, and it was delicious. I even got to learn how to make Greek coffee heated with sand.
Fuelled up, we hit our first trail, and it was a beauty. The weather was good, we felt good, so up we went to the top of Profitis.
There were some steep sections, but nothing too crazy. It’s only about 3 km of real work, and it’s totally worth it. The view from the top was spectacular. There is an old abandoned church that you can walk through, and even though I was curious, I did not go down the staircase into the darkness. Who knows what was down there.
The descent required some focus. The pathway does have rocky sections.
At the bottom, we made our way back to the mearest town. It had started raining, so we found a covered patio and cold beer.
We then continued on to the town of Kastros. One of my favorite things about Sifnos was all the tiny coastal towns. We found a lovely restaurant, sat on the patio, and drank white wine. I had a pasta with tomato and local cheese. It really hit the spot after the climbing.
We did have another small climb to get back to the hotel. It felt good to explore a good portion of the island by foot. It felt superb to climb, climb, climb. I hadn’t climbed this much in one day for a while.
There was a supermarket next to our hotel. We decided on a picnic on the patio for dinner. The store was amazing. We found fresh tzaziki, pita, cheese, meat, olives, and wine. I love an evening picnic when we’ve been hiking all day and already had a meal out. It’s a nice option to consider, especially when you are traveling for a while.
Sifnos may have been one of my favorites due to how quiet it was, all the lovely little seaside towns, and how quiet it was. It seems less touristy and less busy than the others.
Another highlight was discovering the little taverns where they catch and cook. You can look at and pick out the fish you want, just caught, and they’ll cook it up.
I just sat down in my seat aboard the ferry from Mykonos to Naxos. This is by far the busiest ferry we’ve been on so far. Between hiking up peaks and finding quieter places to swim, this crazy energy is high voltage.
So…I put in my earphones and hit play on Delirium by Hazzerd. Nothing tunes the world out better than the thrash kings from my beloved home town. The guitar wails, thrash god meghs and bleghs, and thrumming percussion calm my soul.
I now walk through the amazing time we had in Mykonos. It’s a busier island, known as a party destination. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. We stayed in a spot a short walk from the main town. It was quiet and the views were spectacular.
When visiting Mykonos, you can spend all your time in the hustle and bustle of the main town, walking through the winding tiny, white stone walkways, weaving through the shops and restaurants. It’s quite cool to see.
But…for those willing to venture to the less travelled areas, there are many gems to uncover. I will share with you three gems that I found.
Gem #1, favorite hike.
While Mykonos isn’t as much of a hiking island as Sifnos (I can attest to that) or Naxos (I’m about to confirm this), there are some decent hill sweat outs with killer views.
My favorite hike was the climb up to the church of Profit Elias (see Strava map below). About 8 km from the main town with about 500 m ascent. The navigation is a little tricky, but nowadays, most people have a good phone and internet. We used All Trails as a bit of a guide to choose this hike, and you see by the map below the route we took.
There were a couple of sections of trail that clearly aren’t well traveled, but dont let this put you off. The views on the way up were out of this world. You can see over the other side of the island. There are some steep sections and some slippery loose rock, but nothing too crazy. A few km of fairly hard work, which was totally worth it.
As I rounded the last corner, a pair of black mountain goats welcomed me.
The church is totally abandoned. The view was luscious. The quiet was delightful.
Gem #2, a cold one with a waterfront view…
After descending the same way we came up, we found a front seat to the ocean and had a couple cold beers and grilled squid. If you decide to sit at one of the water front patios in the main town, you’re paying for the location. It’s worth it. We did it over light lunch and draft beer to keep the cost for the view reasonable.
Gem #3, fresh seafood market…
You can eat all your meals at restaurants. Or, if you can get a place with even a small kitchen, you can cook some amazing local seafood! We were able to get a place with a hot plate and BBQ. We walked to a fish market, bought an octopus, sea bass, and some sardines. The cost was considerably less than a restaurant. Add in a stop at one of the many mini markets for some fresh veg, and you have the makings of an amazing meal.
Now, I’m lucky to be with someone who is really good at cooking. However, when it comes to a fresh fish, for most of them, all you have to do is oil, salt and grill.
The experience of walking into a fish market like this and getting fresh creatures we don’t get at home was so much fun! Eating local food was an authentic experience.
Pulling the gems together…
Between hikes and dinners, I highly recommend a cold beer on a patio and swim. I think anywhere you stay is likely to have a pool, and you are surrounded by pristine beaches.
I was surprised by how much I love Mykonos. The quiet and authentic moments were a pure delight, but even weaving through the busier parts still had a great vibe.
I can’t totally explain it. There’s something about not being able to see what is underneath you, not really knowing what’s down there, and the vast openness of the ocean that sends irrational tendrils of fear trickling through my veins.
Many people have the same fear.
It probably doesn’t help that one of my favorite movies is Jaws, and that I watch a lot of deep sea horror films. Sounds silly, right? Despite my love for hiking, I also watch a lot of wilderness horror. Yet, I’m not afraid of the mountains or the forest.
So I shouldn’t be afraid of the water.
Coming to the Greek Islands, one of the most amazing things to do is swim in the pristine and beautifully colored waters.
I mentioned in my last post that on a coastal hike, I did jump in and swim in a secluded spot. I was hesitant. A jump in was required. The water was deep. I had to tell myself to do it. I did, and it was glorious.
Our second day in Milos, we took a catamaran sailing trip. There were several stops during the day in secluded areas that you could only get to by boat. The water was gorgeous. The rock formations were amazing.
Given I had already swam twice in the Mediterranean, I didn’t hesitate. I coaxed myself to get in the water, relax, and enjoy the swim.
The more I did it, the more I liked it. By the last stop, I was swimming through caves and quite comfortable.
I know, it’s not the middle of the open ocean, but it was me and the water, and I found a soothing connection with it.
The boat trip was amazing. We saw a large part of the volcanic rock cliffs. They took us on a dingy ride through some caves. And of course, we swam.
If you get to the Greek Islands, you simply have to dip into the pristine blue-green water.
The island of Milos is a bustling place in some areas. In others, it’s quiet.
We arrived mid afternoon. After getting checked into our hotel and figuring out some logistics for the next couple of days, we still had some time before sunset. If you need a short hike and don’t mind sweating it out a little, I highly recommend the hike up to the castle in Plaka. We did the trek from the main port. My navigator was able to find a lovely nature trail that hooked us up to the smaller and quieter roads that led up to the castle pathway.
After a day of travel, I felt lethargic. Once we got moving, I felt better. By the time we were sweating it up the cobbled pathway to the top, I was motivated.
Movement is good. Climbing comes with rewards.
The view at the top is spectacular. Of course, we found a cold beer with a waterfront view on the way down.
Our first full day in Milos was quite an adventure.
Of course, if you visit Milos, you can go to the popular beaches. You will need to be prepared to deal with a small number of parking spots and crowds. Even in May, there are quite a few people flocking to the beautiful island and driving to the beaches.
Another option is to hike. I was more than happy to grab my boots and start walking. The rewards were immense.
After a short hike from the hotel to the first popular beach, we continued on along the shoreline. There are some rocky portions and some light maneuvering (not full on scrambling), so we took it slow to avoid any problems. And to take in the beauty.
It didn’t take very long to come upon the first secret swimming spot, as I like to call it. They aren’t actually secret. Anyone can go there. But you have to walk a little and maneuver some rocky shoreline. I love shore hikes!
After our first few kilometers, we stopped at a small inlet with some deeper water. The water was crystal clear, as is all the water along the beaches of Milos. The plunge was cold and invigorating.
I’m not naturally comfortable in deep, open water. This trip, I’m determined to get more comfortable and relaxed swimming in these beautiful waters.
After the swim, we continued on. The day did get a bit long and hot, but we were able to stay along the shoreline almost the entire way to Pollonis.
There was a bit of walking along the road closer to the town, which is quite safe here. Since there are many stretches of road without a path or a sidewalk, the drivers are aware and provide lots of room for pedestrians.
We had lunch at a lovely spot on the water and enjoyed many seafood delights.
For the return hike, we chose to stay on the road longer at the start to cover more ground quicker. The shore is quiet and beautiful but takes longer to hike along.
It got hot, that’s for sure. But, I’ve been down the hot 🔥 hiking road before. Regular water, sunscreen, and upbeat attitude are the tools I bring along.
We were able to grab a cold beer at a gas station and take a short break. Then, not far from the town, we stopped again at our swimming spot. This time, I took a longer, slower, more relaxed swim.
By the time we got to town, I was baked and tired. I could feel that bad attitude trying to grab me. I splashed some cold water on my face, took a few deep breaths, and took in the view.
We ordered several seafood appetizers and shared everything. I’ve loved this style of eating here, especially when we have more hiking to do. My favorite was the stingray, served kind of like a pate on toasted bread.
After some white wine, the short hike up to the hotel didn’t seem so bad. In fact, I think it stretched out my tired legs.
A full day in Milos with a good hike and two great swims was quite different than my normal hiking experiences. It’s one that I would highly recommend.
With a little work and a willingness to go off the beaten path, the rewards can be amazing.
Aguille du Midi is a mountain in Cahmonix, France. It holds a very dear spot in my heart.
We had been to Chamonix twice before. The first time, we had to turn a planned attempt of the Tour du Mont Blanc into a series of day hikes due to snow levels. The second time we embarked on our great adveture of the Tour du Mont Blanc. Now, on our current adventure, we returned to Chamonix years later.
At this point in our journey, we had three solid weeks of hiking in the mountains under our belt. I had struggled in Gstaad. With two solid weeks of hiking in the mountains, when we first arrived, I was tired. So tired. The first hike was tough, but then I found my flow. Gstaad turned out to be our best climbing week at that point in the trip.
When we moved on to Chamonix, all the ions in my body were vibrating with excitement. This would be our third time in Chamonix.
You know when you go to a place thinking it can’t possibly be as beautiful as the first time you saw it, but then it is? That’s Chamonix for me.
It’s a lovely French town in the very core of some spectacular mountains. We revisited some hikes and explored some new ones.
The fourth day was special. We climbed Aguille du Midi. As I said, this mountain is very near and dear to my heart. The first time we visited Chamonix, we attempted to climb this trail twice. The first time, the snow was too much for me to handle along a certain ridge. The second time, enough snow had melted that we were able to get to the top despite the last section of trail being completely buried by snow. It was cloudy and cold and we couldn’t see much at the top. Both times were emotional experiences for me.
Now, back here again, with no snow in the way, we began our ascent. It was tough. The trail starts with straight up fuck you up for quite a while. Eventually, there is some relief, but not for long as each short section of relief is soon followed by more straight up. This climb is one to be taken seriously. I slogged my way up, slowly watching the meters of ascent increase.
It was hard. But I wanted it. I was deep into a zone, each day getting up, lacing up my boots, and hiking up a mountain.
When I saw a refuge, I thought, “Oh yes, we are almost there.” I soon realized that, of course, we were not. My memory reminded me that the very top is right next to a cable car station. I looked up at the rocky switchbacks, winding up the impressive incline. Buck up, Jules. You got more climbing to do. And I did. I kept putting one boot in front of the other, huffing, puffing, and slogging it out.
That’s the way. Simply focus on your steps, traversing one step at a time.
The last section after the Refuge is more exposed. I thought back to climbing it straight up in the snow. This time, I got to experience the full path.
As I reached the top, the view of a spectacular mountain range opened up beofe my eyes. The sun gleamed off the snow capped peaks. It was glorious. We didn’t get to see this the last time. It was cloudy and cold.
This time, I sat down on a patio bathed in sunshine and stared up in awe at the mountains. My heart swelled. It was such a feeling of elation.
Hubby went into the hut and emerged with two beers brewed with d’leau de la montagne and sandwiches made with local cheese. Omg. Could this moment get any better?
I thought back to the first time we came here and hiked these mountains. I did the hikes. But there was a lot of fear, anxiety, worry. Don’t get me wrong, I think that will always be part of the journey for me when I’m pushing myself and moving into uncomfortable spaces. I had experienced moments of that during this trip.
But, since we’d been in Chamonix this time, each day, I got up, laced up my boots, and climbed a mountain. I hadn’t been thinking, can I do this? I did think, wow, this is hard, and omg, this is steep. Of course I did. But I never stopped putting one boot in front of the other. I never doubted I would make it. I simply did it.
I loved that feeling.
Basking in the sunshine, sipping my beer and savoring the mountain cheese and fresh bread, I sunk into the moment. I took in the feeling of being right beside this massive mountain range. I relished in the fact that I had gotten here with my own two feet.
It feels pretty good to work at something day after day, year after year, and reach a moment where you realize, OK, I’ve got this. Even for this moment.
With two weeks of hiking in the mountains done, the third one got tough.
We arrived in Gstaad, a beautiful mountain town nestled in the Swiss mountains. I was quite tired the whole day as we transferred from train to train. Waiting to board our last train, I sat and basked in the sun, taking in the view while hubby trotted off to the store to get us a snack. The last train ride was lovely. We enjoyed a cold beer and a spectactular mountain view. We had the small front section of the train to ourselves. I relaxed and let my body be tired.
Upon arrival, I was enchanted by the beauty of the small mountain town. After checking in to our hotel and strolling around town, we enjoyed a pizza on a patio. I realized how tired I was. We had done a good amount climbing on the mountains, but I was eager for more. I had to listen to my being and give in to a nap.
That evening, despite the rain, I needed fresh air. I needed movement. We followed a path along the river to the next town, enjoyed a beer at the one place filled with locals, then walked back. I felt better. I was eager to continue with our big hikes.
The next day, we embarked on our first full day hike in Gstaad. It wasn’t far into the trek that I realized how tired I was. I kept moving at what felt like a snails pace as I pondered my situtation. Was I ascutally physically tired? Was it all in my mind? Was I emotionally tired? I really wanted to continue hiking the way we had been. It had been so gratifying to see so many mountainsides in another part of the world. We only had so much time. I didn’t want to waste any of it.
I quite enjoyed the hike. But I was concerned with how tired I was. I slogged it up to the top. We had a picnic break. My being was settled. I loved being out there, the view, the satisfaction of getting to a peak with my own feet and hard work. I did wonder how I was going to hike five more days in Gstaad. And continue hiking after we moved to the next town on our itinerary.
I tried to focus on the descent and not think too much about the next day.
After a fairly lengthy hike down, the beer on the patio at our hotel was amazing. To make Gstaad work for us, we were staying in a sport hotel and eating picnic dinners from co-op on our balcony. Gstaad is a fancy place, and the cost of things can get out of hand quickly. Unless you hike all day and picnic at night.
The next day, we filled up on breakfast before starting another climb. I was thrilled that the hotel provided fresh farm eggs, homemade bread, jams, cheeses and meats. It made the long days of hiking more feasible.
As we started the trek, I went through the same thing as the day before. The start is always tough. Getting warmed up takes a bit, especially when you start climbing right away. I was worried about my ability to do this hike and the next four. Let alone the ones after that.
Sounds like the kind of thinking I don’t like. Right? Right.
I went through the same process I have gone through many times, including the recent climb up Kitzbuleh Horn.
I acknowledged that I was tired. That I’d done a lot of climbing. That it was getting hard.
I also acknowledged that I wanted this. I wanted this climb, right here, right now. I focused on this hike, this section, this footstep.
None of the other days mattered. Not right now.
My mind transitioned and I focused on each piece. I was no longer worried or over thinking things. I was simply climbing a mountain.
My body began to respond. Between the rest day, allowing myself to go a slower pace on our first Gstaad hike, and now allowing my body to warm up as I transitioned my thoughts to a more positive place, I felt my body finding its flow once again.
The hike was in two parts. The first part was a climb up to a cable station. By the time we reached the top, I felt so much better. My mind was repositioned. My body was feeling strong again.
We continued on to do a forest section up another climb. It was lovely. A bit challenging but we were surrounded by fresh forest and chirping birds.
We picnicked, then made the descent. It was long and hot. We ended up in Saanen, the next town over from Gstaad, where we found a shaded patio, cold beers, and some recuperation time. The picnic that night on our balcony was amazing. I was falling in love with the long, challenging days, the cold beer at the end, and the long, luxurious picnics on the balcony at the end of the day as the heat eased.
The next four hikes continued to go well. We had some real adventures, which are all stories of their own.
The third day was a climb up to the top of a waterfall followed by a descent along a thin trail on a ridge. It was adventurous and I was thrilled with how relaxed I was. The fourth day was a climb up to Col du Pillon. The fifth day we found ourselves on quite a little adventure on a glacier walk. The final day was a big one. We climbed a hefty peak and took a long route back down.
My mind and body were strong. I allowed myself to warm up at the beginning of each hike. I talked myself through it when it got tough. Most of all, I was thrilled that I had tapped into a positive vibe and that my body had found strength and I had found my inner mountain woman again.
We had ascended about 6828 m over the six days. The first day was tough. The second day I adjusted my mind. The third day I was so focused on the mountain I was on, nothing else mattered.
When it isn’t working, an adjustment is in order. Choosing what you want can be the first step. I wanted the climb. I didn’t want to miss out on any of the climbs. I knew there wasn’t any reason that I had to.
Think about your own mountains, your own climbs, the things that you want to do but your mind is holding you back. What can you do to release those thoughts that aren’t serving you? What pieces can you focus on to make real progress?
Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.
Today was a good day. Today was a really, really good day!!!
Yesterday, we did a nearly 4 hour hike to Col du Pillon. It was tough but beautiful. It was mostly through lush forest. The distance and climbing were both more than we thought, and we were pushing. It was invigorating. The goal was to get to the cable car to go up the Glaicer 3000. When we arrived, we were told there was a storm at the top, no view, and no activities. We chose a beer and homemade apricot pie followed by a bus ride back to Gstaad.
Today, at breakfast, hubby declared a clear sky at the glacier according to the web cam and thus an opportunity to see it. We jumped on a bus, got to the cable, and up to the glacier.
Our first activity was to cross the peak to peak bridge. I did feel the altitude going up the stairs hot off the cable car, but once I reached the bridge, I quickly adjusted. The bridge does move in response to the people crossing, but it wasn’t the scariest one I’ve been on. I mostly looked ahead on the way over.
We had only a few moments at the other side, admiring the view and breathing in the essence of the mountain before the crowd took over.
We moved on. We crossed back over the bridge. I was more relaxed and looked around more, taking in the view. We walked over to the chair lift and rode it down into the glacier to the Glacier Walk. Very few people were on this trail. Wonderful.
We started trekking up in the snow towards a peak. It wasn’t easy. But the sun was beating down in a glorious glow, and I was literally stepping in the footsteps created by my hubby, making it much easier for me.
We reached the peak and took in the view in silence. We were alone, looking at a series of mountaintops that would impress anyone.
We continued on, making our way toward a small refuge at the top of another peak.
We were almost at the restaurant. A tiny incline with what looked like a great view called to us, so we listened. It was incredible. I stayed another moment or two after hubby moved on. It was the first time in a while that I whole heartedly heard the sound of the mountain. Have you ever heard it? It will change your energy completely. I drank it in.
Then I caught up.
The tiny Refuge L’espace at the top was beautiful. Rustic. Charming. Perfect. The view was to die for. We had really nice beers and charcuterie. Holy shit, right?
As we finished drinking the last drops of beer and basking in the last rays of sun, the clouds rolled in. We hoofed it down the marked path to the chair lift, stopping only to put our essentials in a plastic bag and our rain coats on.
As the rain turned to light hail, I had one focus. Literally. The footsteps in the snow made by hubby in front of me. I sprinted, ran, power hiked, in whatever combo I could muster, and kept a good pace.
A massive snow vehicle passed us, likely going up to the Refuge to get the people that were still there when we left.
When lightning lit up the sky, I amped my pace up. It seemed we were almost back to the lift. I figured they weren’t running it, but would have a way to get everyone to the top.
We nearly made it to the chair lift when a snow mobile pulled up and the driver motioned me over. I followed his instruction and hopped on. Next thing, hubby was beside me, and in no time we were back at the lift.
We were told it would pass. It did. The lift stared up again. On we hopped. We were boarding the cable car down from the glacier when the skies really opened up.
Today was a good day.
I hiked in the blazing sunshine and snow on a glacier to a mountain view that filled my soul with happiness. I did it with my best friend in life. I literally followed his footsteps through the snow back to shelter in a looming storm. Trust me, it was a moment of clarity and strength. We were only at the beginning of the storm and in no way in danger. It was simply one of those moments in life when walking through snow into some rain, following someone who inspires me, and feeling my inner strength was exactly where I needed to be.
A mountain can be anything. It symbolizes the big goal you want to achieve, the giant thing you want to do. The thing that causes excitement and fear to churn in your belly. The thing that your mind tells you you can’t do.
But you can.
This story is about an actual mountain.
Our first full day in Kitzbuhel, we embarked on a hike to a peak. It usually starts the way this journey did. When we arrived the day before, we found a spot for lunch on a patio. As I sipped a beer and watched a man with his guitar and his dog serenade from across the cobbled main street, my husband says, “we should go up there.” (Or something to that effect). He pointed. I looked up. There it was, a peak with some sort of cross on top.
The next morning, we embarked on the climb. I could see the peak from the valley floor. We started the trek. The time ticked by. We climbed, climbed, and climbed some more.
As I watched the meters of ascent accumulating on my watch, I wondered how high this thing was. After reaching 1000 meters of ascent, I thought surely this thing can’t go on much longer.
Overall, I was having a good day. It seemed my body was getting somewhat used to climbing and hiking most days. When we reached a cable car station, my mind was tested. I looked up at the switchbacks snaking their way up the side of the mountain to the next station and to the peak that we were after.
As I continued, I felt my mind waiver. I can’t do this. The panic laced words shimmered in my mind. I don’t like those words, but sometimes they present themselves.
Another look up the daunting climb and I was shot back to the first time I saw Alpe d’Huez hovering over me as I clung to the bike that was supposed to take me to the top. That was the day I truly learned to break the most incomprehensible thing into digestible pieces. It was a survival mechanism. It got me up that climb.
In this moment now, I didn’t want to dwell on thoughts of I can’t.
I chose to apply my strategy from the day of Alpe d’Huez. I focused on the next switchback, and nothing else. I told myself that the rest of the climb didn’t matter in this moment. The only thing that mattered was this switchback. This footstep. This moment.
That’s the whole point of this, really. Be in that moment with nature, on the mountain, taking the next step.
When you truly focus on the next step, your being sinks into that moment. Next thing you know, you’ve taken a bunch of steps.
As I made it to the last couple of switchbacks, I realized I was completely in. There was no turning back and I felt present.
Getting to the top felt real good. There’s nothing like making it to the top of your mountain and knowing that you did it, one step at a time.
By the end of the day, I’d climbed 1700 m. That felt pretty good. I’m so happy I simply took the next step.
As I re-read this post now, preparing to post it, I’m a good week or so ahead of my hiking adventure as I got a little behind in writing. I realize that this has become a common theme on this hiking trip, and I’m learning more and more about reframing things to set myself up for success and reach my goals. More in that soon.
Just a Girl and a Bike 