Mytikas, a summit that leaves no one indifferent

Dear friends,

A few days ago, we reached the summit of Mytikas, 2,918 m, the highest point of Mount Olympus. A name that couldn't be more fitting!

Beyond the climb itself and the wonderful group with whom I shared this mountain, this adventure had a very special dimension. After all, climbing Mount Olympus means stepping into a place steeped in history, myths and legends — the home of the gods in Greek mythology.

Starting from Litochoro, we began our ascent towards the Plateau of the Muses, with nearly 1,700 m of elevation gain on the first day.
But just two days before our arrival, a major snowfall had covered the slopes of Mount Olympus with almost 30 cm of fresh snow! Quite unusual for this time of year, and as a result, no one had attempted the summit in the preceding days.
So crampons were definitely in order — not exactly what you would expect in Greece! 😉

The final section leading to Mytikas involves some proper rock climbing, which naturally becomes much more challenging when snow and ice come into play. This is probably one of the images that will stay with me from this ascent: a side of Greece you would never imagine!
When we think of Greece, we picture islands, sunshine, the sea and beaches… certainly not down jackets and crampons, with temperatures hovering around freezing! An incredibly alpine environment!

A huge thank you to Blaise Agresti for this wonderful initiative and for the passion with which he introduced us to this mountain. His knowledge of Olympus and its history truly added another dimension to our ascent. Greek mythology, the gods and their stories accompanied us throughout the journey. Together with our fantastic guides, Nikos and Nektarios, and the entire group, this shared experience turned the adventure into a truly timeless escape.

A moment suspended in time, and one I warmly encourage you to experience if you ever have the opportunity.
But the story of this ascent doesn't quite end at the summit.

At the Apostolidhis Refuge, on the Plateau of the Muses, I had a completely unexpected encounter with Michael “Mike” Styllas, a Greek glaciologist and leading expert on Mount Olympus.
As our conversation unfolded, I discovered that he had worked for several years with… Tom Battin at EPFL, notably as Expedition Leader for the Vanishing Glaciers project! And Tom happens to be our scientific partner for Baseline! Small world!

For years, Mike has been studying the last remnants of ice on Mount Olympus, including a remarkable ice cave that serves as a genuine archive of the Mediterranean climate. He plans to return next year to collect new samples.
There are no coincidences when science and the gods align!

Could this be an opportunity to return to Mount Olympus for Baseline?

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to everyone in the group who made this Greek adventure so special.
There are the mountains we climb… and then there is everything we share along the way. And more often than not, that's what stays with us.

So… perhaps this is not the end of the Olympus story. Stay tuned!

Warm wishes to you all,
‍

Sophie

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