It is not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves.

That was said by Edmund Hillary, the famous mountaineer/hiker from New Zealand, explorer and philanthropist.

Last weekend, I went hiking to Mainalo mountain, located at the region of Arcadia, in Peloponesse. The hike was organised by the Greek Mountaineering Association of Athens and made for a brilliant time. Coniferous woods covered by snow, light drizzling for most of the hiking up to the shelter and thick fog, blocking out every sun light. 

We started from an altitude of 1,100 metres at the village of Alonistaina and hiked one behind the other in a team of about 40 people up to 1,800 metres. The snow was thick and my feet and hands became so cold that made me wish I had never done that.

Hiking in the snow requires very good preparation in terms of having the right shoes, protective water-proof clothing and accessories. Otherwise, it all becomes a misery. I had not been very well organized cause I thought it would be a stroll in the woods in the sunny Greek fields. I proved to be wrong and paid for it.

But it is not the mountains, it is ourselves. So I didn't give up halfway through the route when we were given the option to climb on the bus. I made the whole route of 7 hours in total, that ended down to the village of Levidi. We all went for dinner to a nice taverna with grilled meat and fresh salad followed by some local rose wine. It was a bless. Best day out, even in the freezing cold, but made me feel so refreshed, so proud, so strong!

I am looking forward to more hiking in the numerous mountains that Greece has to offer!

Photos on a cold day of March 2011 in Arkadia.