From Climbing Mt. Olympus by haastsv

Known in Greek mythology as home of the 12 Olympians, including powerful Zeus, Mount Olympus challenges climbers to an adventure of mythological proportions. At over 9,500 feet, Mount Olympus is Greece’s tallest mountain. Climbers from all over the world come to Litochoro, a charming and beauty-strewn town at the foot of the mighty mountain, to power up for the exhilarating ascent. RealTravelers haastsv, two sisters from Vancouver who recently embarked on a Greek odyssey, took on the rocky crags and steep inclines of Mt. Olympus, scaling the mountain’s fourth highest peak. Rewarded with beautiful views and a sense of accomplishment, the sisters took some time atop the peak before heading down to the small settlement of Prionia.

Here’s an excerpt from their inspiring blog, Climbing Mount Olympus:

“Prionia is a tiny settlement 18 km from Litohoro, with only a car park and a taverna. This is the start to the most popular trail up Mt. Olympus. From there, it is a steep, exhausting trek up the mountain, through the trees. It took us about 2 hours to reach Refuge A at Spilios Agapitos (probably because there were some wasps and flies chasing us up the mountain — we’d never thought there’d be so many at such a high altitude). We rested there for an hour or so, then started our trek to Scala, Mt. Olympus’ fourth highest peak. It was very steep and there were sections of loose rock, but the views were amazing. It took us about 2.5 hours or so to get to the top of Scala at 2866 m.” (more…)

If you’re thinking about taking on the Mountain of the Gods, check out other RealTravelers’ experiences to get an idea of what to expect: Tiffany made the ascent last summer during the third annual Running of the Gods marathon. Want to experience a Greek Odyssey of your own? Check out the rest of haastsv’s blog for stories and pictures from Athens, Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, and more.

Other Useful Links:
Greece Travel Guide
Macedonia Travel Guide
Popular Destinations in Greece