How I Conquered the Athens Marathon: A Journey of Grit and Glory

As I prepare for the 50th Berlin Marathon on September 29th, a wave of memories from my past marathons comes flooding back. I’m currently dealing with some health issues and awaiting a CT scan for a potential kidney stone, but these challenges only make me reflect more deeply on one of the most incredible achievements of my life: finishing the Athens Marathon, one of the toughest road races in the world!

View from the sky as I fly
from Munich to athens

The Legendary Athens Marathon:

The Athens Marathon, known as the Authentic Marathon, is more than just a race—it's a journey through history. This is where it all began, the birthplace of the marathon legend itself. The race starts in the historic village of Marathonas, about 40 km northeast of Athens. According to legend, in 490 BC, a messenger named Pheidippides ran from Marathonas to Athens to deliver the news of Greece’s victory over the Persians—a grueling 42 km journey. Though he didn’t survive, his legacy ignited a tradition that has endured for centuries, leading to the 42.2 km marathons we run today.

Why Start My Marathon Journey in Athens?

Why not start with the race that began it all? 😜 But the truth goes deeper. When I first started running in 2019, I never imagined that I could push my limits beyond 10 km. But as the kilometers piled up, I discovered something profound: running wasn't just about fitness—it became my passion, my therapy, and my path to a new life. It helped me quit smoking, manage stress, and introduced me to an incredible community of fellow runners. The thrill of race day, the roar of the crowd, the unity among runners—it’s intoxicating.

When I learned about the history of the marathon, I knew that if I were to run my first full marathon, it had to be in Athens—the very birthplace of the marathon. This race wasn’t just another challenge; it was a pilgrimage, a tribute to the history that has inspired millions of runners worldwide.

The Road to Athens: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs

My marathon training began in early 2021, with my sights set on the 38th Athens Marathon in November. I was in the best shape of my life, having set a personal best at the Vienna City Half Marathon with a time of 1 hour and 38 minutes, and a pace of 4:41/km. I was more than ready for Athens. I rallied my running buddies to join me, and everything seemed perfect—until disaster struck.

While biking to work one day, I had a serious accident, resulting in a partial rupture of the MCL in my left knee. At first, I downplayed the injury, but a week later, during a run, the pain became unbearable. A visit to the orthopedic specialist confirmed my worst fears: no sports for eight weeks, followed by two weeks of physiotherapy. My dream of running the Athens Marathon was slipping away, and with it, my spirit. I fell into a deep depression—a place I hope no one ever has to visit.

As my friends ran the marathon without me, I was left on the sidelines. Unable to fly home due to skyrocketing ticket prices, I booked a trip to India in January, hoping a change of scenery would help me recover. Slowly, I started running again. When a friend from France visited, we impulsively decided to tackle the Tour du Mont Blanc—a brutal 180 km trek with a staggering 11,000 meters of elevation gain over seven days. It was grueling, especially the 42 km hike with a 2,000-meter elevation gain on day six. But the pain was worth it; the sense of accomplishment was like nothing I’d ever felt.

By November, I was back to running, albeit cautiously. I’d already registered for the Paris Marathon in April 2023 with my adrenaline buddy, so Athens 2022 seemed out of reach. But deep down, I couldn’t let go of that dream. So, I reached out to the Athens Marathon organizers. After relentless persistence, they granted me a late entry. I was over the moon! I booked my flight and accommodation immediately, my excitement soaring.

Race Day: The Ultimate Test

I arrived in Athens a few days early, eager and ready for battle. Before landing, I sought out fellow runners and connected with the Adidas Runners community—a global network of runners who share a passion for the sport. In Athens, I joined the shakeout run with the Adidas Runners, led by the local chapter. I met an incredible group of people from Greece and beyond, including some from London, with whom I still keep in touch. Their energy was infectious, and it felt like I had found my tribe.

Using Garmin’s PacePro, I meticulously planned my race strategy. Everything was set. The first 20-25 km felt fantastic. But th
en came the infamous uphill sections, and that’s when I made a rookie mistake—I took a gel with caffeine, something I’d never tried before. My heart started racing uncontrollably, and I had to stop to regain my composure. As if that wasn’t enough, 2 km later, my legs cramped up. The pain was excruciating, but there was no way I was giving up.

I pushed on, stopping periodically to stretch and massage my cramped muscles. My pace took a hit, and Garmin kept reminding me that I was behind schedule. But none of that mattered. This was my dream run, and I was determined to finish. I reminded myself of everything I had invested in this race—the time off work, the flights, the accommodations—there was no way I was quitting.

The Finish Line: Sweet Victory

Despite the cramps, the caffeine jitters, and the mental battles, I crossed that finish line. It wasn’t my fastest race, but it was by far the most meaningful. I nearly gave up three times, but each time, I took a deep breath, refocused, and remembered why I was there. I didn’t just survive the Athens Marathon—I conquered it. And that, to me, is the ultimate achievement.

Lessons Learned:

Running the Athens Marathon taught me about resilience, the power of persistence, and the importance of holding onto your dreams, no matter the obstacles. Never try anything new during the race as I did with the caffeine gel and feeling like dying. The road may be tough, but the finish line is always attractive.

Blast from the past... Venturesome seven days in the dazzling Dolomites

First Time in the Dolomites: A Journey to Remember

They say "first times are always special," and for me, that couldn’t be truer. It was August 9th, 2015—a day that remains etched in my memory.

The night before, I could hardly sleep from excitement. I finally drifted off at 2:00 AM, only to wake up at 5:00 AM, running on just three hours of sleep. Surprisingly, it was enough. My belongings consisted of a big backpack, my camera, and some snacks for the group—quite a load to carry. But I was so engrossed in the adventure that the weight didn’t matter.

I arrived one minute late at the Richard-Strauss-Strasse underground station, which meant I missed the train and had to wait 19 minutes for the next one. As a result, the entire group had to wait for me, leaving me utterly embarrassed. But I quickly redeemed myself by offering samosas, which pleased everyone.

The group was composed of 15 passionate hikers from across the globe: two English, one American, one Australian, two Germans, one Dutch, one Swedish, two Russians, one Bulgarian, one Serbian, one Polish, and me—the only Indian and Asian. Although there were no Italians in the team, which might have been useful in an Italian-speaking region, the diversity was still a hallmark of an international group.

As the bus began to move, my heart raced. This was the first time I was embarking on an adventure of such magnitude, one that had long been on my travel wish list. I wasn’t even originally on the list for this trip, but a spot opened up when one of the hikers had to drop out. The organizer offered me the position, and I was both surprised and thrilled. I had only recently begun hiking with him in Munich, and my first hike was a disaster! Organizing something like this trip wasn’t easy. Chris Humphrey, the organizer, had to plan it six months in advance, booking huts and coordinating logistics for 15 people. His passion for the Dolomites drove him to put it all together, as he does every year.

Chris is originally from England but has lived in Munich for over a decade. He’s a happy family man with two beautiful children and an extraordinary hiker. Paul, the American hiker, always helped Chris with suggestions and was up for any discussion over a beer. Paul, too, has lived in Munich for over a decade, making them more German than foreign. This year, Paul led the Via Ferrata team.

We began our expedition near the serene waters of Pragser Wildsee. My anxiety peaked as we started our hike, and I nervously asked my companions, "What if I can’t keep up?" The girls jokingly replied, "Do or die!" That lighthearted comment strengthened my resolve, echoing Mahatma Gandhi's call for the Indian independence movement. As I took in the breathtaking views, I lost track of time. Before I knew it, we reached our first hut, Schutzhaus Fodara, at an elevation of 1968 meters.

The hut, where three or four rooms had been reserved for our group, was minimalist but comfortable, better than I had expected. Despite being soaked from sudden rain, we managed to dry our belongings. Though I was exhausted, I struggled to sleep, too excited by the new experience.

The next morning, after breakfast, we resumed our journey. The landscapes were so stunning that I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. We hiked for over nine hours that day, each step filled with awe at the beauty surrounding us. The trails led us through valleys blanketed in greenery and dotted with unique wildflowers. We encountered many friendly hikers along the way, each greeting us with a cheerful "ciao," which lifted our spirits.

Our second hut was Rifugio Lagazuoi, perched at 2752 meters. The sunset from nearby Lagazuoi Pizo (2778m) was a sight to behold, and we planned to wake up early for the sunrise, which turned out to be one of the most breathtaking experiences of my life.

Despite being the slowest member of the group on the first two days, I found my rhythm by the third day. The sun had tanned me from brown to nearly black, but something inside me kept pushing me forward. As the only Indian in the group, I was determined to make a good impression. By now, I had become one of the faster hikers, much to the amusement of my companions, who joked about what I must have eaten for breakfast at Rifugio Lagazuoi. In truth, it was the energy of witnessing that magical sunrise that fueled my steps.

After hours of hiking, we reached our next destination, Rifugio Citta di Fiume, where we planned to rest. That night, we played games, chatted, and enjoyed each other’s company, not realizing how quickly time passed.

The next morning, we hiked to Lake Coldai, the most beautiful mountain lake I had ever seen. The water was freezing, but we couldn’t resist swimming. My Australian co-hiker even pulled off some impressive somersaults.

After covering over 50 km, we reached a small village where we enjoyed some much-needed food and drinks. Our leader, Chris, had reserved a table for us under his name. The old Italian man at the shop mispronounced Chris’s name, which made me laugh—something that didn’t go over well. My deep tan led him to think I was African, which only made me laugh harder. However, once he learned I was from India, he warmed up and even offered me a place to stay, which I had to decline due to work obligations back in Munich.

We continued our journey, traversing landscapes that seemed straight out of a painting—vivid colors, stunning shapes, and the serene sounds of nature.

On the final night, we reached Rifugio Vazzoler, where we celebrated our successful trek. The atmosphere was filled with happiness, joy, and a sense of accomplishment. I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude for Chris, who made this journey possible. We shared beers, schnapps, and countless stories, making memories that would last a lifetime.

By the time we boarded the bus back to Munich, I was filled with a deep sense of fulfillment. The journey had been challenging, but it had also been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. The camaraderie, the breathtaking views, and the sheer joy of the adventure were unforgettable.

True to the saying, when the heart says yes, the body follows. And so, the journey ends well.

Having a beer at Rif Nuvolau and experiencing the
the serenity of nature has become my passion by ni

One of the most fantastic times in my entire life,
hiking through dolomites and swimming in this
lake (Coldai) the mountain beside the lake which
gets reflected on the water of the lake (not seen in
this picture)  is called Monte Civetta

Let's meet the happiest hiker I have ever seen,
who will always greet you with a smile on her face
and always make people happy with her amazing
presence, like the beauty of nature, I can't express
with words, I can't explain how her presence
keeps people comfortable, her friendship is a
gem, she is the person who introduced me to
This amazing group of people. She is an example
of a hiker. All the hikers are like her.

Summer of 2019

I didn't have a great experience in Macedonia. Starting from the crossing the border and meeting some people made me feel so terrible I felt like I won't go back there... I felt embarrassed, so categorized, so ridiculed. Not once but twice (once while entering from Albania side, and once while leaving from Bulgaria side), thanks Macedonia, I will never revisit you like this! It's not that I didn't have a valid visa, it's not that your Government does not recognize German Residency permit but because of your ignorance and divisive mentality,  feel so sad that the lady whom I must have complained about it had recently left us.

Until I had started researching about this very mountain, I didn't know that it has the palaces of so many the Gods! Yea Mythology, I am not going into that but, as you can see, I did meet the God Zeus on the top of Greece.

This year a summer holiday encompassing more than five countries in eastern Europe was fascinating and very exciting!

Greece:

Every travel has a story, just like every traveler has a lot of stories. This is one of that kind. A lot of story in a few days. Very main highlighted points in this part were; i) climb up the highest mountain of Greece; Mount Olympus ii) to meet a friend and iii) climb up the highest mountain of the whole Balkans, Mount Musala together.

I reached Thessaloniki, the northern city of Greece which is closed to the mountain, Mount Olympus. Well, it was not that close like Munich.

The hostel i booked to sleep in Thessaloniki is named as Stay Hybrid Histel,  I should have asked them why is the exact meaning of that. But maybe next time I will do that if I see them again. My flight landed at night. Even at night, I felt hot! But didn't realize I will understand it very well the next day. And by the time I reached the hostel, it was after midnight. So, I got the key and left toward the room. I found there were 6 beds in one of the beds a girl was lying down and she told me my bed is above her.  Okay, I didn't say much just went to take a shower, followed by the bed.  Next day, after a sweet sleep which is generally not my thing when I am traveling, but it's not like that anymore,  guess I'm aging or getting used to it. I was confused about what to do. I really wanted to go towards Chalkidiki this name sound so attractive to my hear. There are there peninsulas like three legs come out from northern Greece and hanging toward the sea, Thracian Sea. So, one has to decide which leg he/she wanna go.

I was asking to the reception of my hostel, the girl on that day seemed nice, she told me second or middle leg is more beautiful, but it rakes a lot of time to be there. I was considering for the first leg because of capturing the subset. The third would have been better for seeing the sunrise..but reaching there before Sunrise would be almost impossible for me since I don't drive. But I came to know later that to reach that peninsula, I would need a visa, and this part is exclusive for men. I belong to orthodox monks and men go there to serve Montessori. Huh!  I had no idea.

But I went to a point where one can get a bus for Chalkidiki and realized it's a very optimistic idea to go there and come back in the same day. And it could be too much because I go hiking on the day after to the highest mountain in Greece. I dropped the idea and came back to the City of Thessaloniki.

Instead, I thought I should go to a city tour and might capture subset from somewhere. So, I roamed around and decided to see the sunset from the trigono tower. It's not far from my hostel, but it's not very close to the seaside. I visited a photography exhibition in the photography museum at the shore of Thessaloniki. It was nice to see the different aspects of modern photography. I liked most of the themes of the exhibition. The special in them was 'the room' - so simple but so beautiful. Then I sat beside the sea and looking at the waves I wondered how strong the lands are, or has to be.  So many strong waves are coming for years, but they still survive, just like my weak heart, so many of hurdles and failures still it's hopeful one day...

I didn't realize until I saw the time that these 'ha ja ba ra la' takes so much time. Its only 2 hours remaining to the sunset, so, I must walk faster toward the tower. I must say it's not easy yo travel in this weather of so hot and humidity without a sign of breeze which cools down the system.

Mount Olympus, a range of mountains located in northern Greece almost to the border of North Macedonia, contains 52 peaks, the highest being Mytikas (2,918 m) which is the highest peak of Greece as well.

I had started my journey from Thessaloniki and with public transport. So, one needs to take a bus to the central bus station called Macedonia. And then a bus till Litochoro from where one can start the hike with a very famous and holy trail of E4 which leads to the hut Refuge A which is also very renowned. By the time I reached the hut, it was 5:00 pm, so the hut people didn't encourage me from doing the peak on the same day. I listened to them like a good boy as this was my first solo hike and that too in a completely unknown mountain. That actually had a positive point. I could have a proper sleep and wake up really early to see the galaxy and awesome sunrise.

On the next day, I had started hiking very early so that I can explore more than I had planned which I did. At one point, I was a bit de-trailed due to weak GPS signal and while I was almost thinking to drop the idea of sumitting Mytikas, I heard those three Greek men and i went with them. They were really lovely and helpful. One of them even had a rope which we used to climb down.

I could not take a better selfie at the top with those guys because there was too much light and I was unable to see.. Hahaha. When we reached to the other side after the climb of Mytikas, I saw the hut where there were horses standing ..Unlike in Germany or in Austria where I earn a beer after a hike, I earned a Frappe in Mount Olympus.

While coming down from the mountain the view of Litochoro from the E4 trail was mesmerizing.. Its like a painting.

Albania:

And, I moved to Pogradec, Albania, well, in my dream.

This is a small city or town, located in the central-eastern part of Albania of around 100 sq km. The city is fantastically situated between hills (on its south/west part) and the beautiful lake (on its north/east part). And if someone can climb up a few steps to one of the nearby hills, he will have an excellent view of the city.

I didn't know about this place, well, I guess very few people know outside Albania. But, many know about the Lake Ohrid so did I. I wanted to go to City Ohrid which is located on the eastern part of Lake Ohrid, in North Macedonia. But there was not a direct bus from Thessaloniki to Ohrid. Instead, there was a direct bus from Thessaloniki to Pogradecec. And I had instantly decided to take that and followed by discovery. Very few people speak English. Some of them were offering me to speak either French or Italian.. But alas. I don't do so. 

I was walking around alone. I wanted to climb up to a hill to have a great view of the city, while I met a man who was walking his horse in the same direction. I was a bit afraid because of I didn't hear many good things about Albania and I don't speak the local language.

Still, I tried to hold a conversation with this man. And somehow I conveyed to him that I would like to go to the top whether it is allowed. He not only agreed but also showed me the proper trail to go up. He was asking me whether everything is well in India (that I guessed). I had told him 'all is well,' we, I didn't want to make the conversation so prolonged. He was not happy with the Albanian economy I believed. 

Then I came down to the lake I so much wanted to swim there but not seeing a single tourist I was a bit resistant and left that idea. But I

did have great local food in the city, including the Koran fish.

Since it's not at tourists, there was not even a gift shop. 🥰

The fish was from the lake (koran fish).

Macedonia:

The tale of two small cities in Macedonia, Strugga, and Ohrid both ate situated on the Northeastern side of the Lake Ohrid.

So, in the beginning, I wanted to to go to Ohrid directly from Greece, but due to lack of transportation, I went to Pogradec and then from there to Ohrid and Struga.

As I had already become happy with Lake Ohrid, instead of spending time at Ohrid, I wanted to go to Mavrovi Anovi which is at the base of Mt Korab to climb up; I heard there is a bus from Strugga to that point. I had already booked accommodation there but due to the delaying of the border control I could not reach on time and who knew that the last bus goes at 17:30.. Anyhow it's only 80 km till from that place Strugga, so I was also considering to take a taxi. The first taxi driver asked for 40 euro; I thought it's too much. I asked a second one he asked for 60 euro. The last asked for 90 euro. Huh. Then I took a taxi to go back to Ohrid, and it costs only 2 euro, so I was conversing with the driver whether there is any possibility to go to that valley. He was confused. Well doesn't speak much of English. There was his son in the taxi, a young school goer. He was telling me that it's not only to take me to that valley but also it is his father responsibility to make me there safely. Something happens on the road. I was so surprised, what does he mean? He was telling someone can kill us.

Bulgaria:

From Ohrid, Macedonia I went to Sofia, Bulgaria via The capital of Macedonia, Skopje. I was so exhausted from Macedonia that I didn't take out my camera in that country. Sofia, I found, is a fantastic place. So happy vibes all around. Nice people awesome food. And a lot to do. I found Bulgaria is much more developed than it's neighboring countries. Two days I have a relaxing time here. Roaming around doing some photography and enjoyed excellent foods.

Rila mountains are beautiful mountain range situated at the southwestern part of Bulgaria. These are the highest mountain range in Bulgaria as well as the Balkan Peninsula. These are the 6th highest mountain range of Europe. The highest point of this mountain range is Musala which is 2,925 m above the sea range. I was staying in Sofia and from there I hiked to Musala in one day by public transport. I took the metro to the regional bus station from there I took a bus till Samokov. From Samokov, there is transfer till Borovets. To make it on one day I used the cable car to Upper cable car station from where Musala hut is of one hour and that of Musala Peak is for three hours. The hut Musala is the hut I supposed to spend the night but due to bad weather, I had to cancel it. When I reach the hut I saw there is a lake which was reflecting the mountain as well as the hut. So, making it awesome landscape! I could not resist but made a couple of long exposure shots. 

Welcome to Niš, Serbia. Niš, one of the oldest cities of Balkans, is the third-largest city of Serbia. It is considered as the gateway between East and West. It has a history of Romans, Turkish, and many more rulers.. The exciting thing is Niš is the birthplace of the #Constantine the Great who built #Constantinople which I remembered to read in history texts in the school 🚸. I didn't spend much time in Serbia as it was not included in this trip, but the six hours I spent in a southern city of Serbia was highly appreciable. First, I met a friend who is a friend's friend (the girl in this photo#7), she was so lovely to me. Even if we met for the first time and I asked her just on the morning of the same day, she spent four hours of her time with me. I don't know whether I would not have done that. Nowadays, people don't have time for strangers 😂. She took me the most delicious and authentic restaurant in Niš. There we had such great food which I didn't have for a long time. Nowadays, I don't promote meat, but this meat (photo#2) was the best meat I tried for a long time. Its called Smoked Ramsteak. It was so awesome, and it stuck to my tongue for the whole day..there were many more varieties of meat and cheese. The third photo was of a cheese preparation called Breaded Cheese or #belmuz. 

We had two bottles of Serbian wine one was #prokupac

Then we walked by the river #Nišava and from the city center did shopping tried a coffee. Even she is a medical student, she was prepared for giving me a guided tour of the city, and she was quite good at it. Thank you very much, Nevena 😊

#9th photo (except the mountain) was reminding me of old Delhi, so many people, so many unorganized shops, thellas, etc.

And then the last photo was captured from the Bus which I took to reach Montenegro from Serbia. Although the bus journey was long, it was a great start with the beautiful sunset.

Montenegro:

After Niš, Serbia, I reached to Podgorica in Montenegro, which is a pretty new Nation. It was a long bus journey but quite comfortable although at times I was a bit tensed because of the hilly roads. After reaching to Podgorica, I realized it was not a great decision or super choice. It's indeed the most boring city in Europe. So, I just relaxed there for a day, and I ate, slept, and roam around in the town a bit.

The only exciting thing I found was the statue with a guitar. The statue of Vladimir Vysotsky was erected on the bank of the Morača river, between the Moscow and Millennium bridges. Later I came to know Vladimir Vysotsky was a famous Russian poet, songwriter, and singer who died young from an overdose. And his connection with Montenegro is that he was living in Podgorica for making a movie and expressed his love for Montenegro in his poems.

On the next day, while traveling to Croatia, I realized I should have halted in Kotor, which is so amazingly located beside a huge lake. Interestingly, my bus took me covering the whole lake. So, three of the photos of this post were taken from the Bus of the lakes and mountains close to Kotor.

When I reached the border of Croatia, I realized that I was entering to EU. Then there was a never-ending prolonged queue which took 4 hours to get it cleared. I share a photo of the line.

Croatia:

Coming soon..

Mount Olympus

Coming soon :) 

Climbing Mount Triglav, the highest mountain of Julian Alps and Slovenia.

Look carefully;
I was almost freaked out

The sunset on my way to
Triglav National Park

I had camped for the first time in 

my life, I was so excited

about it, but I almost forgot about it 

after the climb

I had camped for the first time in my life—an experience brimming with excitement and a dash of the unknown. But that sense of thrill I had anticipated was almost eclipsed by what came next: a climb so grueling, so intense, that it nearly consumed every ounce of my focus and energy.

My adventure began with a journey to the breathtaking Triglav National Park in Slovenia, a country often mistaken for its neighbor Slovakia but distinct in every way. Slovenia isn't just another European nation—it's a treasure trove of natural beauty, with landscapes that seem to leap straight out of a storybook. When people think of Slovenia, they might picture the serene waters of Lake Bled or the charming streets of Ljubljana. But for me, it was all about Triglav National Park, home to the majestic Mount Triglav, the highest peak in the Julian Alps.

The ridge that I wanted to avoid 
but had to take!

As I made my way through the Vrata Valley, the sun began its descent, painting the sky with hues of orange and gold. The air was crisp, and the anticipation of the climb ahead filled me with a mix of excitement and nerves. Triglav is not just a mountain; it's a symbol of Slovenia, a challenge that beckons adventurers with its rugged beauty and the promise of an unparalleled experience.

The trails leading to Triglav's summit are as diverse as the landscapes they traverse. Each path presents its own set of challenges, and the one I had chosen was not for the faint-hearted. The journey began in Vrata Valley, where the sheer cliffs and towering peaks served as a solemn reminder of the arduous climb ahead. This was no leisurely hike; this was a test of endurance, courage, and sheer willpower.

The Krma Valley trail is known to be the most accessible, often underestimated by those who haven’t experienced its full glory. The path winds through lush meadows and dense forests, gradually ascending toward the Triglavski Dom, also known as the Kredarica Hut. It’s a 3-4 hour trek that prepares you for the final push to the summit—a one-hour climb that requires every ounce of strength and skill you possess. The trail is exposed, with only metal ropes to keep you from plummeting down the mountainside. This is where the real challenge begins—a test of your resolve as you cling to the Klettersteig, knowing that one misstep could be disastrous.

The rescue helicopter I had seen
coming several times!

But the Krma Valley wasn’t enough for me. No, I sought a greater challenge, one that would push me to my limits. Vrata Valley offered that challenge, with two routes leading to the summit, both demanding and treacherous. The path through Luka Pass, in particular, loomed ahead like a wall of rock, almost vertical, with no room for hesitation or fear.

As I stood at the base of Luka Pass, the valley stretched out behind me, a reminder of how far I’d come and how far I had yet to go. The climb was relentless, with no water sources along the way, and the sun beating down on me, sapping my energy with every step. It was a brutal four-hour ascent, and as I neared the summit, my legs felt like lead, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The rocky path offered no respite, only the promise of more obstacles ahead.

Finally, I reached the summit, where the world seemed to fall away beneath me. The view was breathtaking, a panorama of the Julian Alps that stretched out as far as the eye could see. But there was no time to celebrate. My friends, eager to begin the descent, urged me onward, but I had nothing left to give. I was dehydrated, exhausted, and utterly spent. The energy bar I had saved for this moment was my only source of strength, and I forced it down, knowing I needed every bit of energy for the dangerous descent ahead.

As we started our descent, the sky darkened ominously, and a sudden hailstorm struck, pelting us with icy shards that stung our skin and made the path slick and treacherous. Visibility dropped to near zero, and I could feel the panic rising in my chest. The trail became a slippery nightmare, with every step a gamble against the forces of nature.

It was in this moment of desperation that I encountered a fellow hiker—a German man who, seeing my distress, offered me a precious bottle of water. His kindness was a lifeline, a reminder that even in the most dire circumstances, humanity prevails. Rejuvenated, I pressed on, though the fear gnawed at me with every step.

The rescue helicopter that had appeared earlier in the day hovered in my mind, a stark reminder of the peril that surrounded us. Yet, despite the fear and the fatigue, I pushed forward, knowing that the only way out was through. When we finally reached Kredarica Hut, the sense of relief was overwhelming. We had made it—barely—but we had made it.

The following morning, I awoke to a sunrise that should have been awe-inspiring, but instead, it was a reminder of the exhaustion that had plagued me the day before. The vibrant greens of Krma Valley below seemed to mock me with their beauty, a stark contrast to the rocky heights I had just conquered.

Our adventure ended at Lake Bled, a tranquil spot that offered a brief respite from the ordeal we had endured. My friends took solace in the cool waters, but I was too drained to join them, content to simply reflect on the journey that had tested me in ways I had never imagined.

The drive back to Munich was quiet, each of us lost in our thoughts, the weight of the experience hanging heavy in the air. We had summited Mount Triglav, but the mountain had left its mark on us, a mix of triumph and trauma that would linger long after we returned to the comforts of home.

As I arrived home, my phone buzzed with messages from friends around the world, wishing me a Happy Friendship Day. The irony wasn’t lost on me—this day, meant to celebrate the bonds of friendship, now carried the weight of an adventure that had tested those very bonds to their limits.

The image of the rescue helicopter, the ridge I had dreaded but ultimately conquered, and the fear that had gripped me so tightly—they all remained etched in my mind. But so too did the lesson I had learned: that fear is not something to avoid but something to face head-on, for it is in overcoming our fears that we truly find ourselves.

That sunrise which could have been
much better have I been not exhausted
on the previous night

In Slovenia, climbers collect a stamp at the peak—a small but significant token of a journey completed. As I stamped my booklet at the top of Triglav, I knew that this adventure was one I would never forget. The view from Triglavski Dom at dawn was beautiful, but it was the exhaustion and the struggle that had made it truly meaningful.

Lake Bled marked the end of our journey, a place of quiet reflection where the echoes of the mountain’s challenge still rang in our ears. As we drove back to Munich, the silence spoke volumes—a testament to the impact of what we had just endured.

Happy Friendship Day, indeed.

This view is just marvelous!

The hut Triglavaski Dom na
Kredarica at the beginning of a new day!

View of Triglavasky dom from the Summit

View of Krma Valley, so green it is!

Krma Valley

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