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Thoughts at the head of the trail…
June ‘26
Things are getting hotter. I mean, the weather. In Europe. They talk about “El Ninio”, and people are taking it hard.
Here in Pelion we are still lucky to have great weather now. Max 30⁰, and that’s only in the low places along the beach, where anyway one can get cooler in seconds just dipping in the Pagasitikos or the Aegean.
Im sure that hiking and trekking all over the continent is affected by the heat wave, and I don’t mean to boast (its not that we did anything to make it like that…) and surely not to anger the gods or push our luck – but here it’s a very nice season to hiking in Pelion, walk the beautiful paths, and even trying some longer Pelion trekking routes between the traditional villages.
The forest is shading the hiking trails, in the olive groves it is easy to find a spot to rest and wash your face with fresh cold water in the irrigation canals, and the amazing plane trees, the “platano” of the village square are ready as always to host you, sitting underneath them sipping your “eleniko” after a great day of walking in Pelion.
See you on the Kalderimi!
Pixels VS Paper
July ‘26
Modernity has its pro and its cons (“big news”… I know… but I needed to start this post somehow…).
One field that is going under a dramatic change in the world of trekking, hiking, outdoors activities and such, is how to navigate.
In general there are 2 options, the one that is fading out – printed maps, and the digital.
I’m not an expert that can spread out a full review on apps and digital navigation tools. I use some of them both for planning an activity and while doing it.
However, whether it is age, tendency to nostalgy or any kind of combination – I love a printed map! A few of the advantages will list the ability to plan with the right perspective (I didn’t find any digital app that enables you to zoom out without dropping off many essential details, in a way that gives the large picture), the need to keep in shape the skills of navigation and orientation (a quality that humans are loosing rapidly), and also correct data (most apps I know rely on open source data, that isn’t necessarily correct or updated).
The first time I was planning to walk along the eastern coast of Pelion, the Aegean side, from Chorefto to Damouchari, I was looking both a the digital and the printed maps I had. For those who haven’t been there yet, this stretch of coast is a combination of forested cliffs dropping to the sea, gorges that are slicing the mountain, jaw dropping beaches and all kinds of roads and trails that meander the terrain.
The big question was what to do in sections that the app showed there is now trail, and the map insisted there is. Counting on the map and finding out it was wrong, would mean a big climb up to a level where there is a road for sure. I took my chances and trusted the map. It’s not that I didn’t find mistakes in it in the past – but I guess I wanted it to be right…
So bottom line – walking from Elitsa (below Pouri), through Chorefto, Agii Saranda, Plaka and Agios Ioannis to Damouchari, is a great walk! You can’t stay on the water line all the way, and you do need to go up over 100 meters in some parts to a higher level, but all the valleys that drop to the sea are passable. Enjoy!
