Every year on March 25th, Greece celebrates its Independence Day with big parades—military, student, the whole deal. Usually, I’d be there watching, like most people. But this time, I decided to do something different. Instead of standing in a crowd, I went to KEOAX Agios Antonios, up on Mount Olympus.
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Let’s just say, it was a challenge.
The mountain was completely covered in snow, and the wind was relentless. The kind that doesn’t just make hiking harder—it slaps you in the face and makes you rethink your decision to be there. Walking in deep snow takes way more effort than on solid ground, and with every step, I could feel the cold creeping in. But that’s part of the experience. No distractions, no noise—just you, the snow, and the climb.
Getting to Agios Antonios was tough. The wind up there was even stronger, and visibility wasn’t great. But the view—what little I could see—was worth it. There’s something about being in the mountains, especially in rough conditions, that gives you perspective. And honestly, it felt like a fitting way to spend the day. Greece fought for its freedom in tough conditions too, and hiking through that snow was a small reminder of how brutal nature can be.
The way back down wasn’t easy either—snow makes everything more unpredictable, and I definitely had a few close calls. But by the time I was back on lower ground, exhausted and freezing, I knew I’d made the right call. I skipped the parades, but I didn’t feel like I missed out. This was my way of celebrating—pushing through the elements instead of just watching from the sidelines.
P.S I really love going to the mountain with every chance I get but this time it was really hard.![]
