EURO 48 - Elbrus, Russia

Stood on the highest point of Slovakia! 4/10/2014

Another 5 summits in the bag!

After 2000km of driving on some of the worst roads ever and 4 flights, we have made it back to the UK with 5 more European high points in the bag! I was dreading this leg of the project because of some of the stories and trip reports I had read about traveling on Romanian, Ukrainian and Moldovan roads. However, as it turned out, it was probably one of the best trips of the entire tour. The pot holes soon fade into insignificance when you start to take in the beauty of this corner of Europe. 

In ten days we summited the highest points in Slovakia, Poland, Moldova, Ukraine and Romania. Pictures and videos to follow. 

EURO 48 - Dufourspitze, Switzerland

EURO 48 - Triglav, Slovenia

EURO 48 - Dinara, Croatia

EURO 48 - Maglic, Bosnia & Herzegovina

EURO 48 - Djeravica, Kosovo

EURO 48 - Zla Kolata, Montenegro

Balkans 2

WOW! that really was an adventure!....We have just returned from a second successful trip to the Balkans with 5 more summits 'in the bag'. There were thunderstorms, bears and bureaucratic border crossings aplenty but the mountains were good to us! 

First up was Montenegro's - Zla Kolata (2534m) a beautiful part of the world with some on the most friendly people in the whole Balkan region. 

Next up was Kosovo - Djeravica (2556m). We negotiated a good rate with the hotel manager in Junik to take us in a 4X4 to the trail head. On the way, lightning struck 2 ft away from the Jeep, then it overheated and finally we were stopped in our tracks by a huge bear. The climb was amazing too!

The poor weather in Bosnia & Herzegovina - Maglic (2387m) meant that we had to cancel our first attempt and try again the next day. Although the conditions were far from perfect we made it to the top. 

We were now a day behind schedule by the time we reached Croatia - Dinara (1831m), but the conditions were perfect and we enjoyed a relaxing hike to the summit accompanied by two 'guide dogs' - they must have lived locally and clearly new their way around!  

After a long drive we arrived in Slovenia to tackle our final mountain of this trip - Triglav (2864m). The trail was only opened offically a few days before but the Prag Route was still closed. We laboured up the steeper and more exposed Tomasinski Route and made it to the summit late in the afternoon. 

   

Next up Switzerland and Russia!

Hvannadalshnukur, Iceland - EURO 48

Slaettaratindur, Faroe Islands - EURO 48

Iceland - Done!

Its official, Iceland and the Faroe Islands are amazing!!

If you ever what to escape the hectic life of the city for a few days and experience nature in all of it's glory, then the Faroe Islands are the place for you. We had a great trip, met plenty of genuinely nice people and climbed the highest point with a group of pretty tough school kids....a truly inspiring place! 

Next up was Iceland. We took a flight to Reykjavik and then drove to the Skaftafell National Park via the 'Golden Circle Route'. Iceland is like no other in Europe. As you drive along never-ending roads through the ever changing landscapes, you get a real sense of how the earth creates and regenerates!

The climb of Hvannadalshnukur (or the White Giant) started at 04.00. We wanted to make use of the firm snow and stay ahead of an unusually large group of 100+ climbers from Iceland on a works outing.

  

We made the summit in 8 hours and were glad that we hired a guide for this mountain. As the weather conditions worsened it would have been almost impossible to navigate through the sheer white landscape without our guides local knowledge and expertise - Plus they very excellent company.  

Faroe Islands

At the last minute we have decided to add Slættaratindur to the list. It is the highest mountain in the Faroe Islands at an altitude of 880 metres and, in some cases, considered the highest point of Denmark. 

Although we have already summited the highest points on the Danish mainland, we could not ignore this beautiful mountain and the opportunity to explore the Faroe Islands on route to Island next week. 

More to follow soon.

2014 Planning

Isle of Man - March 

We kick of our 2014 hill bagging season officially next weekend (March 1st) with a quick hike up Snaefell, on the Isle of Man. Its not part of the original EURO 48 but is considered a separate country highpoint and included in some of the European highpoint lists so we thought we may as well do it.

This is our first outing since Andorra in October 2013 and, in fact, this year so I'm looking forward to getting back out on the road!

Iceland - May

Flights, Car, Accommodation and Guide all booked for the long awaited and greatly anticipated trip to Iceland. Of all the European highpoints, this is the one that I have been looking forward to the most and, as far as I'm concerned, May cannot come quick enough!

June & July

Plans for a second tour of the Balkan States in June are currently in progress and we are finalising the booking of this years 'big trip' to Switzerland and Russia. More to come soon.  

First blog...ever

It seems I'm a little behind the curve on the blogging front - so here goes! I will try and keep this a regular update on our adventures to Europe's highest places... and tales from the road!

 Norway - June, 2013