Snowy Christmas Gathering

It started as a gathering of a few teachers' course students of Athens, but it ended up as a big gathering of a retreat size.

We were trying as a last minute to find a place to go this Christmas, but everything was booked, everything not booked was too expensive and the weather not proper for camping outside for many days. But at the last minute, Kaliopi, a student of the teachers' course, managed to find a mountain shelter and booked it wholly. This shelter is being used by mountaineers when climbing the mountain.

And suddenly what were a few students became a 19 people Christmas gathering!

A bit of information about the mountain we have stayed on:

The mountain Taygetos is named after nymph Tayget, the daughter of Atlas. The mountain has five peaks and its other name is ‘Pendadaktilos' (five-fingered). The highest peak of the mountain has the shape of a pyramid. Some researchers are convinced that this structure, found on one of the peaks of mount Taygetus, was carved by the hand of man, in remote
antiquity, to form this pyramid shape. No erosion mechanism has been suggested (to date) which could create this shape naturally. Particularly curious are the strange shadows that cast at dawn and sunset. It is said that in the ancient
years, Spartans built a temple of Apollo at the peak. The remaining of a church of the prophet Elias can be found at the same place.

Here is a picture of the pyramid that is shaped during the sunrising and the pyramid shape of the highest peak.

The shelter is at about 1600 meters high, and can accommodate about 21 people. There is no electricity, apart from an electrical petrol generator that can be used only temporarily if there is a need to. For the heating of the building, gas fire
was available which was more than enough to heat the rooms.

Mount Taygetos from far away, before we approach it

The day we arrived was after a recent snowy period and the road was blocked at some point because of the snow. We have tried to get further but even with 4x4 cars it was impossible. So we had to carry everything at the shelter.

Trying to get the cars as close to the shelter as possible

Putting chains on the wheels and trying to move the stuck 4x4.

After we managed to arrive at the shelter, which was 23 of December evening, we packed up things and prepared food for the night.

The shelter covered in mist

Vagelio and Eddie walking up to the shelter

Our cooker, Kaliopi, thinking of what to cook for the night

Panagiotis and Igor

On the 24th the weather began to get cloudy, but we had a very nice morning wake-up watching the sun rising.

Although it wasn't officially a retreat, we have tried to keep a steady practice schedule but in a less strict-retreat way. The interesting thing was that everyone tried to keep their practice level as high as possible. We took advantage of the
place to make walks, some short discussions and of course practices throughout the day and night.

On the 25th a few of the men of the group have decided to climb to the top of mount Taygetos, so on the 24th we did a test-drive.

Labros and Stathis

Ioannis, Stahis, Labros and Igor

Climbing up the mountain

Venia and Lilia walking

But a few others stayed behind...

Despina and Christina playing with the snow

Eirini sitting on a tree and Lilia walking

Nikoleta, Vagelio and Kaliopi with the snowman

The snowman after the decision that he should get married

On the 25th it was the day that we were going to climb up the mountain. So the day started with the preparations to do that.

Christos helping Ioannis and Giorgos to get prepared

Labros, Stathis, Lilia and Eirini watching Alexander walking checking the stability with his equipment

Another view of the shelter

Alexander is ready for the climbing - Kaliopi with her daughter posing for a picture

Fully equipped we started the climbing through the clouds. The women followed as up to a point

A break during the climbing

After a 4-5 hours walk with a lot of breaks, we have finally arrived at the top of mount Taygetos (2407meters). It was almost night when we arrived so we had to set up the tents, prepare something to eat and went for sleep with the accompanying practice of course.

Labros, Giorgos and Alexander inside the one of the three tents

Some of the students had great astral experiences during the night practices. In the morning what we faced when we went out of the tents was amazing.

Stathis checking out

Getting out of the tents in the morning

Another photo of the camping on the top of the mountain

A panorama picture of the pyramid top of the mountain in the morning

A group picture of the ‘alpinists' on the top (From left to right: Igor, Ioannis, Labros, Giorgos, Christos, Stathis, Alexander)

Starting our descend to the shelter

An incredible photo of Stathis and Igor coming down the pyramid peak of the mountain

When we arrived at the shelter a nice lunch was waiting us

Lunch at the shelter - Christina's birthday cake

The whole group (minus 1) posing for a last photo in front of the shelter

From left to right standing: Panagiotis (Cyprus), Alexander (Greece), Giorgos (Greece), Christos (Greece), Stathis (Greece), Ioannis (Greece), Labros (Greece), Vagelio (Greece), Georgia (Greece), Kaliopi (Greece), Venia (Greece), Igor (Slovakia)

From left to right sitting: Christina (Greece), Eddie (Greece), Lilia (Cyprus), Vagelio (Greece), Despoina (Greece), Nikoleta (Greece)

The cameraman: Vasilis (Greece)

Before we begin our journey back home, we had the regular discussion of how things went. It was an unforgettable experience with all of the students to gain from it. I hope that we will keep doing such gatherings that give us understanding and a way to investigate everything that we do and keep improving all the time!

Ioannis