06/02/2023
What the mountains teach us
That Saturday morning, we should climb the Visočica peak at Central Velebit massif which is considered as one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the Lika region. The little group of passionate hikers started in Zagreb early at 5h, full of enthusiasm and joy, everyone speaking about that Visočica challenge in idyllic winter landscape… Then, at our destination and after thorough preparation with all the necessary winter equipment, ice axes and crampons in our backpack, we started the ascent on a snow- and ice-covered trail. The sky was blue, the sun showed up, and we didn't feel any cold, just a perfect beginning for a new mountain adventure. The group's laughter and joyful conversation echoed on the mountain slopes around us, the magnificent viewpoints opening progressively as we continued battling our way through the snow. We were the first to walk on those white icy trails. Now and then, we saw a signpost warning us of still existing mine fields on the mountain slopes around us. So we strictly kept on the hiking trail. The ascent became more and more challenging, as the snow was harder and deeper and slowed down our pace. Every kilometer was a victory. After three hours of steady ascent, the really hard part began – the ascent through the forest on a steep slope, digging our way through the branches and the snow-covered trail where every step became a hard effort. And the north-east wind blowing vigourously around us, slowering our pace even more with every meter we climbed up. The group was getting tired, but no-one thought about giving up. Arriving at some 3km distance from the peak, the wind was blowing even stronger, trying to tell us something we couldn't understand first… Time was speeding up, already 14h past, and the peak, even if it seemed to be so near was in fact very far in these difficult winter conditions. Should we continue, we asked ourselves. If we continued, the night would have caught up on us and you never know what can happen on the mountain in the dark when you struggle even more with your sense of orientation. Not to mention the bears' footsteps we saw in the snow, reminding us of the presence of this majestic animal… Finally, after a short team discussion, we decided to go back, giving up on that Visočica peak that day… The wind was too strong, the snow too deep and hard, time was too short, the group was tired. I told to myself, what a deception, what a failure… For me as a mountain guide, it was my task to lead up the group to this peak, they followed me confidently and hopefully… and then I had to tell them that this time, they would not reach their goal. We turned back, descending the same way down back to the car where we arrived in the dark.
That day, I thought how much I failed, walking all the day for nothing, deceiving the group who was so confident. But then, you have to change your mind, change the perspective. Everything is happening for a reason. Maybe this failure was an opportunity. The nature sent us strong ice-cold wind and snow-covered difficult trails, not to disencourage us, but to teach us.
Maybe this feeling that we failed, was not right.
We actually didn't F.A.I.L., we just made our First Attempt In Learning. That day, we learnt that the real objective was not the peak, but our capacity to stay humble.
Sometimes you have to give up, for this one time. And then you try again and again, until you succeed. Maybe not today, but you will one day, for sure.
Thank you guys of Alfa & Omega.
Thank you for this beautiful day and see you next time.
Thank you Visočica for this precious lesson, for your beauty and your kindness.
Mountain Tales believes that languages unite people and mountains make them happy.
