Some days are built around one mountain. This one was built around rhythm. On 7 March 2026, I linked eight short peaks around Ústí nad Labem and the Elbe valley, starting on the broad plateau of Děčínský Sněžník and finishing in the evening quiet of Vaňovský vrch. None of the individual walks was especially long,…
Vaňovský vrch: A Short Prominent Hill Above the Elbe
Vaňovský vrch was my last summit of the day, which gave it an automatic advantage: by that point I no longer needed a grand expedition, just a hill that still felt worth climbing. This one did. At 561 m it is not especially high, and its isolation is fairly modest at about 2.85 km, but…
Střížovický vrch: A Quick High Point Above Ústí nad Labem
Střížovický vrch was the seventh stop of an eight-peak day, coming after Radešín and just before Vaňovský vrch, so by this point I was not looking for grand drama. I was looking for a clean summit tick that still meant something. This one did, mainly because it is a P100. The naming is slightly messy,…
Radešín: A Short Climb to a Hidden Trig Point Above Ústí nad Labem
Radešín came sixth on an eight-peak day, after Vysoký kámen and before the beautifully unromantic Peak 346, so by this point I was in efficient mode rather than lyrical mode. That suited this hill perfectly. Radešín is a short, practical little climb north of Ústí nad Labem, more of a precise errand than a full…
Vysoký kámen: A Quick Wooded Summit Above Povrly
By the time I reached Vysoký kámen, it was already the fifth peak of the day. Děčínský Sněžník, Chmelník, Lotarův vrch, and Javorský vrch were already behind me, while Radešín, Střížovický vrch, and Vaňovský vrch still lay ahead. Vysoký kámen itself is only 494 m high, but with about 132 m of prominence and 4.89…
Javorský vrch: A Short Open Summit with Wide Views Above Javory
As the fourth peak in an eight-hill day, and coming straight from Lotarův vrch, Javorský vrch felt almost suspiciously efficient. After a wooded summit and a longer sequence earlier in the day, this was a very short climb with a very open top, the kind of hill that looks modest on the map and then…
Lotarův vrch: A Quiet Wooded Summit West of Chmelník
Lotarův vrch was the third peak of my eight-summit day, and also the point where the day settled into a pleasant rhythm instead of just collecting names. After Chmelník, this was a short, practical wooded hill with a real summit, a few good views, and enough character to justify the detour. It was a short,…
Chmelník: A Broad Summit Traverse Above the Elbe Valley
Chmelník was only the second summit of the day, but it immediately felt like a proper hike rather than a short hill crossing. On paper this was a short traverse, just over 3.1 km with 221 metres of ascent and only about an hour on foot. In practice it turned into a compact, very likeable…
Děčínský Sněžník: A Short Loop on the Czech Republic’s Highest Table Mountain
Děčínský Sněžník was my first peak of the day, and as an opener it worked very well. It was short, efficient, easy to navigate, and still distinctive enough to feel like a real mountain rather than a glorified walk from a paid car park to a viewpoint. That is a useful combination when the plan…
Mozambique’s Only Ultra: Serra Namuli
Mozambique has only one Ultra-prominent peak, and that red dot on the map? Yep, that’s “Piercing Eye” — or at least that’s how it felt staring at it. Time to switch it to green. The 1757-meter prominence is solid on its own, but that 158 km isolation? A sweet little bonus. Our guide Cotxane mentioned…
Anatolia 2024
The idea for our Anatolia trip started as a straightforward acclimatization hike before tackling higher peaks. Dave and I thought the 5,137m Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı) in Turkey would be the perfect warm-up before the 4,506m Gora Belukha in Kazakhstan. Simple, right? : ) But naturally, we decided to make things more interesting by adding…
Killi Tepe
We tackled another less-climbed ultra-prominent peak with an impressive 179 km of isolation. The rarity of climbs, based on Peakbagger reports, might suggest it’s not frequently visited—though locals could be the exception. Regardless, the hike is definitely worthwhile due to the stunning and diverse landscapes. The terrain offers a mix of different views and challenges….
Uludaz
I land in Gaziantep after 3 a.m. By 4 a.m., Rob and I are at the airport—our third reunion on this trip. At 9 a.m., it’s not just Rob and me, but our car stopping near the summit of Uludaz, another ultra-prominent mountain in Turkey. We park a little lower, at one of the switchbacks….
Engizek Dağı – Attempt
Early in the morning, we drove to the ultra-prominent Uludaz. After an easy drive, we turned our attention to Engizek Dağı. We detoured to Ahirdaği and Ahir Dağı—Peak 2345 along the way. By the time we reached the base of Engizek Dağı, it was already late afternoon. We hoped for a quick hike, but time…
Ahir Daği – Peak 2345
After taking in the views of Kahramanmaraş from Ahirdaği, we traveled a bit further east toward the more prominent Ahir Daği (p940). A paved road leads to the ski center, followed by a reasonably good unpaved road that approaches the summit. The road ends a few hundred meters from the top, so we parked at…
Ahirdaği
After a superb breakfast in Kahramanmaraş, we briefly explore the area and spot the enticing Ahirdaği peak. Checking the maps shows a P300 road leading straight to the summit. With some time on our hands, we head towards the communication masts at the top. Soon, we park near the high point and walk a couple…
Kesis Dağı
After climbing Akbaba Tepesi, we realized Sabri, one of our drivers, wasn’t just good company—he’s also an avid hiker. He joined us on the ascent, slower but determined, earning a well-deserved pat on the back. On the way down, I asked if he’d drive us to Kessi Dagi the next morning before our flight. He…
Akbaba Tepesi
Before climbing, we need acclimatization, so after a big climb, we need something opposite. We have three more days before our flight from Igdir. We mock up a plan, adding one more ultra-prominent peak to our itinerary. We drive to Erzincan, a city at the base of Akbaba Tepesi mountain. It’s a long drive, taking…
Mount Ararat
If you’re on this page, you probably know about Mount Ararat. If not, don’t worry; it won’t stay a secret for long.. Mount Ararat, also known as Masis, Çiyayê Agirî, and Ağrı Dağı, is a snow-capped, dormant compound volcano. This mountain is quite the celebrity due to its impressive altitude, striking prominence, easy accessibility, and…
Suphan Dağı
Suphan Dağı stands tall at over 4000 meters, with a prominence exceeding 2000 meters and an isolation of more than 150 kilometers. This mountain isn’t just interesting to climb; it’s practically irresistible. With its proximity to Mount Ararat, it’s the perfect candidate for an acclimatization climb. We’ve already had a taste of acclimatization on Kara…