The First Ascent of Mount Olympus | Boissonnas, Baud-Bovy & Kakkalos

More than a century ago, Mount Olympus was a very different mountain from the one hikers know today. There were no marked trails, modern mountain refuges or climbing infrastructure leading towards its highest summit.

On 2 August 1913, Frédéric Boissonnas, Daniel Baud-Bovy and Christos Kakkalos reached Mytikas, the highest summit of Mount Olympus. Their expedition became one of the defining moments in the modern history of the mountain.

Mount Olympus Before Modern Mountaineering

For centuries, Mount Olympus existed at the intersection of landscape, mythology and human imagination. In ancient Greek mythology, it was the home of the gods. By the beginning of the 20th century, however, reaching its highest summit remained a serious physical challenge.

The terrain was difficult, weather conditions could change quickly and there was very little of the infrastructure that modern hikers now take for granted.

For an expedition attempting the mountain in 1913, local knowledge was therefore extremely important.

The Expedition of 1913

The historic expedition brought together three very different figures: the Swiss photographer Frédéric Boissonnas, the writer and art historian Daniel Baud-Bovy, and the local mountain man from Litochoro, Christos Kakkalos.

The photograph gives a rare visual connection with the expedition itself. It shows the people behind the historic ascent and reminds us that the climb was a real expedition into a mountain landscape that was still largely undeveloped for modern mountaineering.

Who Was Frédéric Boissonnas?

Frédéric Boissonnas was a Swiss photographer whose work became closely connected with Greece.

He travelled extensively through the country, photographing landscapes, archaeological sites, monuments, villages and everyday life. His photographs created a remarkable visual record of Greece during the early 20th century.

Boissonnas was interested not only in photography but also in exploration and mountains. His journey to Olympus in 1913 brought these interests together.

For him, Olympus was more than a mountain. It was a landscape where nature, ancient history and mythology came together.

Daniel Baud-Bovy

Boissonnas travelled with Daniel Baud-Bovy, a Swiss writer and art historian who shared his interest in Greece.

The two men had already travelled through different parts of the country before their Olympus expedition. Their journey was therefore part of a wider interest in Greece, its landscapes, history and cultural heritage.

Together with Kakkalos, they formed the group that would make the historic ascent of Mytikas in August 1913.

Christos Kakkalos: The Local Man Who Knew Olympus

The third member of the expedition was Christos Kakkalos, a hunter and experienced mountain man from Litochoro.

Kakkalos knew Olympus through experience. His knowledge of the terrain was essential to the expedition and he guided Boissonnas and Baud-Bovy towards the high mountain.

His role is an important part of the story. The first recorded modern ascent was not simply the achievement of two foreign visitors arriving on an unknown mountain. It was a collaboration that included a local man whose knowledge of Olympus helped make the expedition possible.

Kakkalos later became one of the most important figures in the history of Greek mountaineering, and his name remains closely connected with Olympus.

From Litochoro to the High Mountain

Litochoro has long been one of the main gateways to Mount Olympus. In 1913, it was from here that the expedition began its journey towards the higher mountain.

The landscape they encountered was very different from today’s hiking environment. There were no modern signs, refuges or organised mountain routes.

Kakkalos guided the expedition through the mountain and towards its higher regions.

Their journey eventually brought them towards the Plateau of the Muses and the summit region.

2 August 1913: Reaching Mytikas

The decisive attempt took place on 2 August 1913.

The three men continued towards the highest point of Olympus, facing the difficult terrain and mountain conditions of the time.

Their objective was Mytikas, the highest summit of Mount Olympus.

They reached the summit and their expedition became recognised as the first recorded modern ascent of Mytikas.

The date became an important moment in the modern history of Mount Olympus and helped establish the mountain as a destination for modern exploration and mountaineering.

Boissonnas and the Photography of Olympus

For Boissonnas, reaching the summit was only part of the journey.

He was carrying photographic equipment into a remote mountain landscape and documenting Olympus at a time when photography was transforming the way distant places were experienced by audiences across Europe.

His photographs of Greece became part of a much wider body of work through which landscapes, monuments and people were presented to audiences far beyond the country itself.

His Olympus photographs are especially interesting because they capture the mountain at the meeting point between its ancient mythical image and the modern age of exploration.

Olympus Through Boissonnas’ Lens

Boissonnas continued to photograph the landscapes and people of Olympus beyond the 1913 expedition. His work offers a rare glimpse of the mountain and its communities during the early decades of the 20th century.

The image shows another side of Olympus: not the summit or the climbing expedition, but the people who lived and worked in the mountain landscape.

This is part of what makes Boissonnas’ photographs valuable today. They document not only a famous mountain but also the human landscape around it.

The Mountain Itself

Boissonnas also photographed the high mountain and its peaks during the years surrounding the 1913 expedition.

A Story of Three Different Perspectives

The 1913 ascent becomes even more interesting when we look at the three people involved.

• Frédéric Boissonnas brought the eye of the photographer and explorer.
• Daniel Baud-Bovy brought the perspective of a writer and art historian.
• Christos Kakkalos brought local knowledge and practical experience of Mount Olympus.

Together, their different backgrounds created a unique expedition.

It is also a reminder that stories of exploration are rarely about one person alone. Behind an expedition there are often local guides, knowledge and experience that make the journey possible.

From Mythical Mountain to Modern Destination

More than a century after the 1913 ascent, Mount Olympus continues to attract hikers, climbers, photographers and travellers from around the world.

The infrastructure has changed enormously. Today there are established routes, mountain refuges, maps, climbing equipment and extensive information available to visitors.

But the essential character of the mountain remains.

The same landscape that inspired ancient myths also inspired explorers, photographers and mountaineers generations later. That connection between mythology, nature, history and modern outdoor life is one of the things that makes Olympus unique.

The Legacy of Christos Kakkalos

For visitors approaching Olympus from Litochoro, the name of Christos Kakkalos remains particularly meaningful.

His contribution to the 1913 expedition is part of the local history of the mountain and of Litochoro itself.

Today, one of the mountain refuges on Olympus bears his name, keeping the memory of the local guide who helped lead the historic expedition towards Mytikas.

Can You Follow Their Footsteps Today?

Modern visitors can explore many of the landscapes associated with the approach to Mount Olympus, but the experience is very different from that of 1913.

The lower mountain can be explored through established hiking routes around Litochoro, Enipeas Gorge and the surrounding forests. Higher routes lead towards the mountain refuges and the summit area.

Reaching Mytikas is a considerably more demanding objective than an ordinary day hike. The final approach involves exposed terrain and should only be attempted by people with appropriate mountain experience, preparation and suitable conditions.

For a broader introduction to the mountain, explore our

Mount Olympus, Greece | UNESCO World Heritage, Nature & Hiking Guide
.

Litochoro: The Gateway to Olympus

The story of the 1913 expedition naturally brings us back to Litochoro.

The town sits at the foot of Mount Olympus and has long been connected with the mountain and its climbing history.

Today, visitors can begin their own exploration here, whether they are interested in hiking, photography, history, food or simply experiencing the landscape beneath the highest mountain in Greece.

You can also discover the

Old Monastery of Agios Dionysios

and explore other places connected with the cultural and natural landscape of Olympus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who made the first recorded modern ascent of Mount Olympus?

The first recorded modern ascent of Mytikas took place on 2 August 1913, involving Frédéric Boissonnas, Daniel Baud-Bovy and Christos Kakkalos.

Who was Frédéric Boissonnas?

Frédéric Boissonnas was a Swiss photographer known for his extensive photographic work in Greece. His images documented Greek landscapes, archaeological sites and everyday life during the early 20th century.

Who was Christos Kakkalos?

Christos Kakkalos was a local mountain man from Litochoro who accompanied Boissonnas and Baud-Bovy during their 1913 expedition on Mount Olympus.

When was Mytikas first climbed?

The first recorded modern ascent of Mytikas took place on 2 August 1913.

Where does the route to Mount Olympus begin?

Litochoro is one of the main gateways to Mount Olympus and an important starting point for exploring the mountain.

Can anyone climb Mytikas?

Mytikas is not an ordinary hiking destination. The final approach involves demanding and exposed terrain, so appropriate mountain experience, preparation and suitable conditions are important.

Continue Exploring Pieria

The story of Mount Olympus is much older than modern mountaineering.

From ancient mythology to the 1913 expedition of Boissonnas, Baud-Bovy and Kakkalos, and from historic mountain paths to today’s hiking routes, Olympus continues to connect people with the landscape in different ways.

From Litochoro, you can continue into the mountain, explore ancient Dion, walk through the Enipeas Gorge or discover the wider landscapes of Pieria between Olympus and the Aegean.

Explore Pieria at your own pace:

Explore Pieria

Historical photographs: Frédéric Boissonnas, 1913–1914. Public Domain. Images accessed via Wikimedia Commons.

Expedition to Mount Olympus of 1913

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Christos Kakkalos, 1913

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