We’re becoming new versions of ourselves

The mountains are: - The realization that a peak that seems unreachable at first glance is, in fact, within reach. Not through sheer effort or straining, but through quiet confidence. Step by step. - Completely new people from outside my bubble - A workout for the legs and a break for the mind - Beauty in the moment - A striking change of pace for a city dweller - Expanding my knowledge of just how much I, as it turns out, am actually capable of - Expanding my comfort zone and finding joy in things I hadn’t noticed before, like stepping out into Novus and thinking: wow, the wind isn’t blowing my nose off my face—what a stroke of luck! - The aftertaste is better than the taste: memories of moments that weren’t always easy but were always valuable, emotional stories shared with friends, receiving empathy and respect, and childlike excitement about plans for where to go next Since winter mountains carry a slightly higher risk (which is still significantly lower than driving a car), we only considered the trip with an experienced team leader. So, for the climb to Hoverla and Petros in February 2026, we once again chose our favorite “Kuluar,” which this time provided us with two team leaders: the cool, stern, professional Ivan with endless stories—from how he encountered a frightened bear to why you should eat lipids— and Stepan—warm, gentle, kind, and empathetic. What can I say? We had such a great time that we’ve already signed up for the next climb, again with #kuluar. We’re becoming new versions of ourselves. Step by step)