Monte Ernio “Scaling New Heights”

We all love to explore the heights, as the heights give us a feel of dominating impact on the world. I have always loved to trek the mountains so that a similar moment can be felt.

Working in the office at Beasain, Maria Lourdes approached me and asked if I wanted to join her and others in their after-office trekking exploration. Trekking is a normal pastime for the sweet people of the Basque Country.

A few days earlier, I had been talking to Unax about my interest in climbing mountains, especially Mount Txindoki. He shared my interest with the right people, and now Lourdes was inviting me to join their trek.

Initially, I thought they were planning to trek Mount Txindoki. However, due to a small English and Spanish language barrier, I eventually understood they were planning to hike Mount Ernio, another nearby mountain.

Following their instructions, I joined the office at 7 AM on May 16th so we could leave by 3 PM, skipping lunch. Lourdes was so helpful in bringing me a raincoat, jacket, shoes, and a trekking stick. Unax also checked in the day before to ensure I had my trekking gear in good condition.

At precisely 3:15 PM, we left the office. I rode with Lourdes in her comfortable Opel Astra.

During our journey, Lourdes and I began a conversation, but language barriers made it challenging. She knew little English, and I didn’t know Spanish or Basque. Yet, she is one of the strongest women I have ever met. At 55 years old, she regularly plans and undertakes treks. She shared multiple stories of her life, family, and previous travels in broken but sweet English.

The path we followed reminded me of Himachal in India. The mountain road’s turns were mesmerizing, with greenery everywhere, providing a relaxing view for the eyes.

Soon, we reached the meeting point where Alfredo, Iñaki, and Raul were waiting for us. From here, our trek to Mount Ernio began.

Having not trekked a mountain in a year, I wasn’t physically prepared, but our team’s enthusiasm kept me motivated.

I was the youngest and weakest in the group, struggling with breathlessness every ten minutes, while the others were seasoned trekkers.

The path was incredible. The towering trees, the distant green grasslands, and the abundant oxygen made a deep impact on my mind and soul.

As we crossed the heavy treeline, the grassland began, offering a clear trail. The weather was mixed—sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy.

Everyone explained important locations along the way in their own interesting ways. From them, I learned how to communicate when you don’t know the language. Inyaki taught me that in Basque, you greet people with “Aepa” during a walk. After trying it with a few strangers, I felt like I belonged.

We often fight over regions, language, and other factors of discrimination. However, if we take the time to understand others’ perspectives, it feels like the best thing. Why fight? Learn as much as you can from and about the world to spread happiness.

Near a restaurant, our destination after the trek, Lourdes pointed out the top of Mount Ernio, hidden behind clouds. I felt a bit scared as it seemed far, but with courage and motivation from everyone, I continued.

We reached the midway point at a shepherd’s resting hall, where there was a cross with four square metal rings. In the Basque region, it’s believed that passing these rings from top to bottom brings good luck for the climb. I followed this belief, and after me, everyone else did the same.

These activities were so enjoyable that I forgot any pain from the continuous trek, and now my intention for achieving the peak is the main target.

We continued for about 45 more minutes under a blue sky to reach the top. The path became steeper, and clouds with visible rain approached.

As the first drops fell, I took out my umbrella, but it wasn’t just rain—it was hail. Small ice pieces fell, creating a new trekking experience with sunny moments and hailstorms.

Reaching the top was worth the effort. We stood at the summit, marked by a big cross and a rock engraved with “Monte Ernio.” From there, the sea of San Sebastián was visible on one side and the land of France on the other.

The breath of fresh air at the top felt like “This is it.” Everyone was thrilled. I was the only first-timer in the group; the others had done this multiple times.

After celebrating our achievement, we began the descent. The same path felt easier going down, but somehow it was quite stressful at the toes of the foot, anyhow, if we have managed this far, then the further can be done in no time.

We paused at the midway restaurant, where Iñaki had planned dinner. In Spain, a meal starts with Apple Cider, which increases appetite and brings happiness. Iñaki ordered a special platter for me, and the delicious food left a lasting impression on my taste buds.

We enjoyed various desserts, each more delicious than the last, and the taste buds were totally satisfied than ever before.

After dinner, we headed back to our parked cars. We spent some time playing Pañuelo before driving back home.

After that fun activity, Alfredo kindly gave me a lift to my apartment, and we had a fun, mixed-language chat along the way.

On this trip, our communication with words may have been weak, but we understood each other through shared experiences. This trek wasn’t just a beginning of togetherness but also a step towards exploring a new region, a new culture, and new people.