18/09/2026
Georgia Trek for Macmillan - Finale
Our final day on the Svaneti trails in the Caucasus Mountains took us to the summit of Mount Gorvashi - 10,000 feet above sea level.
Th team left Ushguli at 08.30am to try and beat the heat that was forecast for the day after the thunder storm during the night.
We surprisingly picked up a surprise support team who stayed with us from start to finish - a pack of Ushguli street dogs (seven to be precise).
They were with us for the full five and a half hours - never causing any problem and never leaving our side
As for today’s hike, the ascent started immediately after the crossing of the local river and never ceased until we reached the top of the mountain almost 3 hours later.
We ducked and weaved through beautiful silver birch forests initially, before suddenly facing a long stretch where rhododendron bushes dominated the landscape and added an extra challenge - their roots and branches made it almost impossible to see the trail below their leaves.
Once the team had negotiated this section though the mountainside became less lush but just as steep.
As we approached the final ridge we traversed a huge open bowl where few plants were visible amongst the scree and mountain grass.
Finally, the team gathered at the cairn on the summit to celebrate their achievements of five tough, but rewarding days, in the Svaneti Highlands - an ecosystem that needs to be visited to be truly appreciated.
This was a truly spectacular experience and the team’s bond was really strong throughout - helping, joking, supporting, motivating and cajoling from start to finish.
Well done one and all and a huge thank you to Susan Blunt and everyone at Adventurous Ewe for planning and delivering this challenge for Team McKeown - and to our amazing local guide ‘Svani’.
Finally, thank you to everyone who has contributed to our efforts for Macmillan Cancer Support..
Together we are making a difference.
💚💚💚
