The Morning After
August 19, 2023. Exactly one day after Codexio’s birthday party. The responsible thing to do would be to sleep in, recover, and take it easy.
Team Dragons had other plans.
“Let’s climb Musala Peak,” someone said. Musala—Bulgaria’s highest peak at 2,925 meters. A solid hike on a good day. An absolutely insane idea when you partied until 2 AM the night before.
But when you’re Team Dragons, reasonable decisions are optional.
The Team Assembles
The team met up, matching dragon t-shirts on, backpacks ready, spirits… moderately high. Some people looked energized. Others looked like they were reconsidering their life choices.
The vibe:
- Some team members: “Let’s do this! Mountains! Fresh air! Adventure!”
- Other team members: “Why did we agree to this? Who thought this was a good idea? I want my bed back.”
- The optimists packed energy bars
- The realists packed ibuprofen
- Someone, somehow, packed a waffle machine
Yes. A waffle machine. To carry up a mountain. We’ll get to that.
The Climb Begins
The route started at Borovets and headed toward Musala’s summit. Beautiful scenery. Fresh mountain air. Increasingly steep paths. Increasingly tired legs.
Early observations:
Some people found it surprisingly easy. They were hiking like it was a casual stroll, chatting away, barely breaking a sweat. “This is nice!” they’d say, while others wheezed behind them.
The gap between “I do this for fun” and “I’m dying” became very apparent very quickly.
The Strugglers vs. The Mountain Goats
Team A: The Mountain Goats
- Hiking like they’re in a commercial
- Taking photos at scenic spots
- “Should we go faster?”
- Energy levels: Inexplicably high
Team B: The Strugglers
- Questioning every decision that led to this moment
- “How much further?” (asked every 10 minutes)
- Regretting last night’s decisions
- Energy levels: Depleting rapidly
- Internal monologue: “Never. Again.”
The contrast was beautiful. And by beautiful, we mean hilarious.
The Musala Monument
After hours of climbing, the team reached the iconic Musala monument—a stone structure that marks the peak’s location. The moment of truth.
Well… most of the team.
The Ones Who Made It
The summit crew. The champions. The people who powered through and reached 2,925 meters. They took photos with the Codexio flag, celebrated, felt accomplished, and enjoyed the incredible views.
The sense of achievement was real. The bragging rights were earned.
The Ones Who… Didn’t
Some people looked at the peak, looked at their legs, and made an executive decision: “Nope.” They turned back, swore they’d never hike again, and meant it (at that moment, at least). Knowing your limits is wisdom.
The Peak Victory
For those who made it to the top, the view was spectacular. Mountains stretching endlessly. Clear skies. The satisfaction of conquering Bulgaria’s highest peak.
The moment was perfect. The team photos were triumphant. The flag waved proudly.
And then someone asked, “Should we head back down?”
The answer: “Yes, but first—let’s sleep in the mountain huts.”
Malina & Yagoda Huts
That night, the team stayed at Malina and Yagoda huts in Borovets. These are mountain shelters—basic, cozy, and exactly what exhausted hikers need.
The evening was spent:
- Collapsing into beds
- Telling stories from the climb
- The successful summiteers being slightly smug
- The non-summiteers plotting revenge (or just plotting to never hike again)
- Someone revealing they brought a waffle machine
Wait, what?
The Waffle Machine Incident
Yes. Someone carried a full waffle machine up a mountain. The reasoning? “We need breakfast.”
Valid. But also absolutely ridiculous.
The next morning, the team gathered around as waffles were made. Beautiful, golden, delicious waffles.
With one very deliberate detail.
The waffle machine had been specifically chosen for its… anatomically creative mold. The resulting waffles were intentionally and hilariously inappropriate. Because when you’re Team Dragons and you’ve just climbed a mountain, why make normal waffles when you can make memorable ones?
Nobody complained. They were too hungry (and too amused). The shapes were the entire point. Mission accomplished.
Waffle Review:
- Taste: 10/10
- Effort: 10/10 (someone carried a machine up a mountain)
- Shape: Exactly as planned
- Team reaction: Laughter and zero regrets
- Would we do it again? Absolutely
What We Learned
After the Musala adventure, here’s what Team Dragons figured out:
- Not everyone is built for mountains - and that’s okay
- Hiking the day after a party is ambitious at best, insane at worst
- Matching t-shirts make every challenge better
- Some people are secretly mountain goats and we’re jealous
- The ones who swore off mountains will probably come next time anyway
- Bringing a waffle machine is peak team dedication
- Suspicious waffle shapes make breakfast memorable
- Making it to the top is impressive, but knowing your limits is too
- Mountain huts are underrated team bonding experiences
- Team Dragons will absolutely do something like this again
The Aftermath
The team returned to Sofia. Some were sore but satisfied. Others were sore and traumatized. Everyone had stories.
The photos were shared. The waffle shapes were mocked. The non-summiteers were gently roasted (but also respected for their self-awareness).
And despite the oaths, despite the struggles, despite the questionable waffles—it became one of those stories that defines a team.
Team Dragons: The people who climb mountains hungover, bring waffle machines to 2,000+ meters, and somehow make it all work.
The Legacy
Musala Peak 2023 proved a few things:
- Team Dragons doesn’t do things halfway
- Physical fitness levels vary wildly (and that’s hilarious)
- Food tastes better after a mountain climb (even suspiciously shaped food)
- The best adventures are the ones where things don’t go perfectly
- Matching dragon shirts make everything more epic
And for those who swore they’d never hike again? They’re still on the team. Still coming to events. Still claiming they meant it.
We’ll see how they feel when the next mountain adventure is announced.
Want to join a team that climbs mountains (and brings waffle machines)? Check our open positions - hiking skills optional, sense of humor required.
P.S. - The waffle shapes remain classified. If you know, you know.
