Balkans

Balkans 2013 & 2018

In June 2013, Todd had the opportunity to spend a week in Sofia, Bulgaria, providing training to law enforcement officers and archaeologists from seven Balkan countries. Todd and FBI staff conducted the session, which was meant to begin a cross-border dialogue in hopes of stemming the widespread looting and trafficking of antiquities in the region. Following the event, Todd was able to climb for two days with Bulgarian climbers at three areas near Sofia.

In the fall of 2018, Donette and Todd did a three-month road trip through the Balkans. They climbed in Italy, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Croatia. They visited numerous World Heritage sites, hung with local climbers and established new routes in five countries. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, they attended the Drill and Chill Festival near Banja Luka and in the south, near Blagaj, they helped an Eco Center build a via ferratta.