During winter time, I particularly enjoy all different winter mountaineering activities, though due to the fact I need to keep track with my rock climbing skills, I have to “sacrifice” a winter mountaineering ascent and instead to go and visit a crag for some sport climbing. By keeping that in mind, I decided to visit one more crag in the Argolis region.

The Argolis district of Greece, which includes the city of Nafplio, is at the southern end of the Greek mainland and is a popular holiday destination.  The majority of the crags are easily accessible, together with plenty of beaches and many archaeological interests. This is an ideal area to go rock climbing for families with children and for groups with different interests, as well as a dedicated rock climbing holiday.

The rock climbing in Argolis region is all on excellent solid grey limestone. The majority of the routes are single pitch sport routes, though there are some trad routes as well.

In the past, we have visited other crags around this region, and it was about time to discover one more crag in the Ermionida county, the crag that is located almost at the top of Mount Didima.

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See other climbing crags near Ermioni here:

• Climbing in Katafyki Ravine
• Climbing in the Castle of Thermissia
• Climbing in the Pillars of the Wind
• Climbing in the Caves of Franchthi

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About Didima Crag

The Didima climbing crag, is one of the top sports cliff in Greece. Excellent access, superb rock, magnificent views, great routes and a perfect climate for climbing on the hot summer afternoons make this the most popular cliff by far.

The cliff lies at the summit of the mountain of the same name and owing to its altitude 1.100m is around 10°C cooler than on the coast, and in the summer months is shaded after midday. Added to the cooling sea breeze this means that it is always agreeably cool.

The rock here is not as sharp as many areas allowing one to push the technical side, which is fortunate as the climbing is on steep or lightly overhanging walls and requires good technique. The cliff is divided into 2 sectors, Winter and Summer with sector Winter being less shaded, which is why there are no routes as yet on it!

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Approach to the crag of Mount Didimo

Access: At the summit of the pass over Didimo take the narrow tarred road to the summit. (Didimo is the mountain with a super collection of telecoms masts on its summit.)

Walk-in: Marked path 1 min.

Altitude: 1100m

Season: Spring, Summer, Autumn.and even in a sunny winter day

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Sectors and Route on Didima Crag

This crag is family friendly and it has more than 70 routes. In addition, there are easy routes for beginners and more demanding routes for intermediate and advanced climbers. Almost all routes have been opened and bolted by J. Titt and I. Zaczek.

More a technical climbing area on steep grey walls the development so far has concentrated on the first 250m of cliff (sector summertime) giving around 50 routes in the 4, 5 and 6th grades with potential for about the same number in the higher grades. The next 350-400m of cliff offers an abundance of lines, probably in the 6th and 7th grades and up to 40m long but has yet to be developed.

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Sector A

Name	Grade
Little Crack	6a+
Hole	6b
Jump	6a
Little Chimney	4a
Little Wall	6a
Huggy Bear	5c
First Arête	4a
First Corner	4c
Here Comes the Weekend	4c
A Good Crack	5a
Direct	5a
A Funny Turn	5a
Teen Dream	5a
Ginger	4a
Bad Beer	5a
Drilling in the Rain	5a
Trouble	6a
Drilling in the Rain	5a
Fear of Goats	6a
Teamwork	6a+
J&J	6a+
Powerline	6a
Inge’s Fingers	5c

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Sector B

Cave	6b
Wave	7c
Funhouse	7a
Funtime	5a
Prankster	6b
Great White Way	6a
Massive Attack	6c+
Ektonisi	7b+
Black Diamond	7c
Crystal Voyager	7a+
The Hots	6c+
Lightning	5c
Thunder Wall	5c
Cool Move	6a
Nice Surprise	5c
Smile	5a
Thursdays Child	4c
Little Lizard	6b
Children of Mycenae	6c
Perfect Acoustics	7b+
James Jaunt	6b

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Sector C

Wonderhold	5c
Girls Do It Differently	5a
Slant Eyes	5a
Buckshot	Project
Summer Madness	6c+
Spring Thing	7a
Burn	6a
Jills Route	5c
Sam’s Route	5a
Diversion	6a+
Sidewalk	6b+
Black Attack	6c+
Big Girls	6a
Elevation	5a
Sun Parade	6a
Tuesday Afternoon	5c
Scorpion	5c
Quicky	6a
Fallen Angel	6b
Pain is Love	6b+
England	6a
Popeye	6c

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About Mount Didimo

Didimo is the second tallest mountain of the region, the first being Arachnaio. Its has two main peaks, the highest of which reaches an altitude of 1.121m. There are other, lower peaks, namely “Profitis Ilias” (1.068), “Tourla” (858m), “Raches Gravas” (569m). To the east, it is merged with the heights of the Aderes mountain range.

The semi-mountainous and plainy parts of the Ermionida region can be found over to its south foothills.

The name of the mountain seems to come from the “Dioskouroi”, the pair of twin demigods Castor and Polydeuces. The peaks of the mountain are devoted to them (“Didimo” means “twin” in Greek, hence the name).

The mountain’s geological identity is of notable interest, as it contains two impressive caves at the foothills of its endpoints. The so-called “dolines” of Didymo are craters made from a subsidence of the ground, as well as rockfalls of the carbon-based rocks of the area. It is also noteworthy that inside one of these caves, there is a small church. Close to that area, located in a basin, visitors can find a settlement of the same name (Didimo).

On the Didymo mountain, the amount of flora is low, while a certain species of juniper is the most common type of plant there. Taller trees, like plane trees (or ‘Platanus’) can be found on the mountain’s north side. Furthermore, antennae and wind-farms have been built on its peak and heights. There is also a freeway passing through the mountain, the construction of which has ‘bisected’ it.

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See other climbing crags near Ermioni here:

• Climbing in Katafyki Ravine
• Climbing in the Castle of Thermissia
• Climbing in the Pillars of the Wind
• Climbing in the Caves of Franchthi