Climbing the South-West Ridge of Mount Ortholithi

On March 2, 2020July 6, 2020 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Mountaineering general1 Comment

It was a lovely winter Sunday morning, with plenty of sunshine and a refreshing northern breeze, when we decided to go for an explorative climb on the South-West ridge of mount Ortholithi.

Ortholithi Mountain is situated in the prefecture of Greece, Argolis. One part of the mountain is in Argolis and the North face is in Troizinia. The highest Peak of Ortholithi is 1.105 meters above sea level. From the top of the mountain the view of the sea side is breathtaking and you can easily see the capital of Greece, Athens.

South-West_Ridge_Ortholithi_Mountain_161033_798_b — View of the South-West ridge of mount Ortholithi

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Climbing in Meteora – Pillar of Rain – Doupiani Rock

On November 4, 2019July 6, 2020 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Climbing, Mountaineering general3 Comments

In the past couple of days we have climbed twi different routes in Doupiani and we thought it would be great to climb a third one. Our first experience with Doupiani was really positive, and due to the fact the second route was rather demanding, we decided to go for an easier third route, the Pillar of Rain.

Doupiani Rock is for sure one of the most attended rock climbing destination of the Meteora (Μετέωρα) area, whose meaning is literally “hanging in the air“, a charming and suggestive climbing site located in the Thessaly region of Greece.

Meteora includes about 170 conglomerate summits of various shapes and types, as massive mountains, rocky pinnacles, minor peaks and spires, some of which are truly amazing and bizarre. The range overlooks the village of Kastràki and the town of Kalabàka and features about 850 multi-pitch and single pitch routes. Due to their singularity and a bit of mistery surrounding the place, in addition to the presence of various monasteries, the towers of Meteora are quite famous all over the world.

Climbing_Meteora_Doupiani_Rock_091700_006 — Pillar of Rain V+ Starting point

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Climbing in Meteora – Sudostwand Doupiani – Southeast Wall – Plaka

On October 27, 2019July 6, 2020 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Climbing, Mountaineering general6 Comments

Climbing_Meteora_Doupiani_Rock_090627_138 — South-east face – Sudostwand

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Climbing in Meteora – Doupiani Rock – Pantocrator’s Ridge (Ostkante/East Ridge)

On October 22, 2019July 6, 2020 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Climbing, Mountaineering general5 Comments

Climbing_Meteora_Doupiani_Rock_071514_582 — Doupiani Rock as seen from Kastraki village

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Trad Climbing in Varasova

On October 7, 2019February 17, 2021 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Mountaineering general6 Comments

Not far away from the estuary of river Evinos, the dominating Varasova rocks emerge right where the peaceful valley of Etoliko meets the sea. Plain beauty of the scenery, exceptional solidity of the rock, easy access and sea joys were the obvious advantages which have established Varasova, as one of the most important climbing areas in Greece.

Varasova is a limestone massif near the sea, just opposite of Patra and has a height of 917 m. There are three summits of almost the same altitude. Varasova flanks, drop abruptly into the sea on the south and Southwest and this is the location of the most important walls, just between Vasiliki and Kryoneri villages.

Climbing_Varasova_064903_676 — Varasova as seen from Kryoneri

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Climbing the North-East Rigde of Mount Hymettus (Prosilio Ridge)

On September 30, 2019March 26, 2021 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Mountaineering general3 Comments

Rising majestically to the east of the city of Athens, this sacred mountain is home to ancient Athenian temples and holy places. Despite human activity, Mount Hymettus remains an important natural habitat filled with diverse wildlife and vegetation.

The height is 1,026 m at Evzonas and the length is 16 km (9.9 mi) between Athens and the Saronic Gulf and 6 to 7 km from east to west. In the ancient times, the highest point was known as Mega Ymittos and the southern Elattona (Ελάττονα) and Anydro Ymitto (Άνυδρο Υμηττό). Once upon a time, mount Hymettus was noted for its thyme honey and Marble.

Hymettus_West_Ridge_Prosilio_Trad_Climbing_151815_982_b — Hymettus Ridge

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Multi-pitch climb on Kokkinovrachos – Leonidio – Mignonette

On September 23, 2019March 31, 2021 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Climbing, Mountaineering general6 Comments

Leonidio (Greek: Λεωνίδιο) is a town and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality South Kynouria, of which it is a municipal unit. The town of Leonidio, with a population of 3.826, emerges from a spectacular landscape, bound by two abrupt mountainsides enclosing the town from the north and south.

The River Dafnon passes through the town, and its banks are linked with three bridges. The town is capital of the Tsakonia region, notable for its cultural and linguistic particularities, and the settlement itself offers striking and picturesque architecture; now a protected architectural site, there are very strict regulations for building within the town’s limits.

Climbing_Leonidio_Mignonette_070356_010 — Kokkinovrachos as seen from Leonidio

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Traverse of Arête of Chelmos/Aroania Mountain Pt. 02 | Gardiki – Arête – Neraidalono – Kalavryta Ski Centre

On June 30, 2019July 6, 2020 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Hiking & Trekking, Mountaineering general1 Comment

It was around 5.30 in the morning when I woke up in this beautiful landscape, right bellow Madero and Gardiki peaks. As soon I opened my eyes I enjoyed the stunning rock that was just above us. It was from there we abseiled the night before. The moon was just above that rocky face and from the east I could see the first sun beams of this new day.

See Part 01 of Traverse of Arête of Chelmos here

It was very silent with a lovely morning breeze and while I was enjoying the views, I was thinking our wonderful moments of the previous day.

Traverse_Chelmos_Helmos_Arete_080646_219 — Early morning moon

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Traverse of Arête of Chelmos/Aroania Mountain Pt. 01 | Lake Doxa – Karavi – Nisi – Madero

On June 24, 2019July 6, 2020 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Hiking & Trekking, Mountaineering general6 Comments

The previous couple of months I was extremely busy and therefore, besides some rock climbing I was not able to dedicate enough time to new mountaineering adventures.

Though, in my calendar, I had booked a specific date that the Mountaineering Club of Athens (EOS Athinon) would organise the famous long Traverse Arête of Chelmos (Aroania)

Aroania, also known as Helmos or Chelmos, is a mountain range in Achaea, Peloponnese, Greece. At 2,355 m elevation, Aroania is the third highest mountain of the Peloponnese, after Taygetus and Kyllini, and the highest in Achaea. The largest town near the mountain is Kalavryta. The municipal unit Aroania took its name from the mountain.

Lake_Doxa_03 — Lake Doxa and Mount Penteleia (Dourdouvana)

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Trad Climbing on Artemisio Mountain

On October 8, 2018July 6, 2020 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Mountaineering general9 Comments

Artemisio mountain is on the border between Arcadia and Argolis, in the Municipalities of Argos-Mycenae and Tripolis respectively. It forms part of the mountain range that connects the Argolic Gulf with the Corinthian, and as such, it borders with Lyrkeio mountain on the north and with Ktenia mountain on the south. On its west is the plateau of Mantineia. Its tallest peak is 1,771 metres in height.

We have visited this mounted on different occasions either as a winter mountaineering activity, or for scrambling on the Arete of Artemisio and each time we have great adventures. Though, for this ascent, we wanted to try something more extreme and relatively more dangerous, and that was the trad climb of the rocky north face of Artemisio.