Dry Tooling in Athens – Rizos’ Cave

On February 12, 2020September 3, 2025 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Climbing, Winter Mountaineering9 Comments

Mountaineering is the set of activities that involves ascending mountains.

Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas. Sport climbing and Bouldering and even Dry Tooling are also considered mountaineering by some.

Unlike most sports, mountaineering lacks widely-applied formal rules, regulations, and governance; mountaineers adhere to a large variety of techniques and philosophies when climbing mountains. One of the various techniques is Dry Tooling too.

DryTooling_Athens_Epos_Fylis_Rizos_Cave_092853_401 — Petzl Quark for Dry Tooling

Continue reading →

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

On September 30, 2019August 31, 2025 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

Continue reading →

Climbing in Sibligades, Penteli – Athens

On July 17, 2019September 6, 2025 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Climbing10 Comments

Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in the Neolithic age. In the 5^th Century BC (the “Golden Age of Pericles”) – the culmination of Athens’ long, fascinating history – the city’s values and civilization acquired a universal significance. Over the years, a multitude of conquerors occupied Athens, and erected unique, splendid monuments – a rare historical palimpsest. In 1834, it became the capital of the modern Greek state and in two centuries since it has become an attractive modern metropolis with unrivalled charm.

A large part of the town’s historic centre has been converted into a 3-kilometre pedestrian zone (the largest in Europe), leading to the major archaeological sites (“archaeological park”), reconstructing – to a large degree – the ancient landscape.

Although Athens is rich in historical and cultural sites, Athens area offers more than 2000 single pitch bolted lines in more than 40 crags and new routes are constantly popping up. In addition there are 4 multi pitch walls with trad lines, plenty of bouldering and a lot of potential for deep water solo.

Climbing_Sibligades_Penteli_Athens_130300_911 — Climbing on Red Wall

Continue reading →

Climbing in Acharneis – Athens

On July 10, 2019April 28, 2021 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Climbing7 Comments

Athens is the capital of Greece. It was also at the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. The city is still dominated by 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel topped with ancient buildings like the colonnaded Parthenon temple. Although there is plenty cultural and historical sights in and around Athens, a climber has 2.000 more reasons in order to visit this magnificent city.

Athens area offers more than 2000 single pitch bolted lines in more than 40 crags and new routes are constantly popping up. In addition there are 4 multi pitch walls with trad lines, plenty of bouldering and a lot of potential for deep water solo.

In the past, we have visited some other crags which are located near Athens, such as Etos Spata, Pano Alogopetra, Epos Fylis and Korakofolia.

This time though, we have visited one of the most famous crags of Athens, the Acharneis crag.

Climbing_Acharnis_Parnitha20190619_222205_330 — Rock in Acharneis

Continue reading “Climbing in Acharneis – Athens” →

Climbing in Korakofolia, Parnitha – Athens, Greece

On June 18, 2019September 3, 2025 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Climbing13 Comments

Mt. Parnitha is located in Attiki province, 25km N from the city of Athens.It is one of the 4 mountains(the others are Immitos, Penteli and Aigaleo) that surround the circular plain,in which the city of Athens is built. Mt Parnitha is the talllest and more impressive among the mountains that surround Athens.

Although hiking is a very popular activity in Parnitha there are few climbing crags that offer some great routes not far away from Athens city centre. One of the crags is Korakofolia (literally meaning: “Raven’s Nest” in Greek).

Climbing_Korakofolia_Parnitha__080820_047 — Korakofolia climbing crag

Continue reading →

Climbing in Epos Fylis, Athens – Greece

On April 8, 2019September 22, 2025 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Climbing13 Comments

While travelling around Greece, I stayed in Athens for a couple of days and I took the opportunity to go and climb in one of the newest climbing crags of Athens, the Epos Fylis crag. Athens area offers more than 2000 single pitch bolted lines in more than 40 crags and new routes are constantly popping up. In addition there are 4 multi pitch walls with trad lines, plenty of bouldering and a lot of potential for deep water solo.

Usually, the Epos Fylis crag is visited by many climbers due to its proximity to Athens and for the fact it is a well maintained crag. Though, on the day -and time- we have visited the crag it was nice and comfortable and not over-crowded.

The Epos Fylis crag is one of the newest in Athens. The first line here was opened in 2012. To this day, it has been exclusively bolted by D.Tsitsikas and D.Titopoulos with materials offered by the municipality of Fyli, EPOS Fylis mountaineering club and assistance from some of its members.

Climbing_Epos_Fylis_Athens_Greece_20190407_192957_597

Continue reading →

Winter Hike on Mount Parnitha

On January 14, 2019January 14, 2019 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Hiking & Trekking, Winter Mountaineering10 Comments

It was a beautiful sunny morning just after Christmas and just before the end of 2018 and I took the decision to go for a training hike on Mount Parnitha. The previous days there was a quite heavy snowfall and due to rather low temperatures I was able to hike on snow (in the north side of the mountain) and on dry conditions from the east/south side of Mount Parnitha.

Mt. Parnitha is located in Attiki province, 25km North from the city of Athens. It is one of the 4 mountains(the others are Immitos, Penteli and Aigaleo) that surround the circular plain,in which the city of Athens is built. Mt Parnitha is the talllest and more impressive among the mountains that surround Athens.

Winter_Hiking_Parnitha_20181230_103453_545 — Flabouri Mountain Hut

Continue reading “Winter Hike on Mount Parnitha” →

Climbing in Athens – Pano Alogopetra

On November 20, 2018April 28, 2021 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Climbing10 Comments

As already described on a previous post, Greece is not only a sea, sun and cultural destination, but is also a great destination for mountain activities, including sport climbing too. Specifically, Athens area offers more than 2000 single pitch bolted lines in more than 40 crags and new routes are constantly popping up. In addition there are 4 multi pitch walls with trad lines, plenty of bouldering and a lot of potential for deep water solo.

This time, we decided to visit Pano Alogopetra. Pano Alogopetra (Greek for “Upper Alogopetra”) is a cluster of rock faces in the northern side of the Alogopetra peak, over the village of Fyli. Pano Alogopetra sits on an elevated balcony with grand view over the Fyli valley. On a clear day the eye can wander from the edge of Gkoura canyon down to the Elefsina coast on the south west and the city of Athens on the southeast. This is a great spot to enjoy a fiery winter sunset after a full day of climbing.

Climbing_Fyli_Pano_Alogopetra_2749 — Alogopetra

Continue reading “Climbing in Athens – Pano Alogopetra” →

Climbing near Athens Airport – Etos Spata

On November 13, 2018September 3, 2025 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Climbing11 Comments

Greece is a very popular summer and cultural destination, but Greece has to offer much more than sea and sun. Athens is the capital of Greece. It was also at the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. The city is still dominated by 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel topped with ancient buildings like the colonnaded Parthenon temple. The Acropolis Museum, along with the National Archaeological Museum, preserves sculptures, vases, jewelry and more from Ancient Greece.

Athens area offers more than 2000 single pitch bolted lines in more than 40 crags and new routes are constantly popping up. In addition there are 4 multi pitch walls with trad lines, plenty of bouldering and a lot of potential for deep water solo. Limestone in Athens comes in a surprising variety of shapes and colors and can create climbing wonders ranging from sheer desperate slabs to highly featured, tufa infested walls. Tufa climbing has a strong presence in the area. In fact, the city’s best sport climbing crags can certainly rival those of Kalymnos’ in tufa climbing goodness. Undisputed king among the tufa kingdoms of Athens is the lost world of Mavrosouvala, a totally otherworldly place in the middle of nowhere. The craziest thing about this majestic stalactite forest is that very few Athenians actually know about its existence.

Climbing_Etos_Spata_Athens_Airport_2545 — Limestone rock

Continue reading →

Via Ferrata Arma – Parnitha Mountain

On February 5, 2018August 31, 2025 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Mountaineering general9 Comments

Winter time in Greece is a very interesting season. Weather conditions can vary from mild to extremely harsh. For this weekend, our initial plan was to visit Vardousia mountain for a winter mountaineering ascent, though the extreme winds (more that 80 km/h) forced us to change our plans. Due to the fact we wanted to try something new, we have decided to visit the splendid Via Ferrata “Arma” which is located on Mount Parnitha.

See the latest visit in Via Ferrata “Arma” with many more photos here