When Hilleberg first introduced the Akto nearly 20 years ago, they didn’t know that it would become as popular as it has. Although only slightly heavier than a bivy bag, the Akto offers near-luxury, all-season shelter for the solo traveler – lodging that includes a vestibule and a packed size small enough to fit into a side pocket on many packs.
The last six (6) months I’ve been searching for a new tent and after loads of hours spent on market research I have decided to buy the Sierra Designs Flash 3 tent. I heard it said that Sierra Designs makes the best three-season tents on the market. That’s been in the back of my mind as I’ve tested Sierra Designs’ most comfortable, innovative line of tents yet: the Flash series.
Mount Giona is a mountain in Phocis, Central Greece. It is located between the mountains of Parnassus to the east, Vardousia to the west, and Oeta to the north. Known in classical antiquity as the Aselinon Oros (‘moonless mountain’), it is the highest mountain south of Olympus and the fifth overall in Greece.
In the fall of 2014, we wanted to try to climb Mount Giona in central Greece. We have gathered a small group of three (3) and we started the long journey on the highway towards the base of the mountain. On our way to Giona, we have paseed Mount Parnassos and Mount Oeta (Iti, Oiti). We had to drive through provincial roads, through beautiful forests and the whole driving towards Aselinon mountain was great.
The first 2 hours we walked though gravel roads and hiking trails, though the woods and on beautiful valleys. Suddenly, we looked up in the sky and we have seen Pyramida, the highest peak of Aselinon mountain at 2,510 metres. The fact that we could now see our destination gave us strength and extra motivation.
On the list of iconic mountains of the world, Mount Olympus surely has a place. Not only is it a geographically impressive peak, rising straight from the Aegean Sea to a height of 2,917 m, but it’s also one of great mythological importance. Eleven of the twelve major Greek gods resided in the gorges of the mountain, while Zeus himself claimed Stefani peak for his throne. The gods would come together on the highest summit, Mytikas, to determine the fate of the mortals they ruled.
The first known ascent of Olympus was in 1913. Today, an estimated 10,000 people climb the peak annually, though far fewer attain the ultimate summit of Mytikas. Despite the popularity of the mountain, I had a hard time finding information about climbing Olympus. The best info is at the website for one of the refuges, but it only covers the trail that passes by that refuge.
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.
Aroania is situated in southeastern Achaea, near the border with Corinthia. The slightly higher Kyllini mountain is about 15 km to its east, separated from Aroania by the valley of the river Olvios. The mountain Erymanthos is about 30 km to the west, across the valley of the river Vouraikos. The rivers Krios, Krathis and Vouraikos drain the mountain towards the Gulf of Corinth in the north. The river Aroanios drains the mountain towards the southwest, to the Ionian Sea.
The first day we wanted to reach the waterfalls of Styga where the myth says “The plunging of Achilles in the Styga waters, leaving his heel vulnerable, as it was the spot from which Thetis was holding him, is an episode from the hero’s life that although it was commonly known, is solely mentioned by Statius, a Latin writer of the 1st century A.D; it is possible that the writer used this particular incident to justify the hero’s death from the arrow of the Troyan prince Paris.”
Olympus Mountaineering 