Christmas Hike and Climb on Dirfi Mountain

On December 25, 2021December 25, 2021 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Winter Mountaineering14 Comments

Hallelujah! Alleluia! Hooray! Yahoo! Yippee!

Finally, after two years of extreme lockdown measures in Greece, we are back for some Winter Mountaineering activities! The past two years, due to the coronavirus restrictions, I was not able to visit the mountains while there was snow on them. In fact, last time I have been on a Winter Mountaineering trip was in Vardousia on February 2020.

Few days ago, I got in contact with a good mountain buddy of mine and we agreed to arrange an easy ascent on Mount Dirfi.

Dirfi is the highest mountain of Evia. Although Evia is technically an island, it is considered part of mainland Greece because it is only separated by a narrow channel. It stretches from NW to SE, with Dirfi rising in the middle.

Mount_Dirfi_Dirfy_Mountain_Winter_Climb_034420_116 — Dirfi Mountain

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Winter Hike and Climb on Dirfi Mountain

On February 11, 2019July 6, 2020 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Winter Mountaineering9 Comments

One more weekend was approaching and the initial plan was to go and climb one of the famous gullies of Gerontovrachos, on Mount Parnassos. Though, last minute unforeseen changes, forced me to change my plans and join the -excellent- company of other two experienced mountaineering guys, and all together to go and climb the central couloir of Mount Dirfi.

Dirfi_Dirfy_Mountain_Winter_Hike_Climb_20190210_145907_457 — Evening sun between the fog

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Alpine Climb on Mount Xerovouni via Central Couloir

On January 23, 2019July 6, 2020 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Winter Mountaineering6 Comments

One more weekend arrived, and it was time to hit the trail once again. We had plenty of options in our mind, such as Alpine Climb on Gerontovrachos (mount Parnassos), Dirfi mountain or the continuation of Dirfi, Xerovouni mountain.

Xerovouni is a limestone mountain in central Evia and is essentially a continuation of Dirfy mountain complex. Its highest peak, Portaris, is 1,453 m high.

Although Xerovouni is not a very high mountain, due to its proximity to Athens, many hikers and climbers visit it. In addition, in Xerovouni there are plenty of trad climbing routes, that during winter time most of these routes become the perfect playground for rock & ice climbing activities.