Diaberis Pothos | Trad Climbing at the top of Profitis Elias – Asini

On July 15, 2020September 3, 2025 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Mountaineering general17 Comments

Few weeks ago, on this blog I published my first ever First Ascent that took place on Mount Ortholithi. This time, together with 3 fellow climbers we decided to go and explore the Profitis Elias rock of Asini, nearby Nafplio city.

We have been informed that this rock is an excellent location for trad climbing and we also knew that has been totally unclimbed besides a route which was first ascended by Mountain Guide Kostas Tsoukleidis and Nadine Strobl (O Kipos tou Profiti V+ 110 m.).

Therefore, we decided to go to explore the potential of Profitis Elias rock and specifically the North Face of the rock. We have been very pleased of what we have seen and we decided to climb to the top by the North-East couloir.

Climbing_Diaberis_Pothos_Profitis_Elias_Asini_Route — Diaberis Pothos VI UIAA 100 m.

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Monsters of the Wind | Climbing the South-West Ridge of Mount Ortholithi

On July 3, 2020June 10, 2021 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Mountaineering general19 Comments

Ever since I started my outdoor adventures, and especially climbing, I was always excited to repeat famous climbing routes that were first ascended by legendary greek and not only climbers.

All these years, I have been on several mountain peaks and lakes, I have climbed traditional routes, I’ve pushed my limits in sport climbing, I trained in Dry Tooling and of course I have done my favourite -of all- activity, winter mountaineering.

Having acquired all the knowledge (via dedicated mountaineering and climbing schools) and extensive experience (via the expeditions I have participated), it was about time to have a first ascent too.

South-West_Ridge_Ortholithi_Mountain_161033_798 — Monsters of the Wind IV+/V- (South-West ridge of Mount Ortholithi)

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Climbing in Tourkovounia (Anchesmos) – Athens city centre

On June 30, 2020August 31, 2025 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Climbing4 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 km pedestrian zone (the largest in Europe), leading to the major archaeological sites (“archaeological park”), reconstructing – to a large degree – the ancient landscape.

Climbing_Tourkovounia_Kokkina_Anchesmos_104732_963 — Tourkovounia crag – Red sector

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Climbing the Ridge of Horned Owl – Mount Pateras (Kopsi Boufou)

On June 29, 2020February 17, 2021 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Mountaineering general6 Comments

I have been seeing and passing by Mount Pateras for several years now, but I never had the chance to pay a visit to this mountain. Pateras is a mountain of West Attica, Greece, with an elevation of 1,131 meters. Its highest peak is named Leontari. It is situated between the plain of Eleusis and the plain of Megara, and stretches between the Gulf of Corinth at Aigosthena and the Saronic Gulf near Eleusis.

It is separated from its northern neighbour Cithaeron by the plain of Vilia. The mountain is covered with woods with Aleppo pine and Mediterranean maquis. In the tops of the mountain, that belong to a CORINE biotope, there are firs, of species Abies cephalonica.

Climbing_HornedOwl_Ridge_Kopsi_Boufou_κοψη_Μπουφου_143839_369_b — View of the Horned Owl Ridge – Kopsi Boufou

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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, 2019August 28, 2025 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, 2019August 22, 2025 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, 2019September 22, 2025 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Mountaineering general7 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, 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.