Training Log Archive: routhe

Mt Olympos. The culmination of the trip. Had little idea what to expect timewise, and the days are short in November. Started out from Prionia at 0700, still dusky. Got to the refuge in 2 hours, so knew we were going fast enough to finish. 2 hours up through the forest crossing a couple of devastated river beds. Soon after the refuge we came out in the open and got views of the summit plateau. Olympus is the name of the general mountain, it has a good number of tops with their own names, Mytikas 2917m is the highest. It's a long steep scree path up to Skala 2882m in a beautiful setting, steep cliffs on the west side, broad rolling slopes. lots of tops and a huge blind valley below. On Skala Don insulted some rather weird locals and we left in a hurry over to Skolio 2910m. When we got back to Skala we tentatively started down the rocks towards Mytikas. After the first few moves it was easy though very exposed, and it's very well marked. We got confident soon, though delayed by a ountain rescue team practising abseiling very inefficiently. Saw some alpine accentors on top. back to Skala and a long descent. We didn't hurry, but didn't hang around much either, and it was getting dark by the time we got back to Prionia.
A magnificent day, perfect conditions - dry with high cloud but not blazing sun, and luckily very little snow so the passage to Mytikas was clear.
(HR acting strangely, could it be altitude!)

Delfi ruins

Mt Parnassos: Liakoura & Gerodovrachia
A very late start, the road was closed until midday so we didn't get going till nearly 1300. Started as high as possible on the Parnassus massif, which is really plateau with a number of summits and some giant dolines. Our route up went through an abandoned ski area, a horrible mess of rusting equipment and dilapidated buildings. Then over through an active ski area, and at last into wilder country. Some of the summits have very steep sides but a lot of the plateau is fairly rolling and there have clearly been vehicles around. But a nice up-and-down path around a top then up to the highest point Liakoura 2459m. Worried about the time but decided we could fit in a longer return, over a little pass, then left the paths to climb up Gerodovrachia 2395m which is actually a narrow 1.5km ridge with magnificent views back over the plateau and west over the mountains and sea and the fast-dropping sun. Could still just about see the ground when we got back to the car. Beautiful day, clear blue skies, just a pity about the rush as it would have been nice to wander round the plateau taking in a few more summits.

Mt Zas 1001m, the highest point on Naxos
Rented a car for the day and drove up to the mountains. Took the non-traditional route in the sun up Mt Zas from the north. Very pretty, olive groves then wild maquis with crocuses, and finally bare limestone.

Mavrovouni 999m, the second highest point on Naxos.
Not as nice an approach, lots of vehicle tracks too rough for our little car. But a lovely wild summit, a carpet of short grass and a line of tors. And a little stone shelter under an overhanging boulder.

Cycle tour of SW Naxos