Hiking in Olympus, the mountain of Gods
At the end of September under the full moon .., SAS organize hiking and .. climbing for all members, independently of their trekking skills ! Olympus, is the most imposing and challenging mountain in Greece, with a variety of hiking, climbing and mountaineering routes but of course not walking ones … ! Standing on the boarders of Thessaly and Macedonia is one of the most interesting botanical places of the Balkans with rich flora and fauna. In 1938 it became the first National Park in Greece and in 1981 a site of World Natural Heritage.
The group of hikers who will participate will be divided in three categories :
Group A is for the trekkers with simple hiking abilities. They will stop at the second Refuge at an altitude of 1940 meters.
Group B is for the trekkers that will reach the third Refuge, the highest in Greece and also in Balkans at an altitude of 2697 m which is located on the famous ‘‘ Muses Plateau ’’.
Group C is for the mountaineers ! They must be experienced as special climbing skills are required to reach the highest peak of the mountain, at 2918 m. called ‘‘ Mitikas’’. They will follow, by their own, the most difficult trail ‘‘The Louki ’’ … ! and as they have managed to conquer the top of Greece, of course from those who are still alive and we are not joking … this time, they will enjoy a breathtaking view over the surrounding lands, islands even up to Parnitha Mountain !! … in a clear weather.
Difficulty grade, according to the SAS scale is for :
Group A : medium hike
Group B : hard hike
Group C : out of limits .. !
Schedule will be as follow :
Saturday 22nd September : Will depart at 09:00 from north suburbs of Athens. Meeting point is at Café ‘‘ Everest ’’ on 162 Tatoiou street, from Kifissia to National Road No.1, some 100 meters just before Varibopi junction, at the right side. Optional stop at SEA Almyros Rest Area on the 270th km after 2,5 hours driving where a ‘‘ Flocafe ’’ exists and estimated arrival time at 14:00 at Litohoro, a town-village at the foot of Olympus where we could take a meal in the picturesque central square at a tavern overlooking the Enipeas Gorge ! Departure at 17:00 towards Dion from where it’s a 30΄ driving up to ‘‘ Koromilia ’’ refuge at an alt. of 1.000 m. where we’ll stay overnight. Optional 2 hours return walk to the ‘‘ Orlias ’’ waterfall either from St. Konstantinos and Eleni church point or from the refuge. Notice that the last part ( 9 km ) of the road to the refuge is dirt road so a 4WD car is preferable.
Sunday 23rd September : Group A + B will start to walk at 09:30 the trail to ‘‘Petrostrouga ’’ which is at an altitude of 1940 m. Duration of this hiking is 4,5 h approximately including sufficient stops. Overnight at the ‘‘ Petrostrouga ’’refuge. Height difference that must be covered this day is 940 m.
Monday 24th September : Group A remain at the ‘‘ Petrostrouga ’’ refuge for the whole day, relaxing and enjoying from its balcony the superb view over Thermaikos Gulf and Chalkidiki peninsula at the far east .. ! Some easy walks at the nearby places and paths like ‘‘ Ithakisios ’’cave ( 1 h return ) or ‘‘ Skourta – Lemos ’’ ( 3,5 h return ) could be done.
Group B will depart at 09:30 for a 4,5 h hike, up to ‘‘ Muses ’’ Plateau where ‘‘ Giosos Apostolidis ’’refuge exists at an altitude of 2697 m for overnight staying. Height difference that must be covered is 760 m. In the afternoon some easy hikes to the nearby peaks of ‘‘ Profitis Ilias ’’ 2788 m. ( 45΄return ) or ‘‘ Touba ’’ 2800 m could be done while Group C will … try to the highest peak of Olympus, ‘‘ Mitikas ’’ at 2918 m ( 2,5 h return ).
Tuesday 25th September : Group A will depart from ‘‘ Petrostrouga ’’ at 10:00 for the 3,5 h descent to ‘‘ Koromilia ’’ while Group B will depart from ‘‘Giosos Apostolidis ’’ at 08:00 for the 5,5 h descent, passing from ‘‘ Petrostrouga ’’ and reunited with Group A. On the way back to Athens we could have dinner at the traditionally preserved village of ‘‘ Paleos Agios Panteleimon ’’. Estimated arrival time to Athens at 21:30.
Transportation will take place by our cars and pool system will be arranged between us. Anybody who intends to use his car and likes to serve other hikers, please declare it ( number of seats available ). Estimated cost for fuel and tolls to Olympus vice versa per car 180 € approximately.
Everyone of us will book by his own, dormitory beds at the refuges for Saturday the 22nd of September at Koromilia refuge ( Group A and B ) as well as at the refuges of Petrostrouga (Group A two nights 23rd and 24th, Group B only 23rd ) and Giosos Apostolidis ( Group B 24th of September ).
It is essential that appropriate equipment is required for the whole trek, even … fleece for evening hours and especially for those in Group C they must be equipped simply … with helmet !!
Contacts :
Refuge Koromilia : Mr. Vaggelis Giannikos tel. 6942 243349, facebook : Koromilia refuge – Καταφύγιο Κορομηλιά
Refuge Petrostrouga : Mr. Nektarios tel.6977 246350, 2310 310649, e-mail : inform@hrt.org.gr
Refuge Giosos Apostolidis : Mr. Nikos Tsavdaris tel.23510 82840, 6939 777064, e-mail : info@apostolidisrefuge.gr
If you are interested in participating, please declare up to 6th of September 09:00 p.m. together with your intention to follow Group A, B or C, but o.k. : anyone who likes to change his mind and likes to jump between groups last time or even…during the hike, is welcome to do that .. !
Please also declare your mobile phone number.
Leader will be Georgos Foteinos, e-mail geoplanf@otenet.gr Emergency phone 6945 386255.
Important notice : Keep in mind that if you participate in an Athens Strollers and Hikers walk or hike, you do so for your fun and your pleasure at one hand but entirely at your own risk at the other. The Athens Strollers and Hikers is an internet social club and neither the organizers nor the leader are responsible for the safety of those taking part. For more information about that please refer to the ‘ Declaration of Tyrol ’.
Difficulty grades
Easy walks : 1,5– 2 hrs and height differences up to 100 m
Medium walks : 2 – 3 hrs and height differences up to 200 m
Hard walks : 3 – 4 hrs and height differences up to 400 m
Easy hikes : 3 – 5 hrs and height differences up to 500 m
Medium hikes : 5 – 7 hrs and height differences up to 750 m
Hard hikes : 7 hrs and up and height differences 750 m and up
Invitation : Anyone who likes to lead a future walk or hike please announce to us by e-mail referring to the place and the time he intends to take over this activity.
Deletion : Anybody who doesn’t like to receive anymore the invitations about our activities for any reason, please declare us his desire !!
Wish you a nice hiking experience !
Georgos and Anna