Greece June 2023- Athens, Kalymnos, Meteora rain-out & island hopping

Work in progress! What follows are a quick sample of photos with much more trip details and many more photos coming soon…

A lot of planning and prep work for a trip to Greece with our friends Kostas and Lisa. For climbers, the guide book “Kalymnos” by Thoedoropoulos & Roussos is indispensable, and likewise for Meteora, “Meteora Sport Climbing Guide” by Batsios.

Athens, Attica

16 hours later, Keratea, Greece! (PDX -> Frankfurt -> Athens -> Keratea)

Attica - Athens - Keratea — Attica – Athens – Keratea

Sunset at the Temple of Poseidon

Waiting for the train — Waiting for the Metro with Kostas and Lisa.

The Acropolis Museum and the amazing Acropolis

Kalymnos

After a few days of touring around Athens, we took a flight to Kalymnos in search of sport climbing. We got a nice flat in Myrties, which is the small village below the start of the main areas of climbing. From Myrties you can rent a scooter or car to the approaches of many of the main areas.

Kalymnos, Symplegades sector

For Symplegades sector from Myrties, you need a scooter or a car to drive up a few steep, narrow switchback roads, then a 15 minute slog up a trail and choss to reach the base. Scooter Pro Tip: maintain your speed and momentum on the steeps and swtichbacks otherwise you drop the scooter.

Kalymnos, Symplegades sector

Giselle leading at Kalymnos, Symplegades sector.

Island of Telendos

On our second day, not wanting to play scooter roulette again, we decided to check out the climbing on Telendos, a 10 minute boat from Myrties (no scooters or cars allowed on the island). To save a 1 hour hike from Telendos village to the Miltiadis sector, we paid the boat captain to be dropped off at Irox sector where we expected a 15 minute approach to the Miltiadis sector. Whelp, we missed the easy traverse junction and blundered around Eros sector for an hour until we finally figured out we were way above Miltiadis, but we eventually found it.

Boat from Myrties to Telendos, Irox sector drop off. — **Morning commute to Telendos.**

We got a touch and go jump off from our Captain and here we waved good bye at Irox drop off.

The approach to Miltiadis sector, Telendos.

Giselle on the approach trail near Miltiadis sector, Telendos.

Giselle leading “Ritaxi Boat” at Miltiadis sector, Telendos (6/10/2023).

"Ritaxi Boat" 4c, 28 meters — **Giselle near the top of “Ritaxi Boat” 4c, 28 meters, 2 thumbs up!**

Since we did not schedule a pickup from Irox, we had to hike back to the Telendos harbor, about a 1 hour hike. The good news is that once you get lower down the trail, there are some great swimming opportunities.

Skinny dipping off of Telendos — **Swimming off of Telendos with Kalymnos in the background.**

After a day at Telendos, back to Kalymnos.

Kalymnos, Summertime Sector

For this sector, we rented a car and drove towards Arginonta to hit the Summertime Sector. Summertime has many subsectors but we opted for subsector “Main” with the EZ-Mode 10 minute approach.

Hey, am I on belay?? Giselle and some Austrian guy trying to figure out how to use my cellphone camera. — Hey, am I on belay ?? WTF??
Giselle and some Austrian guy trying to figure out how to use my cellphone camera while I’m leading.

Giselle leading at the Summertime sector.

Kalymnos, Afternoon Sector

To reach his sector, we decided to walk from Myrties. Not recommended unless you’re trying to get your 50K steps in. Once you get to “Philoxenia Hotel” it’s just a 20 minute slog to the base and you have shade until the afternoon.

Posing with Telendos — Afternoon Sector posing with Telendos background

Giselle leading Energy 4", Afternoon Sector — Giselle leading “Nonno Ringo”, Afternoon Sector.

“Nonno Ringo”, 5c, Afternoon Sector

Chillin out in Masouri after some climbing. — Chillin out in Masouri after semi-epic walkfest and some climbing.

Kalymnos, Trois Ilots Sector

The start of "Ginette", Trois Ilots Sector.

"Ginette", 5b, Kalymnos Trois Ilots Sector

Favorite cocktail bar in Kalymnos: Micki's

Our fav cocktail place in Masouri: Micki’s

Meteora

After a week of climbing at Kalymnos, we flew back to Athens for a day to meet up with our friends Kostas and Lisa, rent a car and drive to Meteora.

At a fuel stop, we encountered this ferocious Greek Mountain Shepard Dog.

The village of Kastraki at the base of Meteora. — The village of Kastraki at the base of spectacular Meteora. Unfortunately for our climbing aspirations, we hit three days of unseasonal rains, making routes unsuitable for climbing.

Beautiful and well developed trail system surrounds the formations and leading to the monasteries.

Hiking the trails to visit monasteries of Meteora

One of many many beautiful frescos in the monasteries of Meteora.

Greek Mountain Shepard hanging out near a Kastraki butcher shop. Obviously, he is very sad that climbing is rained out. 100%.

Skiathos

Work in progress…

From Meteora we drove to Volos and picked up a ferry to Skiathos.

Riding the ferry from Volos to Skiathos

Skopelos

Work in progress…

From Skiathos we took a ferry to Skopelos.

**Our favorite cocktail place in Skopelos: The Hidden Door** **and my favorite cocktail there, a “Firey Mexican” cocktail**.

"Firey Mexican" cocktail at The Hidden Door.

Alonissos

Alonissos is a very small island off of Skopelos famous for being centrally located within protected National Marine Park and Preserve . We took a ferry from Skopelos, visited the Preserve office and hiked from the harbor village up to the old town of Chora.

Old town Chora was badly damaged in an earthquake in 1965 but from what I can tell, it’s mostly restored.

For the ride back to Skopelos, we took a “Flying Dolphin” hydrofoil.