SHORT DESCRIPTION
Olympos and Kissavos the two mountains are fighting…. We have been here, one September three years ago, so we said, let’s do a winter climb.
The mountain has an altitude of 1978 m (summit Profitis Elias). From the Athens-Thessaloniki highway, near Tempi region (shortly after for the Northerners, shortly before for the Southerners) we turn to Sykourio and the village of Spilia and the refuge of EOS Larissa which is located about 11 km after the village (the asphalt continues up to the refuge).
USEFUL INFORMATION
Distance from Thessaloniki: 163 km
Toll: 6,60 Euro
European Emergency Number: 112
Fire Brigade Dept: 199
Medical Emergency: 166
Kissavos refuge (Alt.1604m) –Summit Profitis Elias(Alt.1978m)
Day 2
Route Information
Description: Trekking
Route Start-End: Kissavos refuge –Summit Profitis Elias
Route length: 2800 m
Marking: Yes (red marks)
Water in route: No (Only at the refuge)
Duration: 1 h and 40 min (ascent)
1 h and 10 min (descent)
The route took place at IAN. 2020
Team members: 5 adults
The route from the refuge to the summit is relatively easy. The mountain, on this side is a stone and dry land, so the hiker has a great open view in the horizon. Besides that, the uphill is not too bad. So the climber can follow different routes for hiking, since the orientation is very easy. A problem will only occur in the event of fog. In that case, the route must be done strictly from the classic marked path, following the red marks on the stones. In our case the day was wonderful but the snow on the ground did not allow us to see the signage. But, as we said before, it was not necessary, since we had a very clear view of the whole route.
The starting point of the summit’s path is the spring, outside of the refuge. Facing the spring, we are turning right, to climb the small hill between the dry bushes and we are into the remains of an old ski slope. We turn left and heading south-east we are walking on the old ski track. Where the track ends, there is a goat trail, which is actually our path but due to the snow, it has disappeared. No problem . Far in the horizon, we can see our landmark, the abandoned telecom building at the end of the slope. This is where we have to go. So we continue our ascent freely, up to the earth road under the telecom building. To our right we can see the summit and we follow the earth road in this direction, up to the base of the ridge that will lead us to the summit. The terrain is almost lunar, only stones, without any tree. So be aware, that at this point, you are completely exposed to the weather and depending on the season of the climb, you must take care of having the right equipment with you. The earth road ends and it turns into a small path that slowly climbs the ridge. The snow is not as much as it was at the beginning of our route and this allows us to continue our ascent with relative safety.
The day is sunny and hot, with good visibility and astonishing view. The refuge looks like a dot below us, while the coasts of Larissa and the Aegean Sea are in the background. We continue uphill and now on our left we can see the other side of the mountain, deep green with beautiful forests of beech, chestnut and spruce trees that are reaching up the sea.
The trail traverses the south side of the peak’s cone. This is the most dangerous part of the route, since the slope’s inclination is quite large. After a while, in front of us, the Greek flag emerges from the top. Just a few meters more and here we are, on the top of Kissavos.
The peak of Kissavos is characteristic, because besides the concrete geographical column and the pole with the metallic Greek flag, it also has a small bell tower with a small chapel. It is the chapel of Prophet Elias. The chapel’s roof is the summit of the mountain, while the chapel itself is inside the mountain. A small cavity leads you to the sacred place that, although small (smaller than 20 m2), fills your soul with great emotions and brings you closer to the divine.
The view, fantastic and wonderful, enchants you. To the south, someone can see the forests of the mountain and a little further away Mavrovouni and Pelion Mountains. To the west someone can see the plain of Larissa and to the north mount Olympus. To the east, there are the beaches of Katerini and Larissa and the Aegean Sea as well as the first foot of Chalkidiki. We ring the small bell in the small bell tower, take our photos and start our descent from the same path, back to the refuge.
After the hike on the mountain it’s time for a hike to the local tastes. So the afternoon finds us in Spilia, in the village’s tavern, celebrating the conquest of the summit with “mezedes” and “tsipouro” and planning our next climbs.