AGION OROS - MOUNT ATHOS - THE SUMMIT Traditional Geocache
AGION OROS - MOUNT ATHOS - THE SUMMIT
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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First contact "Holy Executive of the Holy Mountain Pilgrim's
Bureau" in Thessaloniki to obtain a Diamonitirion (permit -visa) to
entry the Athos peninsula and arrange an overnight stay in ex.
Saint Anne Skete. I advise you to do this a few months before you
want to go for the stash.
The local Ortohdox rules are very strict, women are not allowed on
Athos and will never get a Diamonitirion.
You need at least 12 hours to get there and get back down.
You can arrange to leave a full pack at Saint Anne while you tackle
the summit.
From the kiriakon, it's one hour 15 minutes up with a daypack to
the four way crossroads. Bearing north here towards the peak you'll
pass a concrete trough which was a healthy spring a decade ago but
is now dried up and filled with rubbish, whatever its appearrance
on maps.Just behind the corner of the cross you will find a
watertap where you can fill your Camelback or cantines.(N40 08.029
E24 18.572) Take at least two liter of water with you. Another one
hour 45 minutes will see you along a marked trail through oak and
fir to the treeline, and the chapel shelter of Panagia on a grassy
saddle at just over 1500 metres. There's a (dirty) well inside,
some iron beds for spreading sleeping bags, and a fireplace. If you
overnight here, you'd have the opportunity of being on the summit
for sunrise.
Carrying on to the peak, zig-zag up to the ridge visible on the
north, where a few stubborn firs cling to life up to the 1900 metre
contour. You've just over an hour up to the prominent hogback,
followed by a sharp left into a defile flanked by boulders. You'll
glimpse the iron cross on top of the chapel of Metamorfosi
(Transfiguration) just ahead,in case of emergency you also can stay
overnight in the church,sleeping mats are available and another
cistern, with tastier water than at Panagia.
On clear days (rare in summer) you should be able to see from Mt.
Olympos on the west to Anatolia on the east; more often, though,
you'll see nothing more than the peninsula at your feet—and
the reason why you've been hiking the perimeter and the south of
Athos: roads everywhere, and the great scar from a 1989 fire.
Please visit this place with respect, it's the Orthodox Holy
Mountain.
Coming down, you will need the same time as going up. Don't dawdle
at Saint Anne (300 metres) after retrieving your pack, since you'll
certainly want to reach a monastery (for example IM Pavlou) by
evening and must allow for the possibility of your first choice
being full.
GOOD LUCK and enjoy the hike.
If you want more information on the Diamonitirion etc...please sent
PM.
I also can provide you the track of this hike if you want
Additional Hints
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