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2690 Hits
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75.81% Score
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6 Votes
Page Type:
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Canyon |
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Lat/Lon:
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38.61276°N / 23.79963°E |
Activities:
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Hiking, Trad Climbing, Toprope, Big Wall |
Season:
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Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter |
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Overview
Agali canyon ("Φαράγγι Αγάλης") is located on the western slopes of Mt. Dirfi ("Δίρφη"), just under the massive 1,743m peak. The main gorge is 4.6km long and is one of the two main river systems on the west of the mountain. It begins on the shoulder of Dirfi which connects to Pyxarias ("Πυξαρίας") mountain at approx. 1,200m of elevation and finishes (i.e. gives way to plains) at 200m. The canyon has on main trail with one vartiation, the first trail heads up or down the canyon and the other variation allows you to exit and traverse the western slopes of Dirfi towards the Hellenic Mountaineering Association refuge (S-E). The river passing through the canyon is seasonal and must be crossed 6 times during the hike. The canyon also offers seasonal access to spring-water.
Getting There
You can either hike top - bottom, or bottom - top. The bottom of the canyon is located 2km outside of the village of Agios Athanasios. The top is the Itamos refuge (or about 20 mins of hiking away). Here are the directions:Both of the direction markers are a bit behind the actual trail head. Both of the acctual trailheads a bit more of a drive. On the bottom trailhead a football field marks the TH, on the top a refuge markes the TH.
This is the bottom to top description
The trail follows the river (on the river level) for approx 2km, and crosses the river at the pre mentioned 6 bridges. Four of those are up and are newly build steel bridges; there are two more (the two final) that have been destroyed and were wooden. After following the wide (car sized) trail up to the two final bridges, you will already have reached the first spring; then the trail rises from river level and reaches a vantage point (at around the 1 hour point).
The trail from there climbs upwards through the dense forest up to Kratia spring (860m) where the trail splits. You can either hike west through a large forest road where after a 3-4h you would reach the HMA refuge. The other choice is hiking N-NW (heading 270-340) behind the spring; the trail from there becomes steeper up to 900m of elevation where it meets a forest road and a stone bench vantage point with sick views down towards the gorge you hiked. From there you can either hike down or hike the forest road N towards the Itamos refuge on the shoulder.
- Distance: 5.41Km (one way)
- Time: 2:30h
- Vertical Gain: 951m
You can get water on the hike at the Kratias spring (2h in) so prep, accrodingly. Furthermore it is a great route to hike in hot weather since if you hike in at around (7:00 - 7:30am) you will be under the shadow of Dirfisfor the entire hike.
Springs
The mountain gets a lot of snow, so obviously the river and mountain has a lot of water. On the hike you will encounter two springs and one more that is a river side spot where you can refil your bottles.
- "Αρκουδοβρυση", /Bearspring/ at 397m of elevation and around 45 mins through the hike. This spring is the riverside spot.
- "Κρυα Βρυση", /Cold Spring/ at 397m of elevation and is 2 mins away from Bearspring.
- "Πηγη Κρατια", /Kratia Spring/ at 860m of elevation and is 2h into the hike, it is the final spring and has the cleanest water.
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