Meteora Part 1

Go back to Euro Sampler – Meteora.

09/13/08. Eiertanz (VI- A0, 5P) on Kelch & Ostkante (VI, 4P) Doupianifels

Doupianifels - Ostkante

Ostkante on Doupianifels.

In the morning we headed for the short but very cool looking Kelch tower. The highlight of this one involves a wild (A0 for most, incl. me) and wide step-across a chasm on the final pitch – very much reminiscent of Sedona’s Mace and Oak Creek Spire. Good fun climbing and enough to whet our appetites for more of this stuff. On the way out, we also did Doupiani’s popular Ostkante route as it was right next to the road. Easy lower pitches and one steeper headwall pitch. Much edging and nubbin pinching reminiscent of Red Rocks or Smith face climbs. Another good route. A rich dinner and a liter jug of wine ended the day.

Photos

Greece

Shirley camping out in Thessaloniki’s airport. Our flight was to reach Thessaloniki at 1am. It got there at 2am and the conveyer belt took some time to deliver our bags and then there was the issue of the car rental place opening up at 8am (Sept. 2008).

Greece

Shirley and her new ride at the Thessaloniki airport…finally picked up our rental car in the morning for the drive to Meteora (Sept. 2008).

Greece

The conglomerate formations of Meteora towering over the town of Kalambaka (Sept. 2008).

Greece

More views from the main drag in Kalambaka (Sept. 2008).

Kelch

Kelch Tower (Sept. 2008).

Doupianifels

Doupianifels (Sept. 2008).

Heiliger Geist

View of some of the larger formations of Meteora. On the right is Doupianifels formation. Holy Ghost is the largest formation in the shot. The small formation at the foot of Holy Ghost is (probably) the Kumariesturm (Sept. 2008).

Heiliger Geist

Climbers scattered on the Traumpfeiler route (Pillar Of Dreams) on the Heiliger Geist (Holy Ghost) formation (Sept. 2008).

Heiliger Geist

Close up of the same multiple parties spread all over the Traumpfeiler route (top of P2, P3, and P4; August 2008).

Heiliger Geist

Climbers scattered on the Traumpfeiler route (Pillar Of Dreams) on the Heiliger Geist (Holy Ghost) formation (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

Moni Megalou Meteorou (or the Grand Meteora Monastery) – a 14th century construct & the highest one of all the Meteora monasteries (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

A closer look at Moni Megalou Meteorou (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

Moni Megalou Meteorou and a couple of brothers crossing the void (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

Couple of monks making their way to the their parked Mercedes sedans from the Grand Meteora Monastery (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Starting up the first pitch of the Eiertanz route (5 pitches VI- A0) on the Kelch. First route we did in Meteora (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Leading pitch 1 (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Higher on pitch 1 (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Shirley on pitch 1 which we combined with 2 (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Shirley arriving at the second belay (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Some views from Kelch. The large formation in the photo is the Holy Ghost (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

At the second (our first) belay (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Starting up pitch 3 of Eiertanz route (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Pitch 3 (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Higher on pitch 3 (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Shirley topping out on pitch 3 (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Shirley belaying me on pitch 4 of Eiertanz route on the Kelch (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Topping out on pitch 4 (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Starting pitch 5. Some A0 to cross the gap (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Looking back at Shirley (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Leading the final pitch of Eiertanz route on the Kelch Tower. This is the face climb after the step-across move (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Wanker on the summit (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Shirley starting pitch 5 with some A0 (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Shirley starting the free climb on pitch 5 (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Shirley on the final pitch of Eiertanz route on the Kelch Tower (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Signing the summit register (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Posing on the summit (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Shirley rope jumping off the summit of the Kelch (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Rapping off the summit of The Kelch (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Shirley hiking back to the car after our climb of Eiertanz route on the Kelch. The whole thing is visible in the background – up the buttress on the right and an A0 step across to gain the summit block (Sept. 2008).

Kelch - Eiertanz

Views from near the base of the Kelch (Sept. 2008).

Doupianifels - Ostkante

Starting up pitch 1 of Ostkante on Doupianifels (Sept. 2008).

Doupianifels - Ostkante

Shirley following pitch 1 of Ostkante route on Doupianifels (Sept. 2008).

Doupianifels - Ostkante

Shirley at the first belay on Ostkante route (Sept. 2008).

Doupianifels - Ostkante

Leading pitch 2 (Sept. 2008).

Doupianifels - Ostkante

Shirley on pitch 3 which (I think) we had combined with 2 (Sept. 2008).

Doupianifels - Ostkante

Shirley arriving at the second belay (Sept. 2008).

Doupianifels - Ostkante

Pitch 4 of Ostkante on Doupianifels (Sept. 2008).

Doupianifels - Ostkante

Views from high on the Ostkante route on Doupianifels formation. How many tower-top monasteries can you find in this photo? The most tower-like tower (left of center) is Teufelsturm. Large fin-like structure immediately right is Yipsiloterafels (Sept. 2008).

Doupianifels - Ostkante

Pitch 4 (Sept. 2008).

Doupianifels - Ostkante

More views from high on Ostkante route. The Kelch tower is visible even if it blends in with others (Sept. 2008).

Doupianifels - Ostkante

Shirley topping out on Ostkante route (pitch 4; Sept 2008).

Meteora

Shirley immersing herself in local Greek beer…err, I mean culture after a climb in Meteora (Sept. 2008).

Kastraki

The view from our motel window – one of those is our rented ride. A rare, dry day in Meteora (Sept. 2008).

Go to Meteora Part 2.
Go back to Euro Sampler – Meteora.