Meteora Part 5

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09/23/08. Hartetest (VI+, 4P) on Kumarieskopf

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

Hartetest.

We woke up late and by the time we were at the base, sun was shining brightly. Good thing too since those mossy holds on the first pitch have dried off. Pitch one of this thing is probably the first time in Meteora I got this uneasy feeling – sparse bolts and very questionable looking rocks (most seem to protrude out a bit too much …). I still felt like I could potentially deck right before clipping the 3rd bolt. Thankfully nothing popped but I arrived at the first belay with some doubts about continuing. The appearance did however improve as we looked up and so we gave it a go. The crux third pitch turned out to be some of the best climbing we’ve sampled in Meteora! A highly recommended (if short) route that felt pretty satisfying for something that is bolted.

Next day we got on the Corner Of Madness but of course it started raining midway up the already-plenty-slick pitch 1. We bailed. The next day, more f…ing rain! Formations were totally socked in clouds. What a shitty weather pattern!

09/26/08. Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens (VI, 6P) on Sourloti

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens.

Partly cloudy skies and towers running with water, their green mosses shining, greeted us in the morning. We sat in the café getting tight on caffeine while watching Sourloti’s beautiful south face running with water. Finally by 2 we could take it no longer. We headed up and the sun started shining brightly. Indeed by the time we reached the upper pitches where the route follows the watercourse, things were mostly dry and quite pleasant. A beautiful line on a beautiful face even if not quite as fun as the traversing Hypotenuse. We rapped the line and made plans to return for one last outing on the face in the morning before leaving Greece…but of course, by morning it was once again pouring. Disappointed, we headed to Thessaloniki to catch the flight out.

Photos

Meteora

I think this is the Moni Megalu Meteorou (monastery; Sept. 2008).

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

Starting up the first pitch of Hartetest…trying to see where that first bolt is (it was high for me; Sept. 2008).

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

Shirley following pitch 1 of Hartetest (Sept. 2008).

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

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

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

Leading pitch 2 of Hartetest (Sept. 2008).

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

Shirley on pitch 2 of Hartetest route with fall colors below (Sept. 2008).

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

Shirley almost atop pitch 2 of Hartetest (Sept. 2008).

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

Starting up pitch 3 (Sept. 2008).

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

Leading pitch 3 (Sept. 2008).

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

Higher on the crux third pitch (Sept. 2008).

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

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

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

Views from Hartetest. Pillar Of Dreams route is visible in profile on the left (Sept. 2008).

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

Leading the fourth and final pitch of Hartetest (Sept. 2008).

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

Looking back at Shirley from the lead of pitch 4 (Sept. 2008).

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

Shirley on the summit of Kumarieskopf after our climb of Hartetest…we’re searching for the raps. Turns out you rap the route (Sept. 2008).

Kumarieskopf - Hartetest

Shirley rapping off Kumarieskopf after our climb of Hartetest (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

Hiking back under the impressive Holy Ghost Tower (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

More towers (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

Doupianifels (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

A closer look (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

Pitch 1 of Wahnsinnsverschneidung or Corner Of Madness route on Heiliger Geist before the rain started (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

And what is this?

Meteora

This is where climbers who retrobolt existing lines are strung up and whipped in front of the whole village populace…don’t fuck with climbing ethics in Greece (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

A typical day during our two week stint in Meteora (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

What’s next (Sept. 2008)?

Greece

An old church somewhere in Thessaly region of northern Greece (Sept. 2008).

Greece

A rainy day road trip and a short hike in northern Greece (Thessaly; Sept. 2008).

Greece

Pomegranate tree (Sept. 2008).

Greece

Shirley enjoying our third (after drinking table wine & climbing) favorite activity in Greece (Sept. 2008).

Greece

Greece (Sept. 2008).

Greece

A traffic jam in northern Greece during one of our rainy day road trips (Sept 2008).

Meteora

Meteora formations with a storm clearing (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

Some more dampness (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

Shirley at the base of the Doupiani Rock (Ostkante route follows the ridge in the foreground) in full lichen bloom following some days of rain (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

Pillar Of Dreams in a post rain bloom (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

A Meteora tower-top monastery. This (I believe) is Moni Agias Varvaras Rousanou…though I could very well be full of shit (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

Unknown climber on the opening pitch of Pillar Of Dreams on Heiliger Geist (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

Unknown climbers on the first pitch of Pillar Of Dreams (Sept. 2008).

Meteora

Unknown climbers on the first pitch of Traumpfeiler (Pillar Of Dreams) on Heiliger Geist (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

An unknown climber nearing the top (pitch 2) of what is likely the Gordischer Knoten (VII-) on The Spindel formation. Not the line that we did (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Starting up the first pitch of Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens (VI, 6 pitches) on Sourloti (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Starting up Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens on Sourloti (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Shirley following pitch 1 (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Starting up pitch 2 (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Starting up pitch 2 (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Shirley about to start up pitch 2 of Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Shirley on pitch 2 of Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Arriving at the second belay (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Leading pitch 3 (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Topping out on pitch 3 (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Leading pitch 4 of Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

More pitch 4 (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Looking back towards wine and Greek salad lunch from high on Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens on Sourloti tower (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Views from the route (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Shirley on pitch 4 (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Shirley topping out on pitch 4 (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Starting up pitch 5 (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

More pitch 5 (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Shirley starting pitch 5 (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Shirley on pitch 5 of Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

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

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Leading the sixth and final pitch of Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Looking back at Shirley at the fifth belay (Sept. 2008).

Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens

Shirley arriving on the summit of Sourloti via the last pitch (#6) of Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens (Sept. 2008).

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