Meteora Part 1

Meteora

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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).

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Go back to Euro Sampler – Meteora.