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09/23/08. Hartetest (VI+, 4P) on Kumarieskopf
Pitch 2 of 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
Pitch 5 of 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
Hartetest on Kumarieskopf
Starting up the first pitch of Hartetest…trying to see where that first bolt is (it was high for me; Sept. 2008).
Shirley nearing the top of the first pitch of Hartetest route on Kumarieskopf (Sept. 2008).
Shirley arriving at the first belay of Hartetest route (VI+) on Kumarieskopf (Sept. 2008).
Leading pitch 2 of Hartetest (Sept. 2008).
Shirley on pitch 2 of Hartetest route with fall colors below (Sept. 2008).
Shirley almost atop pitch 2 of Hartetest (Sept. 2008).
The crux – third pitch of Hartetest (Sept. 2008).
Leading the third and crux (VI+) pitch of Hartetest route belayed by Shirley (Sept. 2008).
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).
Shirley rapping off Kumarieskopf after our climb of Hartetest (Sept. 2008).
Hiking back under the impressive Holy Ghost Tower (Sept. 2008).
Doupiani Rock with the beginnings of some fall foliage (Sept. 2008).
Starting up the water polished pitch 1 of Wahnsinnsverschneidung (Corner Of Madness) route (Sept. 2008).
Pitch 1 of Wahnsinnsverschneidung or Corner Of Madness route on Heiliger Geist before the rain started (Sept. 2008).
Unknown climber on Pillar Of Dreams route on Holy Ghost formation (Sept. 2008).
Unknown climber on the first pitch of Pillar Of Dreams on Holy Ghost with monk hermitages in the background (Sept. 2008).
A Meteora tower-top monastery. This (I believe) is Moni Agias Varvaras Rousanou…though I could very well be full of shit (Sept. 2008).
An old church somewhere in Thessaly region of (northern) Greece (Sept. 2008).
Pomegranate tree (Sept. 2008).
Shirley enjoying our third (after drinking table wine & climbing) favorite activity in Greece (Sept. 2008).
A rainy day road trip and a short hike in northern Greece (Thessaly; Sept. 2008).
A traffic jam in northern Greece during one of our rainy day road trips (Sept 2008).
Holy Ghost (Heiliger Geist) and Kumarieskopf on another rainy day in Meteora (Sept. 2008).
Holy Ghost tower (left) and Doupiani Rock on yet another raining day in Meteora (Sept. 2008).
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).
Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens on Sourloti
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!
Belaying Shirley on pitch 1 (maybe 2?) of Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens. Note the nice stance provided by a large cobble (Sept. 2008).
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).
Leading pitch 2 (or 3?) of Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens on the beautiful Sourloti (Sept. 2008).
Shirley on pitch 2 of Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens which I think means Line Of Fallen Droplets. Makes total sense as it’s more of a “directissima” than say Hypotenuse line it intersects (Sept. 2008).
Shirley finishing pitch 2 (I’m pretty sure) of the Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens route (Sept. 2008).
..and P3 (Sept. 2008).
High on pitch 4 of Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens (Sept. 2008).
Leading pitch 5 of Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens on Sourloti’s south face. Very cool conglomerate rock (Sept. 2008).
Shirley on Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens on Sourloti’s south face. A great route! This is a typical belay at Meteora – look for the largest cobble stones & place a single ring bolt :). Pitch 4-ish or so perhaps. September 2008.
Looking back towards wine and Greek salad lunch from high on Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens on Sourloti tower (Sept. 2008).
Shirley topping out on pitch 5 (I’m pretty sure anyway) of Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens (Sept. 2008).
Views from Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens route (Sept. 2008).
Shirley at a belay station with the village below (Sept. 2008).
Shirley topping out on Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens route’s final pitch (#6). Spindel formation is in the background (Sept. 2008).
Shirley hiking back to the car after our final climb in Meteora and in Europe in 2008 (September 2008.)
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