Kithaironas

Overview

Mt Kithaironas is the 2nd highest mountain in Attiki province after Parnitha,being 4m lower.The mountain has a direction from west-east roughly,extending its long ridgeline in this direction.It rises just above Kaza pass(630m) in the road that connects Elefsina with Thiva and proceeds to the west with a narrow and long ridgeline up to the peak.From the peak the ridgeline continues in the same direction losing elevation and finally divides into two parallel ridgeline that fall gradually to the Korinthian gulf.From Kaza pass,Pastra mountain(1025m)begins,and unites Kithairon with Parnitha.It is located in the northwestern area of Attiki province 60km from Athens approximately.It offers very impressive views of sea as it rises directly,from The gulf of Aigosthena.Aigosthena gulf is a small gulf inside the Korinthian gulf.The horizontal distance from Aigosthena gulf to the peak of the mountain is 4-4.5km,making the mountain quite steep,and very prominent as it hangs above sea.This concerns the south-southwest side of the mountain.The north side of the mountain has more forests and rises for 1100m elevation gain,from a large plateau southwest of Thiva,to the area of the peak.At the end of this plateau,at the feet of the mountain is located the village and archaelogical site of Plataies(390m).The closest villages in the mountain are Vilia(520m),Erythres(400m),Plataies(380m) and Porto Germeno(Aigosthena) at sea level.Porto Germeno is at the SW side of the mountain,Vilia in a small plateau at the SE of the mountain,Plataies N of the mountain and Erythres NE of the mountain.The most difficult ascent of the mountain is from Aigosthena,due to the big elevation gain(1400m).One can also ascent to Kithaironas from Kaza pass,crossing the whole eastern ridgeline,or from Plataies through the north slopes and the fir forest but without defined path.The easiest routes for the peak are:

1.From a water tank(620m),just 2 km west of Vilia(4hours)
2.From st.Triadas monastery(570m),4km west of Plataies(3 hours).

The highest peaks of the mountain are:
The highest-nameless 1409m
Treis Korifes 1358m
Fraseri 1043m
Loukisthi 998m
Lestori 986m

Getting There

Independently of the village,from which someone starts the ascent,the fastest way,to get someone to the mountain is from Elefsina,following the old national road Elefsina-Thiva.Elefsina is reached via Attika highway or the national road Athens-Korinthos being 25km away from Athens.If we go to Vilia 25-27km north of Elefsina we turn left and after 5km we are in the village.Kaza pass is in the national road5km from the road that leads to Vilia.Erythres are in the national road Elefsina-Thiva 6-7km after Kaza pass.From Erythres there is a smaller road that leads to Plataies(5km).There also is a narrow tarmac road, that starts from Vilia and ascents to the top of the mountain after 14km.At the top of Kithaironas there is a huge radiator and lots of buildings,because an airport base operated there.Now it's abandoned and only some old buildings have remained.Also from Plataies there is a very narrow and steep tarmac road that ends after 3km,leading to the aerathletic centre of Plataies.There someone can take off with a paraglide.The area of the mountain is 55-65km away from Athens and it takes a 1 hour drive from Athens to reach the mountain.There are buses from Athens to Vilia,Erythres and from Thiva to Plataies.

Red Tape

No pemissions are needed to ascent the mountain.One can ascent via car the peak to take a first idea of the mountain.

Camping

There is a refuge in the mountain at 1090m altitute,in the ridgeline just 2,5hours east from the summit.The name of the refuge is ''Vaggelis Tsakos".There is also a smaller refuge in the area of the peak,apart from the abandoned buildings where someone can pass the night.

External Links

For weather forecasts:
http://www.meteo.gr
http://www.poseidon.gr

Maps-Weather conditions

As concerning maps the only useful map of the mountain is the map of Anavasi:Kithaironas 1:25.000,that covers the whole area of the mountain.The weather conditions are similar to Mt Parnitha as they have similar altitute.Insignificant avalance risks,but 1-2 months annual snow-coverage in the area of the peak.So gaiters or maybe a piolet are very useful for a winter ascent.

Images

View Kithaironas Image Gallery - 54 Images