Ascent of Ipsárion on 2014-09-17| Others in Party: | Andrew Tibbetts
----Only Party on Mountain | | Date: | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 | | Ascent Type: | Successful Summit Attained | | Motorized Transport to Trailhead: | Car | | Peak: | Ipsárion | | Location: | Greece | | Elevation: | 3428 ft / 1044 m |
Ascent Trip ReportThis was an unplanned peak, fitted in after Fengari. After a bit of inconclusive Internet research we reckon if we get to Keramoti by 0600 we should catch the early ferry. As we arrive they are starting boarding for the 0630 ferry so I buy tickets at the roadside kiosk while Andrew takes the car aboard - all wonderfully informal. We're ashore at Thassos by 0740.
Andrew had previously noted there's a dirt-road hike from the west (Maries, about 10km each way); openmtb mapping on my GPS shows a shorter route from the east. A nice map (Geopsis.com) we buy for €6 aboard the ferry confirms both routes, and we choose the short steep one, as quicker and more interesting. According to the map there is a mountain race (Ypsarion trail running race) which ascends by this route.
Taking the main coast road clockwise we soon reach the village of Potamia. The Ipsario ascent route is signposted from N40.71723 E24.72711 with roadside parking at the start. We hike at 0800, the route following a concrete road for 1km then continuing unpaved. The route is well marked (signs, red paint and plastic marker tape) all the way to the summit. At N40.71646 E24.70182 we take a signed turn L onto a foot trail. At N40.71515 E24.69854 610m we fork R at an overflowing litter bin (clear paint marking) then follow zigzag trail up onto grassy ridge at N40.71014 E24.69430 953m where we turn L and follow the paintmarked trail, which passes a mountain hut, securely locked so presumably a club hut. Several other buildings: one has a female black redstart trapped inside, which we gallantly usher outside. Beyond, we see several signs relating to Astrocamping, a pastime requiring a tent, telescope and a clear sky, none of which we have today: we start in rain, which soon stops, but the upper half of our route is in cloud with a chilly wind higher up.
Final part of climb has some slabby sections, damp and greasy today and requiring care, especially in descent. Slabby summit N40.70336 E24.70560 is marked by a small trig pillar over a separate block with top cap and cross-marked metal disc underneath intact. It's cold and windy so we head down after 10 mins, taking care on the slippery rocky path. We make the 1050m ascent in 1h50 and descend in 1h15. The timing is right to get us back in time to board the 1215 ferry - except the sailing seems to have been brought forward to 1145 so we buy tickets (from a kiosk beside the ferry queueing area) and being told to be quick, we drive straight on! Our impromptu morning island visit has gone rather well.
We head northwest, planning to climb Kerkini (Radomir) either this pm or tomorrow depending on progress and weather. |
| Summary Total Data | | Total Elevation Gain: | 2936 ft / 894 m | | Round-Trip Distance: | 8 mi / 12.8 km | | Trailhead: | 492 ft / 149 m | | Grade/Class: | YDS 1 | | Quality: | 6 (on a subjective 1-10 scale) | | Route Conditions: | Road Hike, Maintained Trail | | Weather: | Drizzle, Pleasant, Windy, Low Clouds
Drizzle at start | | Ascent Statistics | | Time: | 1 Hours 50 Minutes | | Descent Statistics | | Time: | 1 Hours 15 Minutes | GPS Data for Ascent/Trip
 GPS Waypoints - Hover or click to see name and lat/long
Peaks:  climbed and  unclimbed by Rob Woodall
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