Off-road trips on Mt. Parnitha
Last update: 14-05-2001
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Although this mountain is located very close to Athens, only a few people
know that there are ancient Athenian fortifications (Fili, Dekeleia, Panakton, Limiko, Pyrgari), small caves and
many nice enduro and hiking paths on it. This is my favorite place for light and serious off-roading and hiking.
(Part of the northern edges of the mountain. A polarization filter was used) |
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Our first New Year Cake fete took place on the Parnitha mountain (1999). Thirteen TAers gathered there to celebrate our first massive Hellas Transalp Club meeting. Since then, this meeting has become a custom of the Club. A special "slow going" competition also takes place, where the winner is the one who will lap the longer time to run a given distance (a lot of fun and difficulty while doing this, you can try yourself to verify but be sure clutch is in fine condition first). Many forgot not to put their feet on the ground while doing this (one did that on the start signal, see red TA on the 3rd pic). |
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Our first Transalp Club "trial" ride, held at 30-5-2001. Eleven TA 600, four TA650, an AT750, an AX-1, a CR250 and a XR250. Traveled 70 km of dramatic landscapes of which 50km on dirt, including small amounts of mud, slopes, forest paths and a lot of (dusty or not) rocky roads. Also including hiking in a gorge and a visiting a cave. (Photos by Kostas Chatzithomaoglou) |
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Bypassing a large hole that was completely blocking the forest road. Left: ascending the path. Right: descending it. Fairly easy. |  |
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Entering a mud pothole. Right, Marlene on her XR250. |  |
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Left, entering the mud, fully optimistic. Right, something is going wrong... |  |
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After the fall. | |
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Our gang on tarmac. Impatiently waiting for the next dirt road. On right, one of the most joyful parts of the ride: slightly uphill stony road, no dust, potholes everywhere. Need to drive in standing (away from the seat) position for 4 km. Those stupid wide-angle lens of the cheap digital cameras (not able to see the really bad condition of the track). |  |
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On left, part of the company in lunch time. On the right, my partially failed attempt to climb the slope (TA felt on grass, immediately after reaching the top and Sotiris helps me to lift her up). |  |
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A few km on dusty gravel road, passing through numerous bees hives, then we left our motorcycles to walk on the slope of Goura gorge. Target: a cave known from thousand years ago (ancient Greek ceramic was found inside). |  |
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Views of a small part of the gorge. Walking through its whole length is impossible without using ropes and associated techniques. We walked on a trail path over it, of course. |  |
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The cave, looking from a steep rock, about 6 m above. Fortunately, there are cavities on the rock to help climbing. But they didn't prevent a few members of the team from changing their decision not to climb down.. |  |
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On the right, a last picture of our motorcycles, near the end of the ride. |  |