Climbing Festival in Kyparissi

The climbing festival in Kyparissi, two weeks ago, was a great success. Up to 200 climbers and invited guests gathered at the crags to try the meanwhile 150 established new routes. My personal climbing partner was Aristomenis Thanopoulos, one of the Greek pioneers. I had not only a good climbing partner but also a large audience, which gave strong support when I tried my projects. It was not without reason, why I on-sighted 'Jerome the Gangster, 7c+', a challenging tufa line and 'Zarax, 8a', a route with big stalactites hanging down from the steep wall. Moreover, I did the first ascent of 'Medula's Blood', another steep route in the 8b range. However, mine and Aristo's favourite crag is the sector Babala on the main wall above the sea. There, Aristo did the third repetition after Bernie and me in our route 'Carpe Diem' to the first anchor, which is about 8a+. In Babala I was successful as well and did the first ascent of the outstanding project that Bernie and I bolted there last time in June. I call it 'Mythos' and suggest the grading 8b/+. Babala hosted more fantastic lines which stimulated my adrenalin. I did a flash of the tufa jewellery 'Leodokardo, maybe 8a' and the 50 meter long and steep endurance test 'Magnum Opus, 7c+'.

After a tough climbing marathon the whole crowd gathered at the hotel Cavo Kortia for the opening ceremony where the owners of the house had prepared a delicious dinner for their guests. The major hold a speech to thank all the representatives for their inexhaustible effort and Aris Theodoropoulos as well as 'my humble self' talked about general topics of the climbing sport.