| j.13. 07. 2022 17:46:10 |
Spathi, 2148 m, Dikti range, Crete, Saturday, July 9.
Night was calm, wake-up at four am not too oppressive. First sunrays caught me in Zenia village, about 700m below Lassithi plain. Good sun rose. Had five hiking layers on, froze like a cat on motorcycle. Continued through numerous villages. To Avrakondes warmed up nicely. From there another five km by bike to last modest farm below impressive north face of Spathi. Track there awful, full of big rocks bike doesn't like, left it at farm. Morning sunrays embracing surrounding peaks, in valley under Spathi where path goes, at least lower part promised nice shade. Three water bottles (4.5l) and some essential gear ready in backpack. Not too light, but last time here temps near 40 despite altitude. Quite remote areas.
Path to saddle at approx 1800m part of E4 European trail, marked with signs on tall metal poles or rocks. Lower part fades in torrential deposits, but cairns help. From first steeper slopes well traceable and easy. Pleasantly cool, still short sleeves, fresh morning breeze crawling from peaks to valley. At sign around 1400m sun caught me from behind Spathi wall, but to saddle at 1800m where path branches from E4 left to summit not too hot yet.
To summit another 350m. On broad ridge path barely traceable, cairns and red paint dots help. Noted on descent mostly painted for ascent. Higher crosses south slopes. Heat hit full force there, but only minutes till wind started, now from one side, then other. Path not too demanding, think gripped rock once with hand. That's all.
If right, triangulation point on summit. Greek flag fluttering last year, gone this year. Sign lower on path to shelter direction also gone. Views to nearby peaks wonderful, rest of island in hazy mists. Noticed one or two modest July snow patches.
Had late breakfast, some Slovenian cheese, Hungarian salami and half-ripe peppers, spiced with couple grape sugar tabs. Water to summit less than one bottle, so carefree after not too hard pathless to neighboring Lazaros (2085m). First descend 250m to small valley between peaks. But before descent, north wind piled dark clouds on peaks pushing south. Sometimes fog spilling down, elsewhere holes in it for views. Stubborn into unknown in mostly foggy pathless no sense, so used fog break, returned via south slopes of Spathi to saddle path. Before it started raining, fog thickened.
As path poorly traceable here, marks only for ascent, glad for every cairn. Plenty there, just right for conditions. Heard bells of many sheep ahead going same direction sans shepherd. Down. They knew why. Soon thunder, sheep faster. Me too, suddenly clear to me.
Hour before starting farm rain stopped. Sun out. North face Spathi slowly shedding damp fog. Through nasty rolling stones, annoying even dry, reached bike. Glad. Rain washed it too, left dusty spots. Needs cleaning. Winding but nice road, bid farewell to Lassithi plateau. Before Agios Nikolaos fueled up. Liter petrol 2.37 EUR, under 20 cents cheaper than east Crete where returning.
Details on Modrina neba.
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