Gramos is the fourth highest mountain in Greece. This mountain remains unexplored by many because of its location (border with Albania) and its difficult access during winter.
From the northern side, you can reach the village of Gramousta (1400m) by a car when the road clears from the snow, usually around March. From the south side, you can reach Gramos mountain from the village of Aetomilitsa (1450 m).
NECESSARY THINGS WITH YOU:
Water (last spring in the village)
Map, GPS
Crampons and Ice Axe
ASCENT:
From the village of Gramos or Gramousta at 1,380 m follow the dirt road to the south towards the mountain. As soon as we start to gain height the dirt road ends and the snow cover begins. The time you have to hike before you continue with the skins depends on the season you choose to visit the mountain and usually varies between 20 '- 60'.
Follow the trail (the use of a mountain map or GPS will be helpful) that leads to the alpine Lake of Gistova and the peak of Tsouka Petsik.
The route below was made with mountaineering skis and starts from Gramos Lodge and ends to Gistova lake 2360 m.
The trail heads south and after the first peak, Sakouli 2414m, continues on the ridge (the ridge is the natural border with Albania) until we reach the frozen Gistova lake, at 2360 m, the highest lake in Greece.
After the lake the path to the top is clear, we have to follow the ridge leading to the steep slope of the summit.
From the lake, the distance to the top, depending on the weather always, is about 1.5 - 2 hours of continuous ascent.
Crampons and Ice Axe absolutely necessary.
The following route was not made by skiing or splitboard but is the path from Gramos Lodge to the summit.
DESCENT:
Due to the many and large streams, the descent should be planned before even starting from the top to the lake and then to the village following the ascent path.
Gramos, like most mountains in Greece, is quite remote from civilization. Whenever we decide to visit such a mountain, let's not forget that an emergency rescue or aid would take many many hours to reach us.
To reach the summit, the best is to approach a day with nice weather and start the climb very early in the morning so that there is enough time to return without a rush.
Snow above 2200m is usually frozen.
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