Smolikas 2.637 m.

Smolikas is the second highest mountain in Greece, at 2,637 m. At Smolikas mountain you can combine one of the longest rides in Greece with an overall hike and ride experience, due to the location, and natural beauty of the mountain!

There are many ways to reach the top.

One of the easiest and most accessible trails to the summit starts from the village of Pades.

In this post, we chose to ascend to Smolikas summit from the village of Palioseli.

After Palioseli village we follow the dirt road which leads up to the Smolikas Refuge. We leave the car at the snow coverage start (differs each year and month).

We continue uphill with the skis and skins to the shelters following the path which even with a lot of freshies the road is very easy to find (there are several signs on the trees).

A wooden hut is hidden in the trees. Some people see it while other by pass it and continue straight to the big stone shelter.

From the Stone Smolikas Refuge (see the pic above), we have to continue uphill by following the signs of the path to the "Dragon Lake " through the forest. We ascend on the left side of the mountain stream until we get out of the woods and start seeing the surrounding peaks.

Continuing towards the ridge we will reach the dragon lake. The view of the summit is coming even closer but we quickly have to head there because it is still quite a distance.

Leaving the dragon lake behind we must continue uphill from the right side, going up from the ridge.

Snow on the ridge is usually frozen. Crampons and mountain axe are necessary.

Leaving the ridge, we continue to left trying to head again the ridge before the final ascent to the top.

When approaching the peak, the anxiety and excitement grow. It was a long way up here!

The view is magical ... The snow quality is usually excellent!

The view of the mountain top is fantastic!

DESCENT:

Descending from the summit to left in the big stream is the ride that everyone will be fascinated by. It requires a good snow condition analysis, as avalanches are a pretty common phenomenon in Smolikas.

We usually go down by the path we ascended and return to the shelters.

In order to return from that way, we will need to make 1 change to skins after the dragon lake and then back to ride all the way down in the woods.