Crag features

Gigilos is a magical mountain and its Southwest Face is said to be the second highest rockface in Greece, with routes of up to 800m length. The average angle is relatively low (60 degrees), but the topography extremely complex. It contains butresses, ridges and walls of superb quality limestone, but none of these is continuous from the foot of the cliff to the summit - all routes cross terraces and/or gullies in places, which, though easy angled, often contain loose rock. All climbs are therefore alpine in nature.

The recognised routes are open to considerable variation - they refer more to an area of the cliff, than to an exact route, so route-finding skill is important.

Most of the climbs are described in the guidebook "Crete - Climbing in Chania" 2007, by Manolis Mesarchakis (still available). The nearest good gear shop is in Heraklion, 150km away.

For full details of any route contact Sifis Pentarakis, at the Lotos Cafe in Sougia, sifispen@yahoo.gr  0030 6973059691