Pachnes - Zaranokefala

[MichPaule]

Hi Arnulf,
thanks a lot for your explanation.
If I got it right this should be more or less your path:

Looks promising to me!
All the best!

Michael

[hollerfreund]

Hi

That's similar the path, Christoph 'prefers':
viewtopic.php?f=98&t=327#p1610

Regards
Matthias

[Arnulf]

Hello, again!

Yes - this is pretty close to the route I walked!

The eastern route of Mesa Torlouti seems to get into more difficult terrain, and you might have more heigthmeters - as far as I can see?? I think the route I walked is the fastest and most direct one. I had half an hour stop for eating at Pachnes , so I used aprox. 2 1/2 hour form Pachnes to the Zarani spring.

All the best

Arnulf

[Seba]

Hi,

Can anyone give me a time estimate if you would walk this section (going west of Mesa Tourloti) with backpack +-12kg (as part of a longer trek in the Lefka Ori) starting at Roussies?
Would you still have time and energy to also climb Zaranokefala, leaving backpack at the base, and afterwards make it to the spring?

Thanks,

Sebastiaan

[Rheinländer]

Hey Seba,

I just walked east of Mesa Tourloti but I think thats more or less the same time needed.

Roussies - Pachnes 1,5 hrs
Pachnes - Zaranokephala Summit 2 - 2,5 hrs
Zaranokephala Summit - Zarani-Spring 45 minutes

Walking back up to Zaranokephala Summit will need more time, because the ascend through the field of gravel is more strenous than the descend (two steps forward, one step backward). Therefore you should take into consideration to get more water at Roussies. Depends on your further planings.

Kalo dromo
Dennis

[Seba]

Thanks Dennis,

I think you are probably quite a bit faster than me The Cicerone guidebook gives 2h20mins from Roussies to Pachnes summit. I don't know if this is calculted for a person with backpack or only a daysack. But for me, the Cicerone time estimates usually (not always! Sometimes i am faster) work out. For instance, their estimate for the ascent from Katsiveli (also 2h20 mins), which i did in 2018, was spot on for me, almost to the minute.

If the section to Zaranokefala is only 2 to 2,5 hours like you say, there would be plenty of time to reach the summit and afterwards camp at the spring. Depending on the time, i would even consider to descend to Potamos mitato to walk Eligias gorge next day. If i can't make it to the mitato that day i will go down to Aradena next day.

I prefer the route west of Mesa Tourloti because it looks easier to navigate (no sinkholes).

Cheers,

Sebastiaan

[Rheinländer]

Yassou Seb,

coming back to this topic. I did Pachnes - western traverse of Mesa Tourloti - Zaranokephala three days ago. Took me again about two hours. Some holes during the traverse of Mesa Tourloti but no serious difficulties. Once you see Exo Tourloti after the traverse you turn right and ascend on a rocky band. You traverse Mesokephales and see the Zaranokephala summit very soon. It's a nice route.

Had a nice night on the Pachnes Summit.

Kalo dromo
Dennis