Askifou to Katsiveli (and onwards) in May?

[Daniel]

Hello!
I'm planning, once again, to make the hike from Askifou to Katsiveli and on through the rest of the Lefka Ori. I learned through experience and in this forum that my usual time for Crete hiking - late october - is not suitable for the mountains. After my last attempt, in 2023, after having got some good advice here, I ended up along the coast again because of the weather conditions in the mountains. It was a very beautiful hike, as always, along the coast, but I'm feeling a bit like Bilbo now - "I want to see mountains again, Gandalf, mountains!!"

So, I'm thinking about going in May next year. The description here says that it is possible to hike this part from middle/late May. So my first question is - what kind of weather can I expect up in the mountains between May 9 and May 17? Temperatures, rain, fog?

Cheers,
//Daniel

[MichPaule]

So, I'm thinking about going in May next year. The description here says that it is possible to hike this part from middle/late May. So my first question is - what kind of weather can I expect up in the mountains between May 9 and May 17? Temperatures, rain, fog?

Hi Daniel,
in general this time is suitable for your desired walk as the chance for rain or fog is low. On previous years weather already was dry and warm.
In case this winter will bring a lot of snow (much appreciated by the locals) you could expect some patches of snow to cross. So carry equipment with you!
But anyways you'll have to check when arriving in Crete.
Daylight temperatures should not be a problem but expect a drop during night (Katsiveli). I already had 2-5°C with clear sky.
Happy planning!

Michael

[Jayhickson]

Generally a great time to be walking in the Lefka Ori, though when I arrived at the start of June last year, the weather had just turned into an early heatwave from an unusual cold and wet May. I'm planning on a May trip next year, I'm hoping 2024's weather was a one off!

As Michael mentions, carry equipment to deal with the snow - it feels crazy to be walking into a warm sunny coastal village with an ice axe and crampons on your rucksack, but it really is a different world in the high mountains

What route are you considering to take from Askifou to Katsiveli?

[Daniel]

Thank you for your replies! The temperatures I can handle. I was by Katsiveli in 2019, and set camp just west of it (the sun set before I came to the meadow from Xyloskalo), and the morning was quite chilly, not many degrees above zero celsius, if any!

But - Ice axe? I have never used an ice axe before, so if there is a risk I would have to use one, I'm not sure if the timing is right? Crampons I can live with, I wore those when I was up on Kebnekaise, our highest peak here in Sweden. But how can "patches of snow" make an ice axe a recommended tool to bring?

I'm planning on taking the E4 trail from Askifou - I guess the "new" path on the northern slope of Kastro instead of going up on the ridge. I guess that some parts are more steep and if those areas are snow covered, maybe one would need an ice axe?

[MichPaule]

I also would stick to crampons as I don't have an ice axe.
But the "new" path on the north slope of Kastro might have snow and unfortunately doesn't have room for errors.
So if you slip and slide down then the ice axe would be your only help!
That's what Jay probably had in mind?
So take care!

[Jayhickson]

Yes, an ice axe is essential for arresting a slide, it's a simple concept that you can practice - there's plenty of videos to guide you.

As Michael mentions, Kastro's north face path could possibly be quite snowy in May - there are some scary holes in that area and it's steep terrain. Being able to stop quickly if you slip is important, even if it's just to save yourself a massive inconvenience of sliding far down a hillside from where you want to be

I like an old Alpine style axe, they function as a walking stick too as they're longer than modern axes

[admin]

Hi Daniel,

the north side of Kastro is probably the most critical section on this trip. If you have passed it, it should become easier as the exposure of the slopes is then more south-facing, with the exception of a short stretch around Grias Soros. I would recommend crampons for Kastro and I would also think about the old path along the ridge as an alternative - it could be easier to go up first and then only handle a shorter, difficult section towards the Koutalas saddle. Or, another option in case of snow: Stay in the valley and take the route via Plakias (?) cistern / spring up to Koutalas Seli.

The question definitely is and cannot be answered at the moment: How much snow can we expect thsi winter? There wasn't too much during the last years. I assume that Crete has had the last real winter about 5 years ago.

Best wishes
Simon

[Frank]

Hi Daniel,
I only know the "old" path, beginning directly on the ridge to kastro summit. In my "early" cretean years I tryed to realise that path in may of various years. I remember, that we turned back 2 or 3 times, some minutes after the point, where you leave the ridge, at the first snow field, because of the risk of crossing the fields. But, i must say, without any equipment and without experiences in similar situations. We are amateurs. And I still know, that on the original path there were no footsteps of other hikers to see. We tryed the crossing without baggage and I remember, it felt not so good (for us) because of the long and steep snow fields in direction of the valley.
Some years later after my first attempt i made it fortunatly also during may, but without snow.

Normaly in the middle of may you will have there 3 or 4 snowfields, some hundred meters long, ca. 50-100 m wide, steep, that you have to pass on the horizontal E4- path. They begin ca.100 m above the path and end ca. 200 m under the path (depending the winter....).

Later I also heard, as I remember well from Simon and some weeks before also from Jay (Jayhickson....autumn 2025), that you can bypass the fields 100 m above the original E4 (or higher), where the snowfields begin... to reach Kouteli Seli at the end of this passage.

The ridge to Kastro summit itself everytime was free of snow (maybe because off effect of the wind).

By the way, this area is very nice to see from the airport and the port of Souda, from the bus along the northern coast, from the center of chania. You can count the snow-tongues and and you will see, what size the snowfields will have, depending the winter- and springtime before.

Greetings

Frank

[Frank]

... and a picture from May 2011, point of return for our group in front off the first snowfield...