Oiti

The map

The map shows with a great degree of accuracy all paths going through Oiti. As you can see, most paths start from villages and climb up the mountain tops. The mountain's northern slope can be climbed up from the villages of lpati, Loutra Ipatis, Kompotades, Mexiates. Its western slope can be climbed up from Neochori and Kastania; its southern one from Pavliani, Kastriotissa and pira; and, finally, its eastern slope can be climbed up from Gorgopotamos. aΙΙ sides apart from the southern ones are quite steep, and the villages built by the mountain's feet are situated at a low altitude; as a result, it is only hill-walkers in excellent physical condOition that should be able to climb these paths. On the contrary, the south side offers much calmer hillsides, while villages are built at about 1000m above sea level, with the altitude difference up to the mountain top being significantly reduced as a result. Needless to say, experienced hill-walkers will find climbing up from the northern side a unique experience.

The paths are quite easily discernible, and some of them (like Ipati - Katafigio) are partly signposted. Recently, on the initiative of the Municipal Enterprise of Loutra Ipatis, the mountaineering clubs of Lamia and Loutra Ipatis, and with the assistance of all the Communities of the neighbouring areas, a model signposting is under way, the objective is for hill-walkers to be able safely to go both through and round the whole of Oiti massif

Before setting off, please make sure you study this map closely. Take heed of the distances and altitude differences involved in the route you choose, so that you get to the end of your route successfully.

Further down you will find aΙl routes. Unfortunately, before the signposting is completed, it will not be easy to follow them all. If you decide to set off without any knowledge of the mountain whatsoever, you should at least be able to read the map and to know how to use the compass. If you are the proud owner of a GPS, things will definitely be much better.

The routes

Below, you will find the eleven routes that traverse the massif of Oiti. You will see that with the exception of the two last ones, the other routes constitute a net of paths intertwining either at the Katafigio Trapeza (Trapeza Shelter), or at the Greveno peak, or, finally, at the Pirgos peak which is actually the highest peak of Oiti. Since it is ratheτ difficult ta walk these routes in one day you had better spend two days (at the very least) with an overnight stop either in a shelter or a tent. The routes are the following:

1: Ipati - Trapeza shelter - Gτeveno peak - Pirgos peak.
2. Pavliani - Katavothres clearing - Pirgos peak. (Routes 1 and 2 if combined offer complete crossing of Ιti)
3. Loutra Ipatis - Trapeza shelter.
4. Mexiates - Karitsa clearing (this route actually meets with route 3).
5. Arghirochori - Karitsa clearing.
6. Ipati - Monastery of Arsali.
7. Louka clearing (just above Kobotade's) - Greveno peak.
8. Kastania - Pirgos peak.
9. Neochori - Pirgos peak.
10. Papadias bridge - Railway station of Trachis (along the railway).
11. Papadias bridge - crossing Asopos river.