Slot Canyon Atlas

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Mesosfini

verified ACA 4A III R Low flood risk Paranimfi, Heraklion

A dry Asterousia line down two huge cliff walls, a 90 meter and a final 80 meter, past faces where vultures nest.

The start sits 2.4 km east of Abas as the crow flies. Access via Paranimfi following signs for Tris Ekklisies: about 1 km past a chapel on the right, take the first piste left then the first piste right, and stop at the col beyond a stretch of fields and olive groves, which overlooks the easily visible start. Park on the piste some forty meters above it. Rock type not published by either source.

Logistics

PermitNo permit required. Ropewiki records Requires permits: No.
Distance0.99
Elevation1444
TimeAbout 4.5 hr descent with a 3 min approach and no return walk. Ropewiki spans 4 to 5 hr overall.
TechnicalACA 4A III R (v5a1 IV). Minimum 80 m rope in single; biggest waterfall 90 m. A splendid dry route that starts in a narrows then takes on two big waterfalls cutting cliffs where numerous vultures nest and will watch you the whole way down. The first is the 90 m, done as a 10 m rappel then an 80 m. A 5 m, either a river left rappel off a single anchor or a downclimb under a block on river right, plus a 15 m leads to the final 80 m, which can be split at a mid height anchor. Anchors are 8 mm spits and every stance is comfortable, but friction needs managing, especially on the first 80 m.
SeasonAnytime. Descente-canyon says it runs all year and is generally dry.
Flood riskNormally a dry route, so flash flood exposure is lower than the Cretan average, but descente-canyon calls it a trip of real scale with two 80 m pitches and no quick way off. Cancel on rain over the Asterousia.
Vehicle access9 km shuttle. The piste east of the canyon is shorter and steep, and interesting with a 4x4. Descente-canyon warns the shuttle piste marked in the Crete guidebook east of the canyon is not drivable in a normal car.
Crowd3.9 of 5 across 5 ropewiki votes; 2.6 of 4 across 10 votes on descente-canyon.
Coordinates34.9566, 25.1588

Sources