Mountain Trekking
Unlike climbing and diving, trekking is something that any relatively fit person of any age can engage in, with various types of routes and terrain available to suit different individual capacities.
Certain ground rules including knowing about the area you intend to trek through, and such helpful tools as accurate maps and compasses, knowledge of weather conditions and appropriate clothing to deal with likely eventualities like rain or cold, travelling in groups in you are going into high territory, for purposes of safety, knowing what (and how much) potable water will be available en route and packing water accordingly, breathing in a relaxed and regular manner while you walk, not trying to outdue yourself, and taking rests, food, and drink as needed.
Other ground rules (quite literally), is to respect the 'ground' you walk on and not litter it with human garbage, but to collect and carry back with you anything that you brought that will not biodegrade (this meaning only organic matter such as fruit peels and remains of a meal, though best buried rather than strewn about for the next visitors to encounter).
Smokers should carry the kind of ashtrays now available that have a top that closes, taking their cigarette filters and butts with them. Though paper and tobacco can be carefully shredded and burned or buried, filters take a very long time to decompose and must be carried home with the smoker.
Toilet paper can of course be safely burned, or if buried, must be done so quite deeply. Plants should not be picked; now that digital cameras are available at quite affordable prices, anyone can take close-ups that can be kept and reproduced forever, in place of disturbing the natural habitat.
There are wonderful trekking routes all over Greece, with each season and each region and sub-region, offering something different. In spring there are wildflowers (flowering later in high altitudes, earlier in lower ones), with a series of specialized plants from the foothills of mountains all the way up to bare rocky peaks, passing through various habitats along the way.
Not only are there more than 100 mountaineering and mountain trekking clubs in Greece, many of which organize outings and offer instruction, but many tourist agencies also focus on such activities.
Additionally, walkers' guides, often with good and accurate, updated maps, are available locally in many places all over Greece, often written by foreigners who have settled there and researched old paths between villages, old shepherd's routes across islands, etc.
Eco-tourism is becoming increasingly popular by the year in Greece, and if you are visiting a particular area, a internet search of specific outdoor activities or guides can turn up a wealth of information.
Two international trails and 19 major national trails, many located in northern Greece, with two in the West, two in Central Greece and Evia (Euboea) and six in the Peloponnese.
The two international trails
European Trail E 6 begins at the port of Igoumenitsa (across from Corfu) and passes the famed Zagorohoria (the mountain villages in Ipiros (Epirus) to the northeast of the Ipirot capital of Ioannina (Yannina), villages where many of the old stone houses and mansions have been restored for tourist accommodation), and turns eastward past Kastoria, Edhessa, Siderokastro, Xanthi and Alexandhroupolis, hence tracing a line from the westernmost point of Greece on the coast of the Ionian Sea to its northeasternmost point near the border with Turkey, and encompassing the Greek regions of Ipiros, Macedonia, and Thrace.
European Trail E4 heads south from the northern border at Promakhonas and ends in Crete.
The 19 national trails are too numerous to describe here, but are available through the many mountain trekking clubs in Greece.
In Konitsa (northern Ipiros) and Grevena (western Macedonia) there are some tourist companies that feature outdoor sports such as kayaking in the Aoos River, mountain biking in the Pindos range, trekking in Valia Calda, and climbing Mt. Smolikas and Mt. Tymfi, including a possible trek through Valia Calda and Bear Creek to Vovoussa.
Valia Calda nature reserve
The name of this nature reserve belies its Vlach origins, the tongue of the Vlach shepherds of the Balkans being a Latin based one, and means 'warm valley'.
One of the many lovely places to go trekking in Greece, it is located in the area to the west of Grevena, in the westernmost part of Greece's largest mainland region of Macedonia, just of the edge of the Pindos mountain range, which separates Macedonia from Ipiros.
Beginning in the village of Ziakas, which is 23 km (15 miles) west of Grevena, one sees the high peak of Avgo (which means 'egg', and is at 2,179 meters (7,100 feet) up ahead.
A high altitude lake is on its eastern flanks (1900 meters/6250 feet) which is a fine wildflower site in spring, with some very rare flowers. Past the beautiful village of Perivoli, the road heads south towards Valia Calda, amid beech forest. The valley is at 1500 meters (5,000 feet) but loomed over by the Fleggas peak (2159 meters or 7000 feet). At the Stavros (which means 'crossroads') a view of the valley opens up with the high peaks reflected in the river. The dirt road end here, at the same point where a stone trough is fed by a spring.
From here a trail leads to the international European E 6, but if one heads for the lakes at Fleggas , that trail is soon left behind, and one continues on the trail to the lakes, passing through patch of beech forest and green meadows. The lakes are at 1800 meters (5900 feet), with icy water.
The trail goes on to the peak, from which there is a spectacular view that includes the artificial lake of the Aoos River. Wildlife found in this reserve includes seventeen species of mammals: brown bear, wolf, wild boar, fox, otter, and mountain antelope among them; seventy-two species of birds including one type of vulture, golden eagle, and black stork; six species of salamander and frog, and seven snakes, including the horn-nosed viper. The bears coming down from the hills to drink at Arkoudorema (Bear Creek).
Vovoussa
This village is located in the Eastern Zagori (the region of the Zagoro-horia) in the central part of the north south Pindos range. It is the most remote village in this area, in dense pine forest. The Aoos River flows through the village, its ancient name Voivoussa, source of the village name. A fine single arch stone bridge is found here, one of the finest in this area famous for such bridges, this one built in 1748, funded by a local donor.
First settled around 1000 AD, the village thrived during the Ottoman era, when the area was given a large degree of autonomy by the Ottoman rulers. There is a Forest Cooperative there now, with six mills that produce lumber for scaffolding. Due to the lack of tourism here, the architectural style has remained unmixed with modern features, and local customs also persist unspoiled. Forest roads and mountain trails intersect the forests of beech, fir, and mountain pine. Views include the peaks that surround Valia Calda (mentioned above), and the snowy peak of Mt. Smolikas, at 2898 meters (almost 10,000 feet). Paved and dirt roads lead to nearby sights, such as the above-mentioned artificial lake at the headwaters of the Aoos, and to the Valia Calda reserve. Vovoussa is accessible by road from Ioannina (to its southwest) east to Metsovo and then north, or from Grevena (from the southeast). Accomodation is available in the village.
