Volakias – 2.116 m Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The Mountain
Volakias with its 2.116 meters is the westernmost summit reaching 2.000 m of the Lefka Ori Range, the White Mountains of Crete. Like its neighbour Gigilos (1.980 m) it towers high above one of Europe's longest canyons, the famous Samaria Gorge and thanks to the popularity of the canyon, millions of visitors have seen its east faces from the canyon floor. Though higher and larger than Gigilos, Volakias stands in the shadow of its lower neighbour. Gigilos with its dolomite east face dominates Xiloskalo, the northern entry point to the gorge so that few people even remember the broad top which peeps out behind the vertical Gigilos rock.
Moreover, Gigilos, perhaps after Crete's highest mountain, Psiloritis, is the island's most popular and most frequently climbed mountain. Tour groups climb the sharp edged ledges towards its summit but few head onwards to the neighbour, Volakias. They miss one of the best panoramas the island has to offer but they also miss a very difficult route to the summit and back. Difficult due to route finding problems.
The Ascent
The regular route to Volakias heads across the Gigilos western summit with its large cairn, and while guidebooks claim it's just a short traverse to the saddle, which separates the two mountains, this traverse is all but easy. While Gigilos' eastern part is made up from solid dolomite, its western and southern parts are made up from the usual Cretan limestone, too brittle to place any protection. There is lots of scree on the steep slopes and rockfall is a serious problem when more than a small party descends the mountain. There are some cairns which indicate a route – but to tell the truth, these cairns might also be accidentally placed rocks. With a little experience the traverse doesn't get too difficult but it certainly is not a route for beginners.
There is a second route to Volakias, traversing the Gigilos western slopes from saddle to saddle. However, this route at its beginning (near the saddle between Psilafi and Gigilos) traverses several dolines, collapsed caves which today form crater-like depressions in the slope. Crossing this labyrinth is far from easy and you might find yourself descending far too low to reach the saddle between Gigilos and Volakias. This route is used as a return-route from Volakias.
Volakias itself is made up from large limestone blocks and boulders. There is a decent path, which leads close to the summit but near the top you are left to yourself. Volakias has two summits, the northern (and higher one) carries a (fallen) summit pillar. The southern one can be reached by somewhat exposed rock hopping along the connecting ridge. (Text in parts courtesy of www.summitpost.org)
The Cache
You just have to reach Volakias' main summit and locate the fallen summit pillar (see spoiler photo). Look under its rock base and lift a couple of smaller stones. Please rehide carefully!
A small note on cache maintenance: Cache was left on vacation, but local geocachers wind&water will assist with maintenance until our next stay in Crete.
The Greek Geocaching site (Only in Greek)
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)