The Eyes of the Askifou Plateau Traditional Cache
The Eyes of the Askifou Plateau
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Askifou plateau is about 50 kilometres from Chania, at an altitude
of 730 metres, and is part of the area known as Sfakia.
You will find yourself on the Askifou Plateau if you take the road
from Vrisses village to Hora Sfakion, Loutro or
Frangokastello.
Vrisses is above the north road axis and the road from here to
Askifou is uphill, relatively narrow and with many bends.
Description of the area:
Askifou plateau is surrounded by the White Mountains and resembles
a giant cup, a skyphos in Ancient Greek, whence the name
Askifou.
Many thousands of years ago, the Askifou Plateau was probably a
large lake.
In 1821 there was a battle here between the Turks and the Sfakians,
resulting in victory for the locals, unfortunately the villages of
Askifou were burned down by Hussein Bey two years later, in
1823.
A relic of those times is the small fortress still standing at the
top of the hill northeast of the plateau.
Places to go from the Plateau:
The peaks of the White Mountains you see on reaching Askifou from
the north are Kastro to the west (2,218 m), Tripali to the east (1,
493 m) and Agathes (1,511 m) to the south.
•The road to Hora Sfakion and Frangokastello continues through
the southern pass. Here, too, is the entrance to the Imbros Gorge,
a beautiful gorge which you can walk down in two hours, ending at
the village of Komitades.
•To the east of the plateau is a road which descends to the
abandoned village of Asfendou and the Kallikratis plateau. From
Kallikratis you can go either to Frangokastello or to Asi Gonia and
from there to the verdant Springs of Argiroupoli and
Rethymnon.
•To the west of the plateau is a road and a path leading up to
Niato Plateau and the Tavri mountain lodge. This is the start of a
hiking route in the White Mountains, the climb to Kastro peak
(2,218 m).
When you get to the Askifou Plateau:
There is a great Cafe Taverna to stop for lunch. Near there you
will find a paved road. Take this to the parking spot (N35 17.623
E024 11.321). Starting point for walking is here. (PARKING). From
here walk to the first gate at (N35 17.645 E024 11.393).
Once in the gate follow the fence on your right up the hill. Not
much of a path but you will soon come to what looks like a
farmer’s road.
In front of you will see another gate with a rock in the middle
enter here (N35 17.622 E024 11.432) from here make your way up the
hill and somewhere up there you will find the cache.
The fences are for the goats and sheep’s, they are normally
easily opened by rope or wire. Just close them again.
GOOD LUCK!
The cache:
Is a plastic box in plastic bag hidden somewhere within the
Plateau, how high or low you go is up to you. The cache has a few
smaller things inside, log-book, and pencil. Please set it back
just like it is found.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur pyhr vf va gur anzr bs gur Pnpur.