Pangaion (Mati)
1,956 m
Greece
Also known as Koutra, Кушница, +9Also known as
Koutra · Кушница · Pangeo · Μάτι · Pangaion · Pangée · Pangaionfjellene · Pınar Dağ · Pangajon · гора Мати · Pangaíon Óros
- Elevation
- 1,956 m
- Prominence
- 1,773 m
- Difficulty
- 1/10
- Easy walk
- Best Season
- May–Jun
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2The shortest way onto Mati (1,956 m), the highest summit of Pangaion: drive the asphalt road from Akrovouni or Eleftheroupoli to its end at the Chatzigeorgiou refuge (about 1,645 m) in the Orpheus valley, then walk the dirt track north-west to the summit, which carries the ERT broadcasting antenna. About 310 m of ascent.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 3.4 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +325 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,956 m
- Time Up
- 1h 32m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 12m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
The asphalt road from Akrovouni (signed for the Pangaio ski centre, about 20 km) or from Eleftheroupoli climbs to the high Orpheus valley on the south side of the main ridge and ends near the Chatzigeorgiou refuge (about 1,645 m), opposite the old ski centre. Park here. Follow the dirt track signed for Mati north-west out of the valley. It climbs in a wide loop past a water tank, where the path from Trikorfo joins at the first hairpin, onto the ridge at about 1,810 m, then turns west and follows the broad crest to the summit (1,956 m), which is occupied by telecommunications and ERT broadcasting antennas. The walk is about 2.5 km and has no difficulties in summer. Return the same way. Because a vehicle track reaches the top, the summit itself holds little mountaineering interest; the more rewarding hikes on Pangaion are the long approaches from Mesoropi or Eikosifoinissa, or the walk east to Avgo (1,835 m), which can be combined with this route.
Start
Καταφύγιο Χατζηγεωργίου1,640 m
- None to the refuge. Buses run from Kavala to Eleftheroupoli and Nikisiani.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Καταφύγιο Χατζηγεωργίου → Μάτι | 3.4 | 325 | 11 | 1h 32m |
Waypoints
- Hut: Καταφύγιο Χατζηγεωργίου1,640 m
End of the asphalt road in the Orpheus valley; parking
- Feature: Summit track ridge bend1,813 m
Track reaches the main ridge; paths to Trikorfo and Proti branch off
- Summit: Μάτι1,956 m
ERT and telecommunications antennas on the summit
Key Passages
- Summit track out of the Orpheus valley
- Broad main ridge to the antennas
Equipment
0/4 packedDownloads
Route confidence 60%Overview
Pangaion is the isolated massif between the Strymon and the Kavala plain, famous in antiquity for its gold and silver mines. Its highest summit, Mati (1,956 m), carries broadcasting antennas and is reached by a track; the real interest lies in the long forested approaches from the villages below.
Pangaion (Pangaio) rises about 40 km west of Kavala, between the lower Strymon to the west and the Philippi plain to the north-east, with the Aegean at its southern foot. It is an ultra-prominent massif (about 1,773 m of prominence) whose main ridge carries four tops close in height: Mati (1,956 m, also called Koutra), Trikorfo or Dikorfo (1,942 m), Voskos or Vlachos (1,858 m) and Avgo (1,835 m). The lower slopes are covered in chestnut, plane and beech forest; above about 1,600 m there are open alpine pastures and the high Orpheus valley.
The summit of Mati is occupied by ERT and telecommunications antennas and is reached by a dirt road, and an asphalt road climbs from Akrovouni and Eleftheroupoli to the Orpheus valley, the old ski centre and two club refuges. A drive and a one-hour walk is therefore enough to stand on top. Hikers looking for a real ascent take the waymarked paths from Mesoropi past the Voskovrysi cave, from the Eikosifoinissa monastery over Trikorfo, or the long south ridge from Podochori.
Climbing Notes
The ascent from the end of the road at the Chatzigeorgiou refuge is a one-hour walk with about 310 m of ascent, suitable for anyone. For a proper hike, the route from Mesoropi gains about 1,650 m and takes 6–7 hours to the summit; most people stay overnight at one of the refuges or arrange a pick-up at the road. Paths are generally waymarked, but the main ridge has no defined path in places and is easy to lose in fog; carry a GPS track.
Water is available at springs on the lower paths but not at the refuges. The asphalt road is snowbound in winter, when the upper mountain is a ski-touring and snowshoe destination for local clubs. The Kavala clubs (EOS Kavala, SChO Kavala) are the best source of current information on the refuges.
History
In antiquity Pangaion was renowned for its gold and silver mines and its shipbuilding timber, and was home to an oracle of Dionysus. Athens founded a colony nearby at Ennea Hodoi in 465 BC to reach the metal deposits, later re-founded as Amphipolis. Ancient mine entrances are still visible near the Chatzigeorgiou refuge. The monastery of Panagia Eikosifoinissa stands on the northern slopes. No record of a first ascent exists.
Season
Best May–Jun- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best
- October: Best
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snow; road to the refuges often closed; ski touring
- Feb
- Snow; ski touring
- Mar
- Snow on the ridge
- Apr
- Lower paths good; snow patches high
- May
- Good conditions; spring flowers
- Jun
- Good conditions
- Jul
- Hot on the lower approaches; summit pleasant
- Aug
- Hot on the lower approaches; ferns over the paths
- Sep
- Good conditions
- Oct
- Chestnut and beech autumn colours
- Nov
- First snow possible on the ridge
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- The Chatzigeorgiou refuge is managed by the Kavala Ski and Mountaineering Club (SChO Kavala); the Alexandros Tsilogeorgis refuge below Avgo by EOS Kavala (mail@eoskavalas.gr). Contact the clubs in advance; neither is reported to be permanently staffed.
- Rules
- Fenced telecommunications and ERT antenna installations on the summit of Mati
- Getting There
Eleftheroupoli
Kavala (KVA)
- Car: from Akrovouni take the paved road to the Pangaio ski centre (about 20 km) to the refuges in the Orpheus valley; an asphalt road also climbs from Eleftheroupoli
- Mesoropi trailhead: about 40 km west of Kavala
- Buses (KTEL Kavala) to Eleftheroupoli, Nikisiani and some villages; no public transport to the refuges
Hazards
- Weather
- Remoteness
Huts & Shelters
2- 1,550 m
Καταφύγιο Αλέξανδρος ΤσιλογεώργηςRefuge
By arrangement with EOS Kavala
- 1,645 m
Καταφύγιο ΧατζηγεωργίουRefugeUnstaffed
60 beds · By arrangement with SChO Kavala