Vourinos (Drisinikos)
1,866 m
Greece
Also known as Bourinos, Червена гора, +6Also known as
Bourinos · Червена гора · Berg Vourinos · Ντρισινίκος (Βούρινος) · Vourinos · Μπούρινος · Вуринос · Voúrinos
- Elevation
- 1,866 m
- Prominence
- 1,138 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- May–Jun
- Routes
- 0
Overview
Vourinos (locally Bourinos) is a compact mountain between Siatista and Aiani in western Macedonia, built of ophiolite and limestone. Its summit, Drisinikos (1,866 m), is reached in about 2½ hours from the Siatista club refuge, with a short scramble onto the summit plateau.
Vourinos forms the natural border between the prefectures of Grevena and Kozani, rising from the Siatista area south towards Aiani. It looks like a southern continuation of Siniatsiko but is separated from the limestone massif of Askio by the low Bara pass, and its geology is very different: two parallel ridges, a serpentinite (ophiolite) western ridge, Upper Vourinos, with the highest summits Drisinikos (1,866 m), Paliomonastiro and Tsamia or Neraida, and a limestone eastern ridge, Lower Vourinos.
Between them lies the high plateau of Kokkina Chomata ('red earth'), rich in terra rossa, and on the west side the Mesiano Nero valley, an environmentally important area where the ophiolite meets the limestone. Black pine, juniper and box grow on the ophiolite slopes. Water is scarce: the springs are captured in fountains and troughs, and artificial ponds serve wildlife and livestock.
The mountain sees few visitors. The ascent from the Siatista club refuge is short, but the steep path above the fire lookout and the rock cut onto the summit plateau make it more serious than its modest height suggests. From the top the view takes in Smolikas, Vasilitsa, the Pindus and the Aliakmonas valley.
Climbing Notes
A half-day outing from the refuge for hikers comfortable on steep, rocky ground and with a few metres of easy scrambling: about 500 m of ascent, 2½ hours up and 2 hours down. Reaching the refuge needs a vehicle that can cope with 8.7 km of rough dirt road from the Bara junction on the Egnatia Odos. Fill up with water at the Tsamia spring before the refuge; there is none on the route.
Avoid the steep section and the rock cut when wet or icy. In winter the mountain holds snow and the rock cut needs crampons and experience. Contact the Siatista mountaineering club before relying on the refuge.
History
The Tservaina ravine on the plateau's northern drainage contains an archaeological site. No record of a first ascent of Drisinikos is known.
Season
Best May–Jun- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- 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
- Winter; dirt road likely impassable
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Snow on the upper mountain
- Apr
- Spring; snow patches possible
- May
- Good conditions
- Jun
- Good conditions
- Jul
- Hot and dry; start early
- Aug
- Hot and dry
- Sep
- Good conditions
- Oct
- Good conditions
- Nov
- Cooler; rock may be wet or icy
- Dec
- Early winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- The refuge of the Siatista mountaineering club 'O Bourinos' is run by the club; contact the club (president or refuge manager, numbers published in Elliniko Panorama, 2019) before planning to stay.
- Getting There
Siatista
Thessaloniki (SKG)
- Car: Egnatia Odos (A2) to the Bara junction near Siatista, then 8.7 km of rough dirt road to the refuge
- Alternative approach by dirt road from Paliokastro (about 8 km to the refuge)
- Public transport: KTEL buses to Siatista; no service to the refuge
Hazards
- Exposure
- Weather
- Remoteness