olympus thumbs 2

9 am start again,incredibly cold outside,we put on all the layers of clothing we had,we started crossing the plateu of the Muses to the sight of a herd of wild goats.The plateu is huge,the path not always well defined so we followed the poles that are the markers when there is snow .Out of the plateu the descent becomes steeper and the first vegetation, except grass,appears.It then followes a small pass(Yiosos Pass) that can be tricky if there is snow about ,a zig zag path to a ridge and on to an area of several paths that all join the main path at the tree line.The forest at this altidute contains mainly a kind of hardy pine known locally as Rombola.By now three of the group were so ahead that we never saw them again(when we finished the trek and spoke to them on the mobile ,were crossing by ferry to Patras).Next stiil on an excellent path we entered a vast area of forest full of beech and at that time of year, millions of colours.Half way at Petrostrounga we came across some shepperds huts,some builders(they are building a new hut on a balcony and if you beleive it or not all materials are carried up by mules).There is a concrete tank with fresh water near by to fill up your water bottles.There is a small detoure to a cave (Ithakisios Cave)where an eccentric painter lived some years ago in the summer painting mt Olympus.The mediterrenian pine dominates the forest to the end of the trek.Last stop was at the Barba medow and then on to the end of the trek at Gortsia or Diastavrosi.During the descent we sew no other people ascending or descending.From Gortsia to Prionia is 5km so we rang for a taxi back to our cars.After the hardships of the last three days i booked in one of the best hotels in Litohoro for the night.The evening finished with one of the biggest thunderstorms i ever witnesed.At last i climbed the most Famous mountain in the world.Total descent 1600m in around 6hrs.