Jupi

@pka Thank you for your comprehensive reply! I read the articles linked... At least we are not alone in the corruption scheme. It's kinda comforting to see other countries and foreign investors break every single law or not keeping any environmental guidelines. I mean we all blame the Greeks for their attitude while other nations, even the so called "developed" ones are probably worse in some cases. It's true though that any kind of development, specially when landscape is involved cannot really be "green". It sure can come close to a green solution, but it is and always will be an intrusion to nature (even when some time it serves our needs and makes our life easier)

Thank you for your reply MIK. Thats really sad, things are worse than I thought...

I heard some stories yesterday about the past as well as the future of winter tourism in Greece. It would be great if someone with knowledge on these matters could confirm their credibility. 1- Austrian investors have come in the past (around 1980) with intentions to heavily invest on Parnassos. After assessing the mountain volume of our country, their intentions were to create the biggest ski resorts in the Balkans The people in charge denied cooperation. Then they went to 3-5, Vasilitsa and kaimaktslan where they received the same negative reply. Then the Austrians went to Bulgaria and did business there. True or false? 2- There are rumors that winter tourism in Greece is due for a major boost in the next decade with foreign investors taking things to next level in quite a few of our unexploited ski spots. True or false? Looking forward to see some light shed on these and also other relevant issues that change the snow market of Greece. Thank you in advance!

Hi Olga, it sounds great! Some more info on the level of difficulty please. Does it require previous experience in backcountry? Can a person of average fitness pull it off? Thank you

thank you for your reply MIK so it is a contract agreement based on a budgetary decision. On the web page though they give a green light to Odyseas/Tilemachos/Vakchos. Also i could not find a clear statement about which lifts are on service on weekdays. This should be like on the home page or 1 click away so people don't get disappointed or be constantly asking about the limited lift service.

weekends vs weekdays in Parnassos - kellaria. On Friday i asked to see the person responsible for the lift operation. They told me that the information desk in 1950 due to understaff issues now only opens on weekends. I just had one question -"why on a perfect weather day there are 3 lifts that are not in service?" (Tilemahos, Vackhos, Odyseas). After some time and people i was referred to, i got the following answers. - there is not enough staff - avoiding the issue - never giving me a straight answer - referring me to someone else - this is the contract. Weekends 30euros all the lifts, weekdays 15 euros half the lifts could someone please cast some light on this, i bet there many people who ski on weekdays wondering why on earth 2 of the best (if not the best) tracks of the mountain do have their lifts in service... thank you

@madskier Thank u, I will have a look at that thread.

@afrodite It's not the snow. They say it is but the truth is that the lift itself is faulty. The 2 guys I spoke with, started by blaming the snow level and then ended up saying that tilemahos itself is faulty and there is nothing they can do to fix it -though they have tried repeatedly. Even if it was the snow level, it doesn't make any difference. They should either find a way around it or stick a sign! I honestly believe that it is a matter of time untill someone gets a back injury from that lift. This Thursday I will bring the issue up once more and post their reply.

Please write your experience with a currently faulty lift and maybe something will be done about it. Here is mine: There is a lift (dont know its name) between Vakhos and Aiolos at Kellaria in Parnassus ski center that has a seriously jumpy start. It has left me with a sore arm 2 times in the past and i have friends who avoid taking the lift and do not allow their children to use either. Anyone who has used it knows how hard it pulls up on set off. I have personally complained about it (repeatedly). Last time i made a fuss about it and demanded to see the person in charge, he told me "yes we are aware of the problem but we cannot do anything about it, the lift itself is faulty." Then i urged them to put a simple sign saying "caution, jumpy start!". Nothing has happened. I mention it here so anyone who hasn't used the lift to know what to expect in order to avoid pulling a tenon or breaking a back. (sorry i cannot write in Greek)

@makisM Wow what a post.. Crash course in xc! Could I ask please if the same rules apply for back country type of skis. Like the wider rocker ones. Am thinking of some K2 (rocker, 102 at the waist) with marker baron binds. These get the skins of course underneath to walk and the binding locks in the back. But do indeed to get them longer or shorter than my height (183cm-73kg)? Thank you for reply in advance And also hello to everybody since this is my first post!