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River: Upper Lousios
Location: Arkadia - Peloponesos, South Greece
Put in: Ancient Gortis, Polygenis bridge
Take out: The 8th km of Karytaina - Atsiholos road bridge
Length: 4km
Difficulty: III, IV (VI or X)
Time: 2 to 5 hours, depending the number and ability of paddling team. Suggested number of 3 to 5 paddlers.
Character: Low volume creek, tight, bouldary, in a V shaped gorge. Continuous difficulty. Scoutable from the bank. Runnable all the year, due to the fountains at Dimitsana area.
Km by Km description:
0.4km: 1st rapid - 1m tight drop - mandatory inspection Class III+. Continue in class III for 400m
0.8km: 1st (main) 2m pool-drop Class IV. Tricky entrance! Possible portage on the right.
0.95km: Dangerous double drop after a left turn. Class VI? or X (Possibly paddleable in higher water levels). Portage on the right for 50m. The next 50m section is class IV- to IV+ in higher flows.
1.5km: 2nd drop (1.5m) in a left turn. The approach is close to tree brunches and at the landing zone there is a small cave on the right.
1.5-3.0km: Easier, class III course with 2 play spots.
Class II (III) for the last part.
Highlights: The first drop 2.0m high (0.8km) and the 50m rapid after the unrunnable section (1.0km)
Caution: The unrunnable 50m double rapid (possibly a hard V in higher flow)- see picture on the right.
Portage is on the right. Difficult approach to the take out eddy, may involve some rock climbing in the right rocky edge.
The undercut at the entrance of the 1st major drop (0.8km) in low water
The tricky approach to the drop and the slot-siphon on the left of that point.
Serious log jam potential after floods. Until lately there was a log jam 400m before the take out, after a right bend.
Access: From Tripoli to Megalopoli and then to Karytaina, we head towards Atsiholos until we reach the Take out bridge 6km from Karytaina. To the Put in, we continue the asphalt road towards Atsiholos for about 5km, just before the village we take a desenting dirt road to the right, towards the ruins of ancient Gortis. We ignore a right crossing to a church, we pass the start of a restored stone walking path to the left and we reach a small vyzantine era church and the stone bridge of Polygenis. Be careful the bridge is strong but perhaps too tight for a van or a bus! The path to the river is on the right at the other side of the bridge.
Intermediate access: A goat path follows the left bank for most of the way.
Emergency exit: From the left bank of the 1st drop, to the road over the landslided slope (10min walking) through terassed fields to a pen and via a short dirt road, to the asphalt road, connecting the put in bridge and the village of Helliniko or Stemnitsa.
Through paths on the right slope and the left bank, near old water mills, after the second main drop.
Shuttle: From the put in to the take out will take 15 to 20minutes
Gauge Info: There are three gauge meters at the put in. The old one at the right shore is almost equal with the new and official one, at the measuring piping unit, on the left foot of the bridge. A measure of 30 to 35 is considered low flow. Expect generally grade III with 2 rapids at grade IV. With a medium flow 35-40cm expect WW grade III+ and more IV to IV+. With a flow of 40-50 expect continuous grade IV with the stretch after the unrunnable to be a solid class V. At such a flow the unrunnable is possibly a V+.
Road Book: Upper Lousios can be accessed from the northeast via Korinthos > (70a1)Tripolis > (25a2)Megalopolis > (16a2) Karytaina > (8a3)Atsiholos bridge (Take out for Upper Lousios, Put in for Lousios-Alfios run) > (4a3)Ancient Gortis-Atsiholos crossing > (2d2) Ancient Gortis-Polygenis bridge. Index:
70a1=70km asphalt 1st class road
2d2=2km dirt 2nd class road.
Services: In the village of Karytaina you can find a gas station, a good tavern, the CafΓ© Vrenthi and Rooms to let (ask at Vrenthi). You can find better hotels at Dimitsana or Helliniko.
Closest store and bank at the larger towns ofMegalopolis or Dimitsana.
In the area you may also find a few outdoor activities companies, that also offer many different programs for non kayakers.
Sightseeing: At the put in you can visit Ancient Gortis, the Byzantine chapple. A walking path to Lousios gorge and the old monasteries of Filosofou, Prodromou and Aimialon, also starts at the put in. Further up, at the small but historical town of Dimitsana, you may visit the hydrokinisis museum where you can see how the old water mills used to work and manufacture powder for the 1821 revolution.
70kms from Dimitsana is ancient Olympia and in Karytaina stands an impressive castle and another vyzantine church.
Maps: Anavasi Topo 25, Lousios 1:25.000
GPS marks(WGS84):
Exit ramp to Anc.Gortis: 37o 31.459, 22o 01.811
Put in: 37o 32.377N, 22o 02.766E
Main (1st) drop: 37o 32.010, 22o 02.831 (eddy at pool below)
Main Portage: 37o 31.857, 22o 02.825 (last take out on the right)
2nd drop: 37o 31.601, 22o 02.714 (eddy at pool below)
Take out: 37o 30.675N, 22o 02.296E
More pages about Upper Lousios: River Description, River Map
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