Lefka Ori Ski Touring – Lefka Ori (Greek: Λευκά Όρη, meaning “White Mountains”) or Madares (Μαδάρες from the Cretan Greek μαδαρός meaning “without coverage, bald, bare of any vegetation for high mountain areas”) is a mountain range located in Western Crete, in the Chania prefecture. The White Mountains or Lefka Ori occupy a large part of the centre of West Crete and are the main feature of the region. They consist mainly of limestone, from light grey to bluish or black color. The “White Mountains” have got their name from the perpetual white or off white color of their peaks as the off white of limestone during the summer and fall interchanges with the snow that covers the peaks until late in spring.
Frozen Ambrosia Map
If you see this after your page is loaded completely, leafletJS files are missing.
More about Lefka Ori, Crete
The highest summit is Pachnes with 2,453 m (8,048 ft) and there are over 30 summits that are over 2,000 m (6,562 ft) high. Additionally, the Lefka Ori also have about 50 gorges, the most famous being the Samaria Gorge. The central and southern part of the Lefka Ori lying at an altitude of 1,800 m (5,906 ft) and above resembles a “moon landscape”. This is technically called a high desert. It is unique in the northern hemisphere. The Lefka Ori has a rich history as a hiding place for rebels during Cretan uprisings against the Venetian and Ottoman rulers, as well as during German Occupation (1941–1945).
To see more epic footage from Lefka Ori, check out the film Crete Arising.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article “Lefka Ori”, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.Featured Video
Photo Gallery
Winter in Greece
One of the most surprising things about Greece is how close the mountains are to the major cities. Three quarters of the county lives within a 2 hour drive of world class backcountry ski touring. Due to the recent break-though in ultra lightweight gear, Greece has become a world-class destination for ski touring and split-boarding.
Greece is a place that inspires the human soul. Certainly, for skiers and snowboarders, to visit the same mountains that you learned about as a child is an experience that is completely unique. Imagine spending the night on Mt Olympos, waking up to the sunrise across the Aegean sea, then skiing run right next to the Throne of Zeus. It’s magic! It’s an experience you won’t find anywhere else on the planet.
To watch the full winter adventure in Greece, check out the feature film Frozen Ambrosia.
