Christos Kakalos Refuge (or Refuge C)
(photo: The front side view of the refuge
during a winter day)
At the very edge of "Oropedio Mouson" is located "Christos Kakalos refuge" (2648m). It belongs to the Greek Mountaineering & Climbing Federation (E.O.O.A.) and has 22 beds.
It was built between 1960-1961 and was initially named "King Pavlos" on the 6th March 1964, in rememberance of the Majesty of the Greek King who was also a honorous member of the Greek Mountaineering Club of Thessaloniki. Twenty years later, on the 13th June 1984 it was renamed to "Christos Kakalos" in honour of the first mountain guide of Olympus, he who firts reached at 1913 Olympus peak.
A brief history of Christos Kakkalos Refuge
The construction of refuge Christos Kakkalos was terminated in 1964, all
the expenses covered from the royal family. Its initial name was given to
honor the main donator and it was dubbed as “King Paul”. The building was
constructed supposedly to serve as a mountain resort for the royal family,
but the main reason was the construction of the nearby refuge “SEO”, of
the alpine club of Thessalonica, its members mainly representing the communist
party of Greece. The SEO refuge was constructed after the destruction by
the use of explosives of a small hut built from the climbers of SEO. The
remnants of this old hut are still standing in the Plateau of Muses, on
the side oh the trail connecting two refuges (SEO and Christos Kakkalos).
Unfortunately, during the 1960’s and 1970’s the political disturbances between
left and right wing parties had an impact on the mountaineering community
as well, intercepting each potential progress.
Since the year 1984, the refuge was renamed from King Paul to Christos Kakkalos
after the first Greek who has at least officially realized the first ascent
to the Mytikas in 1913 with two Swiss climbers. In the same year the refuge
was donated from the Royal family to the Greek Mountaineering and Climbing
federation (EOOA).
Since 1984 many different people offered their services as guardians to the refuge including the Alpine Club of Litochoro, as well as many others under the supervision of Mr. Kostas Zolotas guardian of refuge A “Spilios Agapitos”. During all these years the refuge was open for three months during the summer period since there was a major lack of basic infrastructures namely toilettes and kitchen. In 1999 the Greek Mountaineering and Climbing Federation began a serried of works constructing new and well operative toilettes, a new room for the guardian, new storage tanks and rebuilted the kitchen in order to provide advanced services.
In 2003, the operation of the refuge was given to Mike Styllas so that
to remain open for longer time serving as a climbing and sports center.
In addition, the refuge operation expanded throughout the winter enhancing
in this way winter climbing and skiing.
Services
Οι προσφερόμενες υπηρεσίες του καταφυγίου Χρήστος Κάκκαλος είναι οι εξής:
- Dining: The refuge’s kitchen is usually open from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm, with the exception of winter months when there is no restriction in the operating time since people arriving anytime. In addition, during summer months people that have been late while rock climbing or they have notified the stuff are welcome to dine anytime.
(photo:
The dining room)
(photo:
Summer dining outside)
(photo:
The kitchen of the refuge)
(photo: The view from the dinning
room - from left to right are the peaks: Pagos, Fragkou Aloni, Metamorfosi)
- Sleep: There are 17 bunks on the top room of the refuge and 3 more in the dining room. However, there have been times when more than 75 people have spent the night in and around the hut, provided that they bring their own tents and sleeping bags.
(photo: The upper room with 17
bunks)
- Information about hiking routes
- Routes information. The stuff working or have worked in the refuge have climbed almost all of the rock climbing routes on the mountain and soon a rock climbing guide is about to be issued. However, topos of all the routes are freely provided in the hut.
(photo: Presenting a slide show
about a trip on Mount Elbrus, Russia)
- Weather forecast information
- Voluntary rescue services
- First Aid
- Slideshows from trips to other mountains
Price List for 2010
The Greek Mountaineering & Climbing Federation (E.O.O.A.) decides for the price of accomondation price and approves the food and drink prices which are based on those of "Spilios Agapitos refuge".
Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing Mt. Olympus Refuge C’ «Christos Kakkalos»
PRICELIST 2010 (Summer season June – October)
DRINKS -
BEVERAGES |
|
| Refreshments (Coca Cola, Fanta, Ice Tea) | €2.30C |
| Olympus Tea | €1.50C |
| Olympus Tea with honey | €2.00C |
| Hot chocolate | €3.00C |
| Νescafe | €2.50C |
| Filter coffee | €2.50C |
| Tsipouro glass | €2.50C |
| Wine (1/2 lt) | €4.50C |
| Amstel / Mythos Beer | €2.80C |
| Heineken / Kaizer Beer | €3.30C |
| Bottled water (1.5 lt) | €2.00C |
| Brandy Metaxa 5* | €4.00C |
FOOD |
|
| Vegetable soup | €4.50C |
| Bean soup | €4.50C |
| Pasta with sauce | €5.50C |
| Beef with rice or mashed potatoes | €7.50C |
| Sausage with pasta, rice or mashed potatoes | €6.50C |
| Pasta Bolognese | €6.50C |
| Sausage portion | €5.00C |
| Cabbage salad | €3.00C |
| Tomato & cucumber salad with olives and green pepper (personal portion) | €2.50C |
| Tomato & cucumber salad with olives and green pepper (large portion) | €4.00C |
| Feta cheese | €3.00C |
| Traditional Greek candy | €2.00C |
| Tzatziki - cream cheese salad | €3.00C |
| Breakfast (bread, butter, marmalade, honey, cheese) | €4.00C |
| Bread portion | €0.50C |
(10% or 21% VAT included to all prices)
Accomondation:
12€ for non UIAA club members 10€ for UIAA club members
Staff
The refuge that has 20 beds and 10 staff !
The word "staff" or "personel" is not the appropriate to describe correctly the people who work in the refuge. Though it is better call them a "companion". This describes the nature of their strong relation as well as those who may help any time anyway.
The refuge is not that big, meaning that only few persons are necessary to operate it. Their number may increase on weekends as the mountain becomes more busy. The main core are Mr. Mihalis and Alexis Stillas (the two managers). In total, more than 15 persons have worked there over the last 6 years. We shall mention Mr. Theodoros Christopoulos (whose photos are hosted in the website) and Mr. Nikos Tsabdaris (also known as "the cooker").
More photos taken from Mr. Theodoros Christopoulos can be viewed at his personal webpage: www.photofactory.gr or http://www.summitpost.org/image_list/27923/teochristopoulos.html
(photo: Nikos Tsabdaris, the refuge cooker climbing)
(photo: a serious work accident
in the kitchen... some excess of origanum on the pasta)
(photo: Theodoros Christopoulos climbing during a frosty morning in the
Alps (-20oC). Hopefully he appears to be more friendly in the kitchen)
(photo: the refuge manager Mihalis
Stillas on the right, enjoying the morning sun at the near top of Stefani,
on 2005 new year's day).
Reservations
Contact: Mike Styllas, Tel +306937361689, mstyllas @ olympus-climbing.gr