Korakofolia

One of the most popular Athenian cliffs, Korakofolia (literally meaning: “Raven’s Nest” in Greek) is located inside the gully of Ag. Georgios close to the suburb of Thrakomakedones, on southeast Parnitha. Korakofolia has grown to become a hugely popular summer crag for Athens-residing climbers. The crag is sweetly located, surrounded by pine forests sheltering the area from the summer heat. The place is a natural cooler, truly a haven for climbing during the hot summer months when downtown Athens is a boiling cauldron. Due to location and the user-friendly grades / bolting, Korakofolia is an extremely well-liked cliff.

Climbing in Korakofolia offers great variety. Vertical walls on crimps and pockets are predominant but one can also find overhanging routes, even the occasional tufa. Dihedrals and winding cracks are also present on some of the most distinctive and beautiful routes of the crag. The rock is solid limestone, sharp in places. The crag has been meticulously cleaned of most loose rock. Scattered among the hundreds of shiny bolts one might encounter the odd piton or non-certified bolt (on old routes). These items are not to be relied upon but fortunately are never necessary.

Korakofolia had long remained below the climbing radar despite the fact that the place had offered published ascents since 1995. In fact, some of the most aesthetic lines of the cliff (like “Anatoli”, “Ogdoi Tehni” and “Folia”) were established during the 90s. However, the place was seldom visited and the lines only sporadically repeated before the new millennium.

The transformation of Korakofolia from a forgotten cliff to a thriving, well-equipped sport climbing hotspot started in 2007 when D. Tsitsikas visited the spot and realised its potential. Soon enough, the first new lines were opened (“Ai Giorgis”, “O Pappous o Panagiotis”) and some of the old ones were maintained. After 2009 the “new” crag started to become known to the community and more climbers (D. Titopoulos, K. Lafogiannis, D. Katsoulas G. Kagiaftakis and others) joined D. Tsitsikas in the route setting effort. In 2009, the bolting of the upper sector also commenced. Nowadays, the potential for new lines seems to be all but exhausted.