"Getting to this hill was somewhat harder than the climb itself, involving a long 17km drive along a bumpy dirt road from the south. Saying that, the scenery was spectacular. The limestone is almost black in some places in this unique geological setting. One really feels on a different planet. From the end of the road where we met a Polish couple doing the same walk, one climbs steadily reaching a well, then passing round to the north side of the hill itself where it properly becomes visible. The climb is gradual for most of the way and you pass several dolines. It is very barren but majestic at the same time. Far-reaching views from the top, including Mount Ida. One very small section required a bit of careful foot and handwork but nothing to be worried about. In the evening we ate in a tavern in Anapolis near the start of the route, from here you can hire a chap to take you up (we had our own rented 4x4). We'd met him earlier on the road, and we spent a bit of time hopefully successfully explaining "prominence"." — vygodski • Sep 16, 2022

"Thursday 20th September 2018. An ascent of Pachnes 2453m/2038m, Lefka Ori (White Mountains), Western Crete, Hellas, from the east. 9.2km, with 610m of ascent. 4 hours 30mins. On the White Mountains (Lefka Ori), see at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lefka_Ori, and my account of our ascent of Gingilos at https://peakery.com/gigilos-greece/summits/182422/ Pachnes (Πάχνες), at 2453m, is only three metres lower than Psiloritis (Ψηλορείτης), the highest mountain on Crete. Some years ago, rumours emerged that the Greek army’s latest maps showed Pachnes as marginally higher than Psiloritis (see at https://www.summitpost.org/pachnes/362115). However, there is good reason to believe these reports were bogus, coming as a result of the traditional rivalry between prefectures on the island. Our KE Adventure Travel trek in the White Mountains began at sea-level with a two-hour drive from our hotel at Finikas, in the open back of a pick-up truck, mainly on grit roads. We passed through the village of Anopouli, and then by a circuitous route via Amoutsera, to be dropped off near the end of the rocky grit road just west of an area of potholes called Tafkos tis Langonias. As the tru..." — marktrengove • Sep 20, 2018

"Sunday 16th September 2018. An ascent of Gingilos 1974m/138m, Lefka Ori (White Mountains), Western Crete, Hellas, from the Xiloskalo Restaurant, near Omalos. 9.5km, with 1000m of ascent. 7 hours 40mins. The White Mountains (Lefka Ori), so-called due to the dazzling white limestone visible in summer, and snow-caps in winter, form the most western of the three highest mountain massifs on Crete – see at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lefka_Ori. Like the Psiloritis massif to the east, they were formed in the same period as the Alpine Orogeny. They have similar geology to Psiloritis, in that they are composed of limestone and its metamorphic derivatives (such as marble). The highest peaks are in the eastern part of the range, forming characteristic cone shapes of boulders and scree, broken up by the action of rain, frost and snow to form unstable slopes at the optimum angle for these geological formations. However, the western part of the range presents mountains of a different aspect. Many are rugged, with soaring cliffs and pinnacles, with sweeps of scree beneath. The reason for this is that they are mainly composed of hard dolomitic limestone, and therefore resemble the pr..." — marktrengove • Sep 16, 2018

"Leading a Waymark party. Staying at Chora Sfakion. With one member of the Waymark party I joined an advertised trip to summit of Pachnes. I wanted to ascend Pachnes in order to assess its possibilities for inclusion in the programme. The trip involved a very long and uncomfortable journey in a 4WD pick-up truck. The walk is guided, but this is not at all needed as the way is obvious. The 4WD truck could not reach the end of the track due to snow blockage. If it had the walk would have been quite short. The mountain is not particularly impressive. The cost was 45 euro. The conclusion is that, whereas a Waymark leader might be able to organise 4WD transport and lead a walk to the summit, it is not worthwhile given the likely high cost and the uncomfortable 4WD journey. Any keen people could be directed to the guided trip." — peter43 • May 27, 2004