Exploring the cave of the Lion: Part III

Transcription of my diaries from the exploration of the Cave of the Lion 2008 - Part III

21 July 2008 at 1530 hrs
Inside LO1 - basecamp


The entrance to the three star accommodation...

Back at basecamp after a harder ascent than yesterday. The guys are all settled with shade and I have set out my turf in the French quartier. We may be eating soon. The cave of the lion is cold. Colder than any other I have visited. The French are rigging it today - yesterday we were at about -150m / -170m and today they are going deeper. I don't know when I will go into a cave - I have no great expectations - although as Caspex says, it would be good to see the collector. I agree. I have my gear at 1000m at Khoses and tomorrow is a "dead" day so fuck knows when I'll acclimatise and go to -400m + .


Tents with shades


My own sleeping arrangements


General view of LO1 (outside

I am rather pleased with how I am handling the physical side of things. Really pleased.

The LO1 cave is amazing - kitted out with many years worth of kit which may not have been 100% necessary but it sure makes life so much more comfortable.


Comfort and style in LO1


Fully stocked kitchen!

The Isotonic drink helped a great deal (probably) as I woke without cramps or pulled muscles for the first time ever after that sort of exercise. We'll see what tomorrow will bring. More later...


The Lion - imposing as ever as seen from basecamp

Exploring the cave of the Lion: Part II

Transcription of my diaries from the exploration of the Cave of the Lion 2008 - Part II

20 July 2008 at 2300 hrs
In the courtyard of Profitis Ilias church near the Khoses spring

So, well, yes: to say that I went up with a rucksack and came back again would describe the day - it would not describe, however, the rather easy ascent nor the terribly difficult return which sapped me of strength.

Nor would it describe the beauty of the place.

I am actually quite knackered, so this is a very brief message.


Group photo before the ascent on 20 July.

Some photos from the route up:


Second break on the way up - about 3/4 of the way there


View of the typical White mountain terrain on the way up to the Lion


View of the typical White mountain terrain on the way up to the Lion, with foreground people


Fotini on the last 150 yards of the journey...


Brief video of the route to Khoses...

Exploring the cave of the Lion: Part I

Transcription of my diaries from the exploration of the Cave of the Lion 2008 - Part I

19 July 2008 at 2300 hrs
On the FB Lato

The journey started and with it my first handwritten diary for many years - I am not sure whether the texts of Kastelorizo count. I am totally unfit in a gloriously Gibby way. In my final year at Uni, after four days of hard (and very successful) racing, Gibbar announced to the rest of the crew that he had done "absolutely no land training". The rest of the crew had been doing at least one hour a day... In the same way, although I should be much fitter, I am not.


Yiota finishes off her calculations of energy / protein and nicotine (!) intake for the two weeks.

I have well under my RDA in food with me and generally feel that this great exercise in hubris will blow up in my face. I am travelling with the girls on the old and well-worn "Lato". We meet the boys tomorrow at Melidoni whither we will go from Canea on arrival. A week of very little sleep with plenty of stress is being followed by a short night tonight and the troubles of tomorrow's climb, with the words of the prophets of doom ringing in my mind's ear.


The LATO

I will make it, but the question is How will I make it? Nikos advice to go at my own pace and nobody else's is correct. There is no point in trying to be someone else. So, sleep now and tomorrow we wake up in Crete. And then the adventure can begin in earnest.


All smiles as we set off!