Welcome to team's river running calendar

2003 arrived to find the Team members ready for action:

Jan 4th. 1st paddling day of the year.

We arrived at Tripotama to find Erymanthos in very high flow at 1.25m That was our second try, as a month ago we came to find the same commiting level (in this level, according Greco guidebook, we should expect continuous class V at the 2nd gorge).

But let's remember what happened that day (Dec 21st).

Realising that we wouldn't run Erymanthos, we decided to explore it's northwest fork, Astras. We didn't know anything about it, so I guess that it hadn't been paddled before.

After a quick scouting from the road above, Konidis, Kourlas and I, have paddled the 2km of class III to IV upper part (Nouseiko) from Astras to Kalivia Astra in two hours, walking by a steep sharp rocky staircase and a couple of weirs on our way down. It was quite predictable, with eddies wherever we wanted to get out and scout, v-shaped small gorge with some interesting stretches.
The road, 20 to 40m above us, was giving a sence of security. The only sad thing was the rabish at the banks, brought down by the floods.
I guess this tibutary wouldn't be worth it, in a lower flow.

Paddling in the remaining sunlight, our anxiety to finish the difficult upper fork, turned to joy, as the gorge opened before us. After the confluence with the main fork, the gradience eased up, the flow trippled and we speed-run the remaining 4km of fun class II to Erymanthos (Tripotama).
The water was steaming from the difference of temperature, as the sun was setting behind the ridge. The sight was out of this world.