Vrachokipos is an impressive crag located in the south part of Mt Ymittos, facing towards the southern suburbs of Athens. The place has been a favorite destination of strong Athenian climbers in the early and mid 00s. Today, despite the shift of interest to newer harder crags, Vrachokipos remains quite popular for mid difficulty. The place is an absolute must-visit for anyone climbing above the 6b range, offering aesthetic tufa and pocket climbing on the concave of a mighty white-red limestone wave. Most lines are overhanging and as a result powerful climbing style is predominant. The rock quality is invariably very good. All routes are protected with bolts. A rebolting initiative started in 2012 by D. Papageorgiou is still in progress. The bolting is generally safe, although not always as dense as in other Athens crags.
It is important to keep in mind that Vrachokipos is a bird nesting site and home to different kinds of birds. Climbers should be very careful, especially during spring, to avoid climbing any routes occupied by nesting birds, and to keep a quiet presence around Vrachokipos during this period (mid April – mid June).
