"Support Points" nearing completion: the daily crossing section 6. Ath. Diakos - Artotina
Over the last four years, we have traveled extensively and worked (without remuneration) with dedication
in the mountains of eastern Roumeli, Parnassos, Giona, Vardousia & Oxyia, with the aim of
improving the condition of the lost trails that came to light again after
decades of neglect.
We previously submitted our own study as an organization for the creation of the Pindus Trail within
the boundaries of the Prefecture of Fokida and received approval as beneficiaries of the project, responsible
for its completion and subsequent maintenance.
We had the financial support of donors from our close circle who believed in the
idea, and we were able to proceed with specifications for the licensed sections of the
Trail, while work remains to improve accessibility and complete all
stages of signage.
We faced many difficulties, but we had the opportunity to experience unique
moments, learn new things, and make good friends!
During this time, with small financial contributions for the operating expenses of the
expeditions, we managed to get a technical team to intervene in the difficult and
isolated areas, while hundreds of volunteers from Greece
and abroad worked alongside us, boosting everyone`s morale and significantly reducing the budget
for completing the approved section.
As time goes by, the effort is yielding visible results both on a technical level
and socially, as an extension of the citizens` initiative to preserve and
promote the cultural characteristics of the Pindos mountain range and protect
its natural environment.
Having received no state funding, in the fall of 2025 we applied for and
received a grant of €10,000 from "Support Points." A program to support
small projects, co-financed by ten (10) public benefit organizations, to
complete one of the six daily sections crossing eastern Roumeli with
the specifications set by the law and our own consistency.
The daily section that was selected is the crossing of Vardousia, which
connects Athanasios Diakos with the mountain shelters and Artotina, with a length of
approximately 18 kilometers.
With the money from the donation, we are preparing maps with information notes for
the stations along the route - direction signs with times, distances,
altitudes - location signs - and a work plan for improving accessibility
and completing the route marking that has progressed in the forest zone.
At the same time, the Support Points provide free training seminars to
Terra Pindus members in the areas of fundraising and personnel management to
support the Pindus Trail initiative, which the team has been
responsibly since 2018.
The action is implemented with the support of the Costas M. Lemos Foundation as part of the
"Support Points" program, which is co-funded by ten (10) public benefit
organizations.
The program began in the fall of 2025 and is expected to be completed, all things being well,
in May, delivering the trail to its location and
to the hiking public who intend to traverse it.
Read more about the Support Points: https://www.bodossaki.gr/en/our-partnerships/other-foundations/points-support-small-grants-big-ideas/
