The route “Pilgrims of the vertical” (7b, 300m) was completed and climbed on 13/10/2025 by M. Turner - L. Kennedy - A. Long - M. Kimber - B. Brewer.
The line consists of 12 pitches of engaging limestone climbing, with loose rock on the 2nd pitch. The route starts 50m left of “Into the blue”.
P1 (6b, 30m): Off the boat, 3 rungs to a stance then up the wall to a mega cave belay. 13 bolts.
P2 (7b, 30m): Right out of the cave then up to tricky sequence through overlap. 11 bolts.
P3 (6c, 30m): Weaving pitch through the grooves. 16 bolts.
P4 (7a+, 20m): Right then up and through the steep wall. 9 bolts.
P5 (6b, 30m): Past the marble arete then easer climbing leads to the “To steki” ledge. 13 bolts.
P6 (6a, 20m): Traverse left to stance on the nose. 9 bolts.
P7 (7a, 15m): Punchy off the belay. 6 bolts.
P8 (7a, 30m): Complicated route finding. 10 bolts.
P9 (7a+, 25m): The perfect pitch. 11 bolts.
P10 (6b, 20m): Groove and pocket wall. 10 bolts.
P11 (6a, 20m): Up and to the right. 9 bolts.
P12 (30m): Easy scrambling to cairn. 4 bolts.
From there, following a series of cairns, a faint path will lead us to the summit, where the monastery is located.
To repeat the route, 16 quickdraws, one clapstick or cheat-draw and an 80m rope, or equivalent half ropes are required. A 40m rigging rope is advised if rappelling into the route.
Access to the route is gained either via rappel or by the sea is only possible if the weather is stable. To rappel into the route, initially follow the faint trail of cairns on scree towards the SW from the monastery until a cairn with belay (R12), which is used to rappel into the central belay, 2m below the cliff-edge, and 5m left of R11. From there continue descending via R9, R8, R5, R4, R3, R2, and R1, which may not be equipped for rappelling. Access by sea is easier since the route is equipped with rungs. The return is achieved via the cairn trail to the monastery.
To return, after the completion of the route and the ascent to the summit, we follow a well-defined path heading northwest, which leads down to the base of the monolith, where the Zoodochos Pigi Monastery is located.
B. Brewer climbing above the Aegean on the 4th pitch.
B. Brewer on the 7th pitch.
