Pisodhérion - Ágios Germanós

On a clear day you are in the ideal walk to enjoy fine views of prespes lakes, especially of the lesser Prespa Lake. We start from the skiing centre of Pisoderi. There is usually snow here until end of March, sometimes even in April. Initially we start walking along a dirtroad which is used by long distance skiers. After 10 minutes we meet a Chapel with water, an ideal camping site. We carry on walking along the dirtroad that leads to a windturbines' Park. From the dirtroad we enjoy fine views of the skiing slopes just opposite. At the shrine in memory of Hristos Fatsis, ex president of the hiking club of Florina city we continue straight on leaving behind us the wind turbines Park. On the left we enjoy fine views of Pisoderi village straight down in a land locked area. Later we reach another small shrine dedicated to prophet Elias. Just before the shrine we turn left and we walk on goat's path heading for the summit of Evzonos 2153 m. altitude. There are several guerilla outposts scattered around the summit. There are also some bombs left there as an eternal reminder of the horrors of the civil war (1945-1949) that shook Greece for several decades even after the end of it. We continue walking along the Ridge of mountain Varnountas to reach yet another summit which the local hikers call Kalo Nero, Bella Voda, Good Water. Of course there is no water in this alpine mountainous area. The beautiful crocus flowers form a natural carpet. Spring arrives late on varnountas mountain. From the summit we continue along the Ridge and then slightly descending the mountain still above the tree zone. We avoid a visible winding dirtroad on the right. At the end of the Alpine zone we suddenly turn right descending nearly vertical on a pathless, very forested area. We meet dirtroads twice but we continue descending endlessly until we reach a third dirtroad. From that point onwards we walk along the dirtroad to reach the remote village of Agios Germanos, named after the bishop of constantinople Germanos. Varnountas mountain provides the villagers with granite stones and timber to build their houses. This hike is for hardened hikers only. Finally we could enjoy traditional food and coffee in the central square.