Ierápetra-Meseleroi circular
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 17.99 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,441 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 2,441 ft
- Max elevation
- 2,102 ft
- TrailRank
- 27
- Min elevation
- -21 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 3 hours 24 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1389
- Uploaded
- September 24, 2018
- Recorded
- September 2018
near Ierápetra, Crete (Greece)
Viewed 129 times, downloaded 8 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
The trip is divided in two parts: ascent on the road up to Meseleroi, and return down through mountainous area on dirt roads.
The first part stretches over 10km of ascent with very little shade opportunity. It passes the village of Makrilia where some is available though, and I needed approximately 1.5 l to reach the end of asphalt road just after Meseleroi village where a right turn is necessary (the picture shows the place of right turn, a few hundred m before the asphalt road highest point).
As a matter of fact, the ascent does not end when leaving the asphalt road, but still goes on with a gentle average slope, and a few nasty but short steep ascents here and there.
Before reaching the col separating north and south, there will be a single gate that needs to be opened (and closed) that presumably protect cultivated areas and olive trees from goats invasion. Goats as such are not a problem for cyclists, although I was on some occasion surprised by one unexpectedly jumping in front of me (I did not see it behind a rock) when I was going downhill.
Once the col is reached, a long descent begins with a superb view of the surrounding landscape, up to the sea past Ierapetra and its greenhouses. There is lot of gravel, therefore fast speed is a limited option for those who did not bring protective equipment.
The first part stretches over 10km of ascent with very little shade opportunity. It passes the village of Makrilia where some is available though, and I needed approximately 1.5 l to reach the end of asphalt road just after Meseleroi village where a right turn is necessary (the picture shows the place of right turn, a few hundred m before the asphalt road highest point).
As a matter of fact, the ascent does not end when leaving the asphalt road, but still goes on with a gentle average slope, and a few nasty but short steep ascents here and there.
Before reaching the col separating north and south, there will be a single gate that needs to be opened (and closed) that presumably protect cultivated areas and olive trees from goats invasion. Goats as such are not a problem for cyclists, although I was on some occasion surprised by one unexpectedly jumping in front of me (I did not see it behind a rock) when I was going downhill.
Once the col is reached, a long descent begins with a superb view of the surrounding landscape, up to the sea past Ierapetra and its greenhouses. There is lot of gravel, therefore fast speed is a limited option for those who did not bring protective equipment.
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