Text: Evi Pantazi, Dimitra Pappa
Photos: Evi Pantazi, Olga Karagianni, Sofia Stalmpoutzi, Antonis Sassalos

 English Translation: Dimitra Pappa

On Easter Monday, April 21st, the 7th Maintenance Hike  for 2025 organized by Andros Routes took place, following Route 9 & 9a part 1, from Ano Pitrofos to the Archaeological Museum of Paleopolis. Once again, we came together with a common goal: to explore, walk, and care for one of Andros’ beautiful trails.

We gathered from different parts of the island—Gavrio, Agios Petros, Batsi, Aprovatou, Menites, Mesathouri, Vakoni, Korthi—joined by visiting friends from Athens, Sweden, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, and Argentina. Our multicultural group also included two young explorers and our loyal four-legged companions.

The hike began at the Olive Museum in Ano Pitrofos. After an introductory circle to get to know one another, Olga Karagianni, a founding member of the Andros Research Center, explained the purpose of the care hikes to the newcomers and reminded returning participants of their significance. Leading the hike were Evi, Route Angel for Route 9, along with Olga, while Route Angels Sofia, Georgia, and Antonis ensured no one was left behind.

We walked along a section of the so-called “Ample Way” (“Fardia Strata” or “Arvanitikos Dromos”), one of the island’s largest and most important historic routes that connects Central and Eastern Andros with the North and West. We admired the massive stones of the path and the intricate dry-stone walls, reflecting on the tremendous effort and collective labor required to build them without modern tools. The bright sun and complete lack of wind gifted us with breathtaking clarity and vibrancy in the spring colors and scents. During the gentle ascent to the ridge, a light cloud cover welcomed us just before the summit, where we paused for our first break and enjoyed a snack.

Climbing up to Petalo, we were rewarded with a stunning panoramic view of the Paleopolis Bay and the fresh mountain air. From there, we descended along Route 9a at a brisker, more coordinated pace to safely navigate the now narrower path. We encountered steep segments that required careful footing—perfect opportunities to admire the spring carpets of flowers and the increasingly shaded green scenery as we neared the trail’s end.

The team remained well-coordinated throughout, moving steadily and closely without issues. We cleared overgrown sections to prevent them from becoming impassable as vegetation increases in the coming weeks. We also removed several loose stones from the path and repaired parts of the dry-stone walls. Trail signs were refreshed, and areas needing further maintenance were noted for immediate attention by Evi Pantazi.

The hike concluded at the Archaeological Museum of Paleopolis, where we received a warm welcome from Chrysoula Sigala, President of the Paleopolis Cultural Association! As food and festivities were being prepared, the group refreshed with water and beer and joined the local celebration. Some adventurous hikers even tested their skills in the traditional game Tsounia.

The trail, while in need of deeper clearing in some sections this year, remains accessible and in good condition for both locals and visitors.

🎉 See you at the next Maintenance Hike on Thursday, May 1st, on the circular trail of Livadia! We’ll celebrate May Day with flower wreaths, music, and traditional festivities!

📣 More details coming soon!

🌼 A big thank you to everyone who participated in the 7th Maintenance Hike of 2025, and especially to the Paleopolis Association for their ever-warm hospitality!