- Three major Lassithi mountaineering clubs unite for a massive joint ascent-protest up the “Afentis” peak of the Thrypti range on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
- Activists are sounding an urgent SOS over industrial energy giant TERNA’s plans to install expansive wind parks across pristine, high-altitude ridges.
- The Thrypti mountain range is a strictly protected Natura 2000 sanctuary and holds international status as an Important Bird Area (IBA) for endangered raptors.
- Local environmental coalitions warn that the heavy industrial construction, road carving, and turbine installations will cause irreversible ecological devastation.
In an unprecedented show of regional solidarity, the Mountaineering Club of Lassithi (EOS Lassithiou), the Mountaineering Club of Agios Nikolaos, and the Nature-Loving Mountaineering Club of Sitia have issued a joint “SOS” distress call to the public.
On Sunday, May 31, 2026, the groups will lead a massive pan-Lassithi ascent-protest to Thrypti’s highest crest, “Afentis.” The target of their outrage is a massive, looming industrial energy project spearheaded by Greek conglomerate TERNA. The energy giant plans to construct an extensive network of industrial wind turbines across the mountain’s virgin spine—a move locals say will permanently alter and scar the landscape.
Stripping a Natura 2000 Sanctuary
The core of the protestors’ argument rests on Thrypti’s irreplaceable ecological value. The mountain range is not just empty rock; it is a strictly designated haven within the European Union’s Natura 2000 network. Furthermore, the range is designated as an internationally recognized Important Bird Area (IBA).
The high crags of eastern Crete provide crucial nesting sites and hunting territories for Europe’s rarest, most threatened birds of prey, including the endangered Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) and the Golden Eagle. Environmentalists point out the tragic irony of green energy expansion destroying the very wilderness meant to be protected.
The installation of industrial wind farms requires blasting deep into the limestone, carving wide heavy-machinery access roads up pristine slopes, and erecting towering steel structures with high-velocity blades. For Thrypti’s fragile ecosystem, this industrial footprint represents an irreversible loss of biodiversity, catastrophic soil erosion, and a deadly hazard for the island’s protected avian population.
Marching to the Roof of Eastern Crete
The joint clubs are transforming a traditional alpine trek into a loud, visible act of civic defiance. The protest trek is intentionally graded at Difficulty Level 1 to encourage widespread public participation, ensuring that families, local landowners, and eco-tourists can join the mountaineers on the front line.
The collective demonstration will begin promptly at 8:00 AM at the central square of the remote Thrypti settlement. From there, the column will ascend a total of 9 kilometers, conquering a vertical climb of 500 meters to gather at the summit of Afentis. The grueling 4-to-5-hour march is designed to project a unified, island-wide message directly to regional planners and corporate executives: the ecological integrity of Crete’s protected mountaintops is non-negotiable.
Campaign & Trek Logistics
- Date: Sunday, May 31, 2026
- Assembly Point & Time: Thripti Village Square at 08:00 AM
- Trek Distance: 9 Kilometers (Round trip)
- Elevation Gain: 500 Meters
- Duration: 4–5 Hours
- Difficulty Rating: 1 (Accessible to hikers with reasonable physical fitness)
- Mandatory Equipment: Sturdy mountaineering boots, windproof jacket, sun protection (hat, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen), personal first-aid kit, trekking poles, high-energy snacks, and ample drinking water.
- Registration Deadline: Saturday, May 30, 2026 (Noon), via the administrative boards of EOS Lassithi or the Agios Nikolaos Mountaineering Club.
