Rebolt Kalymnos, a volunteer group, reports that 383 routes on Kalymnos are now fully re-equipped with epoxy-set titanium bolts and anchors. The island has almost 5,000 routes, and many of them need maintenance.

The work sped up after a fatal accident on 27 March 2026. Czech climber Petr Hruban (60) died on the route St Savvas, which was bolted in 2002. Both anchor bolts and one more bolt failed, and he fell about 15 m onto a ledge. Material tests in Australia suggest the bolts themselves were defective, but testing isn't finished.

What this means for your trip

  • Check Bolt Beta before you go. The online database from Rebolt Kalymnos shows the age, material and condition of the bolts on each sector. You can also use it to report problems. Sectors with titanium or 316 stainless steel are marked green, which covers 383 titanium routes plus about 2,393 routes with 316 steel, most of them bolted since around 2015.
  • Old 304 steel in sea air is the risk. In a marine climate, stress corrosion cracking can weaken a bolt without any visible sign. Several 304 bolts have broken in the past year.
  • A new anchor doesn't make the whole route new. The municipality plans to replace lower-offs with titanium. Rebolt Kalymnos points out that most falls load the intermediate bolts, not the anchor.

Since April 2026, the group has rebolted sectors including Kalydna (51 routes), Symplegades (42), Summertime (41), Spartacus, The Beach, Jurassic Park, Arhi, Iannis and Afternoon. In 2025 it did Secret Garden and Kasteli. Rebolting a route costs about €250 in hardware. Hruban's family and friends have donated €5,400 to the effort, and the project still depends on donations.

On climbing.place, the Grande Grotta sector has DNA (7a), Aegialis (7c) and Priapos (7c). Check their bolts in Bolt Beta before you tie in.

Sources: 8a.nu / Rebolt Kalymnos press release, 8 Sep 2026, Lacrux, 23 Sep 2026.