The High Peaks of the Balkans

This past week I took an amazing trekking journey through four Balkan countries: Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and Macedonia, standing on the highest point of each. Starting the week in Albania our KE group summited its tallest peak, Mount Korab (2764 m, 9068 ft), located on the border between Albania and Macedonia. Next we headed to Kosovo, recently independent from Serbia, spending a night in the historic Ottoman trading center of Gjakova. Starting a three-day trek the next morning, we climbed Mount Gjeravica (2656m), Kosovo’s highest peak and the second highest in the Dinaric Alps range, one of the most rugged and extensively mountainous areas of Europe. After Kosovo we cross-border trekked between Albania and Montenegro through a remote and wild landscape before finishing our adventure by summiting the highest point in Montenegro, Zla Kolata (2534m), on the Albanian border. More alpine in aspect than the other peaks, it was also a bit of a scramble with a (mild) knife edge traverse to the summit. Early the final morning we took a ferry along the length of Lake Koman in northern Albania, enjoying this amazing gorge before returning to our starting point in the capital of Tirana. Truly a wonderful trip with some culture and a lot of history thrown in.

Vista of the lower portion of our ascent route on Mt Korab

Grass of Parnassus. I also saw this flower in the Val d’Aosta in Italy, but wasn’t able to get a good photo

Our guide, Dritan, on the Mt Korab ascent. Only 24 years old, it is his first year as a head guide.

Looking Southeast into Macedonia from the col before Mt Korab’s summit ridge

Atmospheric view Northeast into Macedonia from the summit of Mt Korab (2764m), the high point of both Albania and Macedonia

Our group summit photo on Mt Korab. Amazingly, we all made it to the top despite the heat and various individual issues

Detail of a Cobweb Houseleek. I know there was a photo of these in my last post, but I think they’re cool looking.

Mt Gjeravica, Kosovo’s high point (2656m) from near our trailhead, the start of a three day trek

The Vagabond Hiker on Mt Gjeravica’s summit with the Albanian flag. Interetingly, the American flag was also there.

Aptly named Heart Lake, seen during the steep descent from Mt Gjeravica

A few of the huts in the seasonal hamlet of Doberdol (1791m)

Our horsemen removing some of our luggage at the primitive Doberdol shepherd hut where we stayed one night

Some chill Doberdol sheep. One we named Bob Marley.

Likely a Greek Stream Frog, seen on our hike to the village of Ceremi

Mountain view on our trek to Ceremi, where we stayed in a basic guest house without electricity

*Dianthus*, possibly *sylvestris* (Wood Pinks)

Some of our group ascending Zla Kolata, the high point in Montenegro

Will and Geoff on Zla Kolata’s summit ridge

Zla Kolata summit vista. The day was cloudy but fortunately the rains held off until that evening after dinner in our camp.

A view down to the Valbona Valley, the final descent of our trek

I am back in Italy now, preparing to head off tomorrow morning for five days climbing Via Ferratas and four nights enjoying rustic Italian cuisine in mountain rifugios. Until next post,

Happy Trails,

The Vagabond Hiker

The High Peaks of the Balkans

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