Hiking the Peaks of the Balkans

Day 1: Valbona to Çerime

Prolipsit Pass near Valbona, Albania

This is the second in a series of posts about our experiences taking on the Peaks of the Balkans trekking circuit. I traveled with my daughter Rebecca and friend Nev Chamberlain from the UK.  We decided to make this journey without hiring a guide. 

If you want to read the series from the beginning, start HERE

In the last post, I will provide the resources that we used to make this excursion a success. I will also discuss the pros and cons of hiking the Peaks of the Balkans independently.

It was not without some trepidation that we started out on our Peaks of the Balkans circuit early in the morning.

At the end of each blog post is a video recapping highlights from the day’s  journey.

 There are two ways to travel to Çerime by foot: One is mostly on a dirt road that is much easier but is reported to be less stunning. We knew that our choice to go over the Prolipsit and Borit passes would test our stamina, but we opted for the more difficult trail—almost 20 kilometers with an elevation gain of 1422 meters.

As it turned out, we made the right decision—the entire hike up was incredibly beautiful despite the steep climb. But it was not without cost, as you will see.

Map for Day 1 Route

Breakfast was included in our lodging at Rilindja Guesthouse, so we got a good start to the day. We ate in their beautiful garden. For five euros each, the kitchen prepared sack lunches for us to eat on the trail.

Breakfast on Day 1 at our Guesthouse
The first of many breakfasts like this that we would be eating. (Photo: Rebecca Fulton)

Our guesthouse host offered to take us to the trailhead, but since the trail begins with a long (four kilometer), steep ascent, we thought it would be a good idea to warm up our legs with the gentler ascent on the road from our lodging to the trailhead. Of course, this added 2.5 kilometers to the hike, and it was to be a long and challenging hike.

First 2 kilometers of pavement walking
The first 2.5 kilometers of our first day was along the paved road from our guesthouse.

 About half-way up we encountered our first large meadow. I have always loved alpine meadows, especially when the wildflowers are at their peak. Now I call these meadows our “reward” for all the hard work it takes to get to them.

Walking through Alpine Meadow

But once we hit the alpine areas where the rugged peaks towered over us, we were pretty blown away. At one point I broke down in tears as I realized how incredible it was that I could experience such a wonder at this stage in my life.

Prolipsit Pass near Valbona, Albania
The landscape dwarfs any humans within it. Yes, that white spot in the distance is snow. Can you find Nev and Rebecca?
Nev and Cathy eating lunch at the top of Prolipsit pass.
Mountain passes are almost always windy as the air moves from one side to the other. But we found a spot that was not so breezy where we could eat our lunch. (Photo: Rebecca Fulton)
Prolipsit Pass
Photo: Nev Chamberlain

After lunch, it was almost all downhill with lots of long steps, which took their toll on our tired knees. I am almost as slow going down as going up, but at least it is easier to get enough oxygen into my lungs for the task.

Forest near Borit Pass in the Albanian Alps
We traveled through this lovely forest—there seemed to be no end to the variety of landscapes we encountered.

We had inquired at our guesthouse about the amount of snow on the trail. Sometimes these passes still have snow on them into late June. We were assured that the trails were cleared. And indeed, we only encountered two patches of snow. The first was easy to cross if you took your time. 

Walking across a patch of Snow in Albanian Alps
Walking across a patch of Snow in Albanian Alps
Photo: Nev Chamberlain

The second patch of snow was interesting. There were a couple ways to cross it. Some Dutch women opted to cross over it. But we discovered a kind of walkway where the drift had melted away from the rock wall above it. So we went that way. We were not so sure it was easier or faster, but going through it was certainly entertaining!

Rebecca finding her way around a snowfield in the Peaks of the Balkans
I think this is what you call "being between a rock and a hard place."
Shepherd's hut and corrals near Borit Pass
A shepherd’s hut and stone corrals. We wondered if it would get used this year.

Once we got down from the steepest part of the pass, we encountered a long, lush valley that we would traverse to reach our night’s stay. 

Marker at the border of Albania and Montenegro
When we arrived at this border marker between Montengro and Albania, it was a good time to check our location on the GPS. (Photo: Nev Chamberlain)

The last several kilometers were tough, but not because they were so difficult technically—the last part of the hike took us down through the bottom of a valley so there was not much climbing up or clambering down steep parts. But we were exhausted, and at the very end, it became challenging to find the trail down through a dense (and darkening) forest into Çeremi. We had also run out of water because we did not know (at that point) that the water in the streams was safe to drink.

I was exhausted and I fought back tears and wondered if it would be a good idea for me to quit. I really was not sure if I could do this kind of hiking.

Rebecca went on ahead because the myriad mosquitos in the woods were driving her crazy. Also. we were running so late that we were afraid the guesthouse might think we were not coming and give away our beds. Nev and I dragged our bodies into the Kujtim Goçaj guesthouse at about 8:00 pm—quite late since most hikers make it by 5:00 or 6:00.

We were concerned that we would be too late for dinner, but Rebecca—already having showered by the time we had arrived–had assured the hosts that we were coming.

I failed to get a photo of an ingenious contraption at this guesthouse. Most homes in these mountains do not have electric refrigeration. Instead, they channel cold spring water into large containers filled with drinks to sell to travelers. But at Kujtim Goçaj, there were three or four normal-looking commercial refrigerators with glass doors—like you would see in any convenience store. But at the top spring water was led into a small sprinkler that sprayed upside down over the entire space, cooling the contents. Water pressure was provided by gravity, so the entire system was run naturally. A couple refrigerators were filled with beer and other cold drinks to sell. And the cook stored her cheese and other such ingredients in the last one.

I was so tired that my body was chilled from the stress. I was beginning to shiver, so I ate as quickly as possible and climbed into bed to get warm. Rebecca brought me some mint tea that was the perfect antidote. It was not long before I was dead to the world.

But I had my doubts about whether I would be able to complete this mission I had set for us. This had certainly been a day of highs and lows—in more ways than one!

And now for the video!

Other Blog Posts You May Find Interesting

Walking up to the pass after leaving Milishevc in the Peaks of the Balkans

Peaks of the Balkans-Day 4: Milishevc  to Rekë e Allegës

We started out walking uphill on the road out of Milishevc. Then we had to climb a steep hill with no real trail—just using our GPS to get us up to the main trail. Even then, the trail was non-existent in places, and we had to rely on GPS and the occasional Peaks of the Balkans trail markers.

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Picture of Cathy Fulton

Cathy Fulton

I am Cathy Fulton and I became a world nomad in 2014. Traveling has become a way of life for me. Except for the fact that I am a citizen of the United States, I don’t have a residence. I am retired and I like to travel solo and independently. I don’t know how many times I have heard, “You are living my dream.” My reply is, “It doesn’t have to be a dream. It can be a reality!"

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