County/Municipality:
| - |
Maps: |
Huber |
Primary factor: |
Rodi e Kolates/Maja e Koljats: 522m
Zla Kolata: 105m (Possibly < 90m)
Dobre Kolata: 106m |
Hiked: |
July 2012 |
See also: |
|
See also : |
Other European mountains on westcoastpeaks.com |
Prokletije peaks
(Click for larger image)
Introduction
The Prokletije
(Albanian: Bjeshkët e Nemuna) mountain range is part of the Dinaric
Alps and is by many considered to be the most unexplored of all
mountain ranges in Europe. Prokletije spans the northern part of
Albania, the western part of Kosovo and the eastern part of Montenegro.
Maja Jezerce (2694m, in Albania) is the highest peak in this
range. Prokletije also includes 3 national parks and more parks may be
established in the future.
Zla Kolata (2535m)
and Dobre Kolata (2528m) and Maja Rosit (2524m) are
generally considered to be the highest peaks in Montenegro - all
found on the Montenegro - Albania border. However, Montenegro seems
officially to be in denial of this, and is stating that
Bobotov Kuk (2523m) as the country high
point.
The process of
identifying the Montenegro high point has however been a difficult task.
Internet searches have resulted wrong and confusing information. Below
you will find our conclusions and the reason behind them. The
conclusions may however be wrong and we appreciate any feedback we can
get.
Conclusion: The Kolata
massif (below picture) is found on the Montenegro - Albania border and has 3
main peaks. The leftmost (west) peak is Zla Kolata (2535m), the
peak in the center is Dobre Kolata (2528m) and the peak to the
right is Rodi e Kolates (Maja e Koljats) (2556m).
The Kolata peaks
(Click for larger image)
Summary of research:
Mountain |
Location |
AKA |
Huber map |
Wiki-pedia |
Dragobija
1:25,000 |
Russian
map 1:50,000
(1974) |
Geokarta 1:75,000 |
GPS
Wpt
(1) |
GPS
Wpt
(2) |
Zla Kolata |
N42.48499 E19.89631
N42 29 05.9 E19 53 46.7 |
Evil Kolata,
Kolata e Keq |
2535m
(Maja e Keq) |
2534m |
2528m |
2512m |
2512m |
2516m |
2528m |
Dobre Kolata |
N42.48893 E19.89996
N42 29 20.1 E19 53 59.9 |
Good Kolata,
Kolata e Mire |
2526m |
2528m |
- |
- |
- |
2526m |
2518m |
Ravna Kolata |
N42.49218
E19.89884
N42 29 31.9 E19 53 55.8 |
- |
2482m |
|
2411m |
- |
2418m |
- |
- |
Rodi e Kolates |
N42.48325 E19.90922
N42 28 59.7 E19 54 33.2 |
- |
- |
- !!! |
2556m
(Maja e Koljats) |
2553,3m |
2556
(Maja e Kolats) |
2556m |
2551m |
Maja Rosit |
- |
- |
- |
2524m |
- |
- |
2525m |
- |
- |
Cafa e Preslopit
(Pass) |
N42.48971 E19.88913
N42 29 22.9 E19 53 20.9 |
- |
2039m |
- |
2034m |
2039m |
2039m |
2027m |
- |
Comments:
- The heights used on this page refers to the
shaded columns in the above table.
- The primary factors are computed based on map
information and relative elevations from our GPS unit.
- Co-ordinate for Ravna Kolata is taken from GPS
map, not GPS unit. Hence, unreliable.
- There is confusion regarding Ravna
Kolata. According to one of our sources (who refers to the Huber
map) - Ravna Kolata is "further along the border ridge", relative to
Dobre Kolata. Another source tells us that the Ravna Kolata is the
Kolata high point (Rodi e Kolates in the above table).
- Zla = Evil in Serbian and e Keq =
Evil in Albanian.
- Dobre = Good in Serbian and e Mire
= Good in Albanian
- GPS Wpt (1) are our personal GPS waypoints, and
it shows that Zla Kolata is lower than Dobre Kolata (!). We have
chosen not draw any conclusions based on GPS readings.
- GPS Wpt (2) are personal GPS waypoints from one
of our sources. Here, Zla Kolata is higher than Dobre Kolata, but
raises the question if Dobre Kolata really is higher than Bobotv Kuk.
- Some sources state that Dobre Kolata is also
called Maja Kolata and is 2528m. This information is also painted on
a rock at the Preslopit pass.
- The Wikipedia page "List
of mountains in Albania" lists Dobre and Zla Kolata but not the
2556m peak Rodi e Kolates. This is very confusing!
- There is a pass called
Dvojni Prevoj (Double
Pass) which internet sources say is 2430m. We have not
established if this is the pass between Zla Kolata and Dobre Kolata
or if it is the pass between Zla Kolata and Rodi e Kolates.
Dobre and Zla Kolata
(Click for larger image)
The Kolata peaks can be
reached from Montenegro and Albania. This page will describe the route
to Zla Kolata from Vusanje in Montenegro. This is a fairly long
hike (9,1km) with some minor scrambling above snow fields in the valley
below Zla Kolata.
Zla Kolata and the route up from Preslopit
(Click for larger image)
Primary factor:
Rodi e Kolates (Dragobija
1:25,000: 2556m, N42.48325 E19.90922)
has a primary factor of 522m
towards the higher parent mountain Maja Jezerce. The defining saddle (approx.
N42.48971 E19.88913) is found in the Cafa e Preslopit pass below Zla
Kolata. Ref. the Dragobija map, the pass is 2034m.
Zla Kolata (Huber: 2535m, N42.48499
E19.89631)
has a primary factor of 105m
towards the higher parent Rodi e Kolates. The defining saddle (approx.
N42.48401 E19.89826) is found in the pass between these two tops. Based
on GPS readings, this pass is approx. 2430m.
Dobre Kolata (Huber: 2526m, N42.48499 E19.89631)
has a primary factor of 106m
towards the higher parent Zla Kolata. The defining saddle (approx.
N42.48507 E19.89887) is found in the pass between these two tops. Based on GPS
readings, this pass is approx. 2420m.
Zla and Dobre Kolata
(Click for larger image)
Google map
Google's interactive map. You can zoom, pan and click on the markers.
Trail descriptions
This disclaimer is
regarding all of the literature and instructional guides posted on the
westcoastpeaks.com website.
These instructions are guidelines only, and should not be used in lieu
of common sense or judgment when attempting any of the actions involved
or instructed. Westcoastpeaks nor myself will not be liable nor will it
indemnify any form of compensation to anyone who has injured, harmed or
even killed themselves or others while following any of the instructions
written within the website.
It should be noted by any persons willing to undertake any of the
instructions provided that mountains offer varying levels of risk,
regardless of size or incline. Risks to be considered are as follows but
not limited to: wild animals, weather, the terrain, bad judgment,
inappropriate or insufficient equipment, improper training or experience
and of course, bad luck... |
This route description is valid per July
2012
Route 1: Vusinje - Zla Kolata
Difficulty : |
YDS
Class 2 on marked route |
Comments : |
Minor scrambling above snow
fields. Crampons/axe may be necessary. |
Distance : |
Approx. 9km to Zla Kolata |
Time : |
Approx. 6-7 hours to Zla Kolata |
Starting Elev.: |
Approx. 1045m |
Vertical Gain : |
Approx. 1600m (total) |
|
|
Access:
- Starting point; Tivat airport
- Drive E65/E80 southeast to Budva (approx.
29km)
- Continue on E65/E80 southeast to the M2.4/E65/E80
junction west of Sutomore (approx. 27km)
- Drive E65/E80 northeast to Podgorica
(approx. 43km)
- Continue north on E65/E80 to Kolašin
(approx. 70km)
- Follow M9 southwest (approx. 80km) to Gusinje,
passing Andrijevica and Plav along the way.
- Continue on the road to Vusanje in
Ropojana Valley
(signposted Alipasina) for 5,4km and locate
the road
(N42.52594 E19.84497) that is the start of the route.
- Find parking just down the road - by the former
Police Control post
at the army barracks (N42.52507 E19.84441).
The route:
The route, as seen in Google Earth
(Click for larger image)
Km |
|
Description |
|
Co-ordinate |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
Follow
the forest road ->
tractor road |
|
N42.52581
E19.84485 |
1,1 |
|
Tractor road ends,
mountain path begins |
|
N42.52267
E19.85598 |
1,8 |
|
You
pass a shepherd's hut |
|
N42.52013
E19.86291 |
2 |
|
Important fork; go left! |
|
N42.51910
E19.86553 |
4 |
|
You
pass another
shepherd's hut |
|
N42.51311
E19.88647 |
4,5 |
|
Water source |
|
N42.51137
E19.89189 |
4,6 |
|
Important fork;
go right! The route straight ahead takes you up to pass on the Albanian border. |
|
N42.51074
E19.89248 |
5,1 |
|
You
pass old ruins (Café Borit - approx. 1760m). Aim towards the
distinct
pass to the south |
|
N42.50740
E19.89451 |
6,8 |
|
You're on top of the
first pass |
|
N42.49630
E19.89160 |
7,6 |
|
Cafa e Preslopit pass (approx. 2034m) |
|
N42.48971
E19.88913 |
8,8 |
|
Dobre - Zla Kolata pass (approx. 2420m) |
|
N42.48534
E19.89866 |
9,1 |
|
Zla
Kolata summit (2535m) |
|
N42.48499
E19.89631 |
The route, as seen in Google Earth
(Click for larger image)
Notes:
-
The valley ascent from 7,6 to 8,8km
involves crossing snow fields. An ice axe and/or
crampons may be necessary. You can follow the marked
route (circles with red and white paint) or stay in the
center of the valley (on the
snow fields) and turn left
at 2300m when it's
getting steeper. After 60-70 meters
to the left, you can again aim for the pass above you.
-
From Zla Kolata, you can hike
Rodi e
Kolates (N42.48325 E19.90922). This is a 1,3km walk
towards the southwest, along a very
easy route (YDS
class 1). From the pass (N42.48401 E19.89826 - approx.
2430m), the vertical gain is approx. 130 meters.
The
summit is marked by a few rocks. You
will be crossing the Albanian border, and by law, this
is most likely prohibited. However...
-
Upon your return, you can also hike
Dobre Kolata (N42.48893 E19.89996). This is a 0,5km
YDS class 2 hike
from the pass between Zla and Dobre Kolata. Follow a
distinct ledge on the east side of the ridge until you
find it natural
to ascend up to the summit ridge. The
vertical gain is approx. 100m.
The
summit is marked by a few rocks.
-
Between the first pass
and the Preslopit pass (closer to the first), check out
an amazing
snow
cave (Ledena Pecina). It's
freezing cold at the cave entrance - quite
something!
|
The route, as seen in Google Earth
(Click for larger image)
Pictures and Trip reports:
westcoastpeaks.com
Other European mountains
Other Norwegian mountains
|