European
Mountains, Montenegro
Durmitor
National Park
Bobotov Kuk (2523m) &
Uvita Greda (2199m),
July 9 2012
To the main Durmitor page (route descriptions and maps)
On our way north
(Click for larger image)
It was our 3rd day in Montenegro. After a nice recreation day in Budva and a visit to 3 peaks in Lovćen the day before, we were now heading for Durmitor National Park to ascend Bobotov Kuk (2523m) - one of the highest peaks in Montenegro.
We had a nice drive to the north; from Budva to Podgorica (the capital) to Danilovgrad and Nikšić before arriving at the Durmitor National Park - just southwest of Žabljak. The roads were ranging from good and OK to very curvy, but the new road up to Žabljak was surprisingly good.
We parked at the Sedlo pass and were ready to go at 11:45am. At first, it wasn't quite obvious how we should get up to the mountain plateau above the monster wall ahead of us, but then we saw the marked path and everything was good...
The route from Sedlo pass
(Click for larger image)
Once on the mountain plateau, we had the most amazing peaks all around us. In short - heaven - for mountaineers. My mind immediately wandered back home to Molladalstindane in Norway. But I won't even try to compare..
Wild peaks in Durmitor
(Click for larger image)
After passing the amazing string of peaks, we rounded a corner and had Bobotov Kuk in plain sight ahead of us. And what a sight it was! It have to be mentioned that "Kuk" is a Norwegian word for the male genitalia, as it generated some rather cool and internal jokes...
We also passed a mighty cool rock - close to 6 meters high - that I really wanted to climb. But first, we would pay the majesty of the Durmitor mountain range a visit...
Bobotov Kuk
(Click for larger image)
Before the ascent, we had to descend 100 vertical meters down to lake Zeleni Vir. Given the (very) high temperature in the air, there was little doubt that there would be a swim when we returned.
We were not alone on the mountain, we met half a dozen hikers on the way down and understood that there was a large group above us.
We had 500 meters to ascend from the lake and as we gained altitude we could really take in the beauty around us. This was just an incredibly beautiful mountain range! To the northeast was a really pretty valley and the lake Veliko Skrcko Jezero.
Veliko Skrcko Jezero
(Click for larger image)
The route up the mountain was straightforward until we were 100 meters below the summit. Then we had to use our hands for balance here and there. It was almost getting "interesting", but in retrospect - it was quite an easy route.
Easy scrambling just below the top
(Click for larger image)
We reached the top 2:05pm - 2h:20m after heading out from Sedlo. The distance was approx. 5km along the path and almost 800 vertical meters. It was a delight to be up here and the fact that one of our main goals (the country high point was the other) was achieved already on our 3rd day in Montenegro. A good reason to celebrate!
Celebration on Bobotov Kuk
(Click for larger image)
In the middle of shooting the summit video, a dog suddenly turned up! It was obvious that the owners (who had taken a pause for lunch outside the path when we ascended) were just around the corner, but already at that point I knew that I would use words like straightforward and easy opposed to highly dramatic when the time come to write the trip report...
After a nice stay on top, we descended to the lake which we had all to ourselves. Clothes off! The temperature in the water took some getting used to, but once I had acclimated, I just wanted to keep on swimming..
When Anne pointed out that taking a swim at 2030 meters above sea level was somewhat an event out of the ordinary, I had to agree and concluded that I had probably never been into a lake at this altitude before...
In lake Zeleni Vir
(Click for larger image)
Next stop was the cool rock that we had passed earlier on. The rock had all the handholds you could ask for, and was certainly a no-brainer for rock climbers, but I'm not a rock climber and had a mental challenge to overcome before rising approx. 6 meters above the ground without a rope.
If the ascent of Bobotov Kuk and the swim in Zeleni Vir hadn't already made my day, this climb certainly helped...
Rock (literally) climbing
(Click for larger image)
But the fun wasn't over just yet. On our way back to the trailhead, I had good time to study Uvita Greda (2199m). This - very characteristic - peak didn't look easy at all and I didn't expect that I would be able to ascend it. But I certainly wanted to give it a try! Anne passed on this one and watched me head upwards.
Halfway up, it was clear that this wouldn't get difficult at all. I walked up without using my hands at all. So much for looks. They can certainly be deceiving!
Almost on top of Uvita Greda
(Click for larger image)
When I returned to Anne, she had prepared a small surprise picnic. Very nice! Afterwards, we sat the course down to the trailhead and returned to the car 5:08pm - close to 5,5 hours after heading out. We decided to find a hotel room in Žabljak and come back the next day to hike the peaks on the south side of Sedlo pass.
In Žabljak, we ended up at Hotel Jabor. There might be more modern hotels and room in this town, but we had no complaints. The dinner was also nice. Afterwards, we had a walk down the main street before calling it a day...
At hotel Jabor in Žabljak
(Click for larger image)
