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! Name !! Length !! Region !! Difficulty
! Name !! Length !! Region !! Difficulty
|-
|-
| [[Žuti kamen|Guri i Kuq]] || 9.82 miles (15.80 km) || [[Peć|Pejë]] || Moderate
| [[Žuti kamen]] || 9.82 miles (15.80 km) || [[Peć]] || Moderate
|-
|-
| [[Brezovica, Kosovo|Brezovica]] || 21.17 miles (34 km) || [[Uroševac|Ferizaj]] || Difficult
| [[Brezovica, Kosovo|Brezovica]] || 21.17 miles (34 km) || [[Uroševac]] || Difficult
|-
|-
| [[Drenaj]] || 2.3 miles (3.7 km) || [[Peć|Pejë]] || Easy
| [[Drenaj]] || 2.3 miles (3.7 km) || [[Peć]] || Easy
|-
|-
| [[Hajla]] || 6.51 miles (10.47 km) || [[Peć|Pejë]] || Moderate
| [[Hajla]] || 6.51 miles (10.47 km) || [[Peć]] || Moderate
|-
|-
| [[Đeravica|Gjeravica]] || 12.83 miles (20.64 km) || [[Peć|Pejë]] || Moderate
| [[Đeravica]] || 12.83 miles (20.64 km) || [[Peć]] || Moderate
|-
|-
| [[Šatorica|Shatoricë]]|| 26.39 miles (42.47 km) || [[Leposavić|Leposaviq]] || Moderate
| [[Šatorica]]|| 26.39 miles (42.47 km) || [[Leposavić]] || Moderate
|}
|}


Revision as of 11:50, 9 April 2013

People hiking in Brezovica mountain

Hiking in Kosovo is a fairly new outdoor activity, which has gained popularity after the last war (1999). The success of hiking in Kosovo is mostly attributed to the support from different hiking societies like: "HikingNjeri[1]" which have worked hard to not only organize different activities, but also to expose it to the general public via social media. Hiking as an activity started in its true sense of work circa 1930, the year in which a group of friends climbed the Đeravica mountain in Peć. This was the first time that a peak in Kosovo was climbed. Even though people started to show interest shortly after, many mountains were near border areas and people needed special permission to visit them due to the political issue at the time. That is the reason why people were able to actually become active hikers only after the war, especially in 2003-2005. The vast majority of the Kosovo terrain is mountainous.[2] Central mountains are not sufficiently hard to climb, yet they make a good hiking trail, their height goes from 800–1200 meters. The Mirusha river splits these mountains in two groups. The first one is located in the south-west of central mountains and includes the following: Milanović mountains, Gajrak, Zatrić, Bajrak and Gremnik.[3] The second group consists of Carraleva, Goleš, Beriša and Drenica mountains. Surrounding mountains are located near border areas. They are harder for hiking because of their steep trails and require a lot of experience and agility. Mountains that are in this group are: east ridge mountains of Prokletije, Hasi mountains, Paštrik peak, Šar Mountains, Kortnik, east mountains of Kopaonik and Rogozna.[4]

Hiking zones

Hasani peak

The preferred hiking zones are those providing at least a somewhat challenging set of trails, but also proximity to cities such as Prizren and Peć.[5] Even though Kosovo has many mountains that offer great trails for hiking, there are some that any hiker must visit because of their beauty and paths like: Šar Mountains, mountains in Rugova Canyon and also Istok Gorge.[6] In many of these places it is possible to go by car but in some mountains like:Đeravica and Žuti kamen. The Šar Mountains are known for good roads (passable by any vehicle) but that is not the case for Rugova and Dečani Gorge.

Hiking trails

The following is a list of some of the best and most secure hiking trails, a list compiled by several local and national hiking clubs.[7][8]

Name Length Region Difficulty
Žuti kamen 9.82 miles (15.80 km) Peć Moderate
Brezovica 21.17 miles (34 km) Uroševac Difficult
Drenaj 2.3 miles (3.7 km) Peć Easy
Hajla 6.51 miles (10.47 km) Peć Moderate
Đeravica 12.83 miles (20.64 km) Peć Moderate
Šatorica 26.39 miles (42.47 km) Leposavić Moderate

Hiking seasons

Close to Koritnik peak 2395 m

April to December is considered the most suitable time for hiking, as most passionate hikers are skiing during the cold winter months. However, with shorter ski seasons due to low snowfalls and the increasing popularity of hiking, a lot of hikers have begun to remain active during winter as well. Mountains in Kosovo are covered in snow from November to April that's why snow and water-proof boots are mandatory in the West due to the need for stream fording.[9] The mountains preferred for hiking during hot weather are: Gjeravica, Šar Mountains outskirts, Kopaonik, Rogozna and Žuti kamen. As for the cold winter months, the preferred mountains are those that are lower in altitude and are less steep: Pashallore, Pashtriku, Brezovica, Brod outskirts, and Kortnik.

Types of hiking in Kosovo

Hikers in Kosovo speak of four kinds of hiking activities:[1]

  • Trekking
  • Rock climbing
  • Dayhike (a hike that can be completed in a single day and does not require overnight camping)
  • Backpacking (including camping one or more nights, also known as multi-day hiking)

Equipments and directions

The equipment required largely depends on the hiking activity and the nature of the trail. A basic kit must include water, a map, a backpack and a flashlight.[10] As for the outfit, one can wear anything but hiking boots are a must. Dangerous hiking circumstances include getting lost, hazardous terrain, animal attack and sickness. It is therefore also advisale to bring medications or first aid kit. One could quite easily get lost because not all trails in Kosovo are marked, which is why one needs to carry a magnetic pocket compass. Different hiking clubs in Kosovo have a list which includes items such as sunglasses, sunscreen, clothes, first aid kit, fire starter, knife and many other stuff to get you prepared as you can be.[11] The maps that are used are mostly GIS maps(Geographic information system). Also there are maps that were created by the "Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS)" with a scale of 1:25000 and 1:50000. Even though signs are rare, hikers are not so it is easy to get around by asking directions.[1]

People and hiking

Kosovo has a great potential for development of mountain tourism. The whole territory of Kosovo has more than 50% of mountain relief. People of all ages can go on hiking, although currently most hikers in Kosovo are aged between 30 and 60. The percentage of people that are interested in hiking, compared to the potential that Kosovo offers, is really low even though there is a big effort on raising that percentage.[1] Hiking in Kosovo can be very interesting and an unforgettable experience and many have written about it.[12] Hikers usually take a journal with them to keep track of different hiking trips.[13] Their journal usually contains how many kilometers they walked, how long did it take to arrive to the peak, the places they visited and notable things they saw during the hike.[6]

Rarities while hiking in Kosovo

While hiking in Kosovo one can run into different endangered species,[14] rare and poisonous plants.[15][16]

Lynx lynx

Some of these animals are:

As for the plants :

Amanita muscaria

Clubs

In Kosovo there are more than 25 hiking clubs organizing different hiking events. The most known in Prishtina are: "HikingNjeri[1]" and "SHBA Prishtina[28]" but still Prizren is known for the largest number of hiking societies. During the last years, hiking in Kosovo has gotten more and more support from different foreign organizations like:"USAID", "EU Commission" and "Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS)[29]".The best way to taste Kosovo's mountains and enjoy the stay there is to join one of these clubs for a small membership fee. The hikes are organized on weekends(almost every weekend) going from weekly ones with general attendance in some clubs to more rare but demanding hikes in others.[9]

Chronology of the establishment of hiking clubs

The society "Gjeravica" from Peja is the first society that was created in 1928. After the World War II many clubs were created in: Mitrovica, Gjakova, Ferizaj, Prishtina and Prizren. In 1951 the first Hiking community was formed which later was called "Lidhja Bjeshkatare - Skitare e Kosovës". Except outdoor activities many clubs started publishing magazines and books for example "Gjeravica", which managed to publish 19 issues of the magazine "The Voice of Gjeravica".[28]

  • 1928 (1928): Gjeravica, Pejë
  • 1948 (1948): Pashtriku, now Sharri, Prizren
  • 1948 (1948): Gërmija, now Prishtina 1, Prishtinë
  • 1948 (1948): Pashtriku, Gjakovë
  • 1928 (1928): Sharri, now Lyboteni, Ferizaj
  • 1948 (1948): Trepça, Mitrovicë (no longer exists)
  • 1950 (1950): Cicavica, Vushtrri (no longer exists)
  • 1967 (1967): Zheleznicar, now Kalaja, Fushë Kosovë
  • 2000 (2000): Eko, Prizren (no longer exists)
  • 2000 (2000): Guri i zi, Dragash
  • 2000 (2000): Blinaja, Lipjan
  • 2004 (2004): Guri i shtrenjtë, Shtime
  • 2004 (2004): Shkëlzeni, Gjakovë
  • 2005 (2005): HikingNjeri, Prishtinë
  • 2008 (2008): Dardania, Gjilan

Nowadays many clubs have been more active, exploring new paths and new places. For example "Sharri" club from Ferizaj worked with GPS to mark and sign new paths and make the orientation much easier.[30]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e http://www.hikingnjeri.com/english/Welcome.html
  2. ^ http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/kosovo-facts/
  3. ^ http://www.kosovotourismcenter.com/kiking.html
  4. ^ Islami, Arben (2013). Pure Kosovo, INIT productions, Pristina
  5. ^ http://endritstrail.blog.com/2012/06/16/hiking-around-peja-kosovo/
  6. ^ a b http://www.fbaku.org/index.php/sq/udherrefimet.html
  7. ^ http://www.wikiloc.com/trails/outdoor/kosovo
  8. ^ http://www.everytrail.com/browse.php?page=2&country=Kosovo&activity_id=5
  9. ^ a b http://www.newkosovareport.com/201004222184/Society/hiking-kosovo.html
  10. ^ The Mountaineers, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, (1997), ISBN 0898864275.
  11. ^ Çaplar, Alan (2011). Bazat e bjeshkatarisë, Blini-BK, Gjakovë, ISBN 978995199306.
  12. ^ Wassel, Tod, 2011, The Mountains of Dragash/Dragaš, Kosovo: Hiking and Nature Tourism Guide, United Nations Development Programme
  13. ^ http://www.shba-prishtina.com/donacione/
  14. ^ Ministria e mjedisit dhe planifikimit hapësinor, 2010. Natyra, UNDP, Prishtinë
  15. ^ http://www.aragonit-speleo.org/en/visitingkosova
  16. ^ Veselaj,Z,Sherifi, 2001, Llojet e rralla bimore dhe shtazore të Kosovës, Ekoklina & IMNMK, Prishtinë
  17. ^ Odden, John; Linnell, John D. C.; Andersen, Reidar (2006). "Diet of Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx, in the boreal forest of southeastern Norway: The relative importance of livestock and hares at low roe deer density". European Journal of Wildlife Research. 52 (4): 237. doi:10.1007/s10344-006-0052-4.
  18. ^ Mammals of Europe. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. 1993. ISBN 0-691-09160-9. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  19. ^ Bear Online Information System for Europe. Kora.ch. Retrieved on 2011-09-15.
  20. ^ Georges Cuvier, Edward Blyth, Robert Mudie, George Johnston, John Obadiah Westwood, William Benjamin Carpenter, The Animal Kingdom: Arranged After Its Organization, Forming a Natural History of Animals, and an Introduction to Comparative Anatomy, 1851, p. 171
  21. ^ Groves, C. (2008). Current views on the taxonomy and zoogeography of the genus Sus. pp. 15–29 in Albarella, U., Dobney, K, Ervynck, A. & Rowley-Conwy, P. Eds. (2008). Pigs and Humans: 10,000 Years of Interaction. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-920704-6
  22. ^ http://www.arkive.org/capercaillie/tetrao-urogallus/
  23. ^ Mužinic, Jasmina; Rašajski, Javor (1992). "On Food and Feeding Habits in the White Stork, Ciconia c. ciconia, in the Central Balkans" (PDF). Õkologie der Vögel (Ecology of Birds). 14: 211–23.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Wasson, R. Gordon. The Wondrous Mushroom: Mycolatry in Mesoamerica, pp43–44
  25. ^ Ferat REXHEPI & Elez KRASNIQI, 2004, http://hacquetia.zrc-sazu.si/vol3_pdf/HQ3-1_6.pdf
  26. ^ a b c d Krasniqi,E.A.,Mala,Xh.,Maxhuni,Q.,Bajraktari,F.,Hajdari, (2007), Stenoendemic species of Kosova's flora, 31st International Symposium on Vegetation in SE Europe,04-06 July 2007 Prishtina, Kosovo.
  27. ^ Millaku F (1999). Flora subalpike dhe alpike e Alpeve Shqiptare (Kosovë), Doctorate thesis, Prishtinë, Kosovë. Pp 90-91
  28. ^ a b http://www.fbaku.org/
  29. ^ http://www.mkrs-ks.org/?page=2,1
  30. ^ http://shbsharri.com/
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