Bjeshkët e Nemuna vel Prokletije, August 2013

The Albanian Alps at their finest, in the middle of the summer. Getting there via the Koman Lake. After a loop around the Kolata range, a trek from Valbona Valley over the Jezerce Lakes to Theti in Kelmend. August 2013.

Fetched by Mario Molla in person from the Tirana airport at midnight and delivered to his own morning ferry boat at the Koman Lake and taken over by a micro-bus via Bajram Curri to Valbone’s finest guesthouse Rilindja of Catherine was so surprisingly smooth and efficient that we have almost lost the feeling of time and space. Overwhelmed by the summer heat we have first decided to make a deposit of all heavy equipment in the guesthouse and take a reconnaissance short loop around the Kolata massif just ro the North. The trip confronted us with all the specific features of Bjeshkët e Nemuna vel Prokletije Mountains: never loose the trail, always have enough water with you, and never downplay the difficulties of the mountainous terrain. The eventual trip that followed — from Valbona to Qafa e Valbonës and then via Montenegrin territory to the Jezerce Lakes with an unfulfilled attempt of reaching the top of Jezerce and then trekking all the way to Theti in Kelmend — only confirmed this. Take these beautiful and still unspoiled mountains serious. But never loose your temper — they are worth each and every effort.