Epic hiking in Albania

One of the English teaching assistants arraged a little package for us - hike from Valbona, Albania over a mountain pass to Theth, spend the night at a guest house, and then hike back over the pass back to Valbona.  Strenuous doesn't come close to describing the hiking, but the view of the Accursed Mountains (that's their real name) were spectacular.  The pictures here do not do it justice.  Along  the way were three little I wouldn't call them cafes, maybe waystops - but you can get coffee, tea, and water and maybe a snack.  Two were closed for the season, but the one on the Theth side of the pass was open - the guy lives there - and it was nice to stop, rest, and have a coffee.  I am so glad I went - I was beginning to despair of getting in any hiking in while I was here in Kosovo.  It's difficult getting to a trailhead anywhere without your own car or a package trip, and the closest mountains are a few hours away.  Valbona was about 3 hours west of Pristina.

Views along the way:


Gotta have some signage; this one was at the top of the pass.  Add an  hour to what they show there because the trail has a lot of loose rock and the going was a little slow at times.

The views from the top of the pass were spectactular
The little cafe/waystop on the Theth side of the pass.  A nice little break.
The woman waving was our guide Valdete Qollaku, an experienced alpinist - Everest and Kilamanjaro and climbing all over these mountains.  She is an amazing person - encouraging and supportive even when I felt totally spent and couldn't go much further.
Finally, after 7 hours we arrive in Theth.
I took a few more pictures the next day on the way back to Valbona.  So beautiful!!

Here's the details from John's hiking app.  The elevation profile at the end shows how strenuous this was.  The dip in the middle would be Theth. I am proud of myself for accomplishing this.  And I am very stiff and sore this morning!!

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