Hike to Maja e Lalucit
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 23.06 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7,090 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 7,192 ft
- Max elevation
- 7,187 ft
- TrailRank
- 42
- Min elevation
- 716 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Moving time
- 8 hours 19 minutes
- Time
- 12 hours 51 minutes
- Coordinates
- 5818
- Uploaded
- May 23, 2021
- Recorded
- May 2021
near Gjirokastër, Gjirokastër (Albania)
Viewed 682 times, downloaded 15 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Disclaimer: I like doing extreme day hikes so this is definitely not for everyone. I've only marked it difficult due to elevation gain and distance but otherwise, it's a straight forward hike. Nothing technical about it.
I am back in Gjirokastra and decided to hike the north east of the valley. I hiked from the center of Gjirokastra just to see what I would encounter. Nothing special to be honest so I'd recommend driving or taking a taxi to one of the villages and starting there. If you care, just note that I had to cross the river without any bridge.
Most of the way to the base is mainly dirt roads. On my way up, you will see that at around km 16.30, I lost the trail and found it again at km 16.80. Just pay attention in this area and you should find it easily. This is where it gets very steep. However, it's well marked and there's not much loose rocks. At some points, bushes are overgrown though.
On the way back, I wanted to walk a little bit on the ridge to another pass to check the views. However, to get to the next pass, I had to backtrack, go down and then up again. I didn't want to waste energy and time so I decided to cut across through the side of the ridge. If you have good boots/shoes, it should be OK as there are small ridges created by the grass where you can step. It looks worse than it is because it's steep.
After the second pass, I wanted to come down a different way so that I ended up just above the monastery. It was all fine except between km 24 and 25, there's NO trail. My maps app showed there should have been and there were traces of an old trail but otherwise, nothing. And so, you will descend slightly faster but at the expense of your knees! After the old 'hut' you will find the trail and it is marked mostly well. This part I loved because it has a more dramatic view of the mountains going southeast. Truly beautiful.
At any of the villages, try to hitch a ride back to Gjirokastra and it should be quite easy. This is what I did. Take plenty of water.
Very difficult hike physically but well worth it!
I am back in Gjirokastra and decided to hike the north east of the valley. I hiked from the center of Gjirokastra just to see what I would encounter. Nothing special to be honest so I'd recommend driving or taking a taxi to one of the villages and starting there. If you care, just note that I had to cross the river without any bridge.
Most of the way to the base is mainly dirt roads. On my way up, you will see that at around km 16.30, I lost the trail and found it again at km 16.80. Just pay attention in this area and you should find it easily. This is where it gets very steep. However, it's well marked and there's not much loose rocks. At some points, bushes are overgrown though.
On the way back, I wanted to walk a little bit on the ridge to another pass to check the views. However, to get to the next pass, I had to backtrack, go down and then up again. I didn't want to waste energy and time so I decided to cut across through the side of the ridge. If you have good boots/shoes, it should be OK as there are small ridges created by the grass where you can step. It looks worse than it is because it's steep.
After the second pass, I wanted to come down a different way so that I ended up just above the monastery. It was all fine except between km 24 and 25, there's NO trail. My maps app showed there should have been and there were traces of an old trail but otherwise, nothing. And so, you will descend slightly faster but at the expense of your knees! After the old 'hut' you will find the trail and it is marked mostly well. This part I loved because it has a more dramatic view of the mountains going southeast. Truly beautiful.
At any of the villages, try to hitch a ride back to Gjirokastra and it should be quite easy. This is what I did. Take plenty of water.
Very difficult hike physically but well worth it!
Waypoints
River
730 ft
Photo
Fountain
Summit
Mountain pass
Religious site
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