Incredible Croatian Karst, Via Dinarica White Trail

Categories Croatia, Route Reflections, TRAILNOTES, Via Dinarica 2016, White Trail
hiking_via_dinarica_croatia_balkans_white_trail

The Via Dinarica is a trail that is still in progress, only in Bosnia and Herzegovina the White Trail is officially open. In the other four countries the route is a combination of old existing trails that all together form a corridor through the Dinarides. With a distance of almost 600 kilometers, the Croatian section covers the largest part of the Via Dinarica. An absolutely beautiful stretch through the incredible Croatian karst mountains.

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4 Days Hiking in Paklenica National Park

Categories Croatia, Micro Adventures, Photo Diary, Via Dinarica 2016, White Trail

Jeej, I got company! No, she is not really an hiker or outdoorsie type, but she is my oldest friend… Why is everybody asking? When are you a hiker? What is a real hiker? Are there any rules? Hmm, I think I actually don’t really care. After almost 900K of solo-hiking, my BFF Caroline joined me in Starigrad, super exiting. New company, new spirit, new challenges. New ADVENTURE. Paklenica, here we come!

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What I talk about when I talk about Hiking

Categories Croatia, Musings, Via Dinarica 2016, White Trail
painted-by-marit-dik

“I’m free, I think. I shut my eyes and think hard and deep about how free I am, but I can’t really understand what it means. All I know is that I’m totally alone. All alone in an unfamiliar place, like some solitary explorer who’s lost his compass and his map. Is this what it means to be free? I don’t know, and I gave up thinking about it. – Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore.

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Dinara, to climb or not to climb

Categories Croatia, Stories, Via Dinarica 2016, White Trail
Dinara, to climb or not to climb?

I had a plan, I had maps, descriptions from other hikers and of course my GPS. It didn’t seem difficult to go to the top of Dinara, just a long “climb”. I had enough time, more than enough water and a plan that gave me the opportunity to spend an extra day on the mountain. Mountain Dinara. The only problem was that I was tired…

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Beautifully WILD Bosnia and Herzegovina, Via Dinarica White Trail

Categories Bosnia & Herzegovina, Route Reflections, TRAILNOTES, Via Dinarica 2016, White Trail
BLOG | Beautifully WILD Bosnia and Herzegovina

Although nature does not know borders, borders are often formed by nature. Mountains, rivers and seas are natural borders between different regions, countries or continents. Within these borders, people seem to develop their own characteristic way of living full of local traditions and old customs. Along the Via Dinarica I crossed many borders. Some were natural, some were cultural and some were just lines on a map. Lines that create countries.

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Descend from Prenj

Categories Bosnia & Herzegovina, Stories, Via Dinarica 2016, White Trail
Hiking_Via_Dinarica_White_Trail_BiH_Prenj_Bosnia_Herzegovina

“Bare in mind that you have still some challenging sections, particularly the descend from Prenj.” That was not the first time someone warned me for this part. Of course this became a big thing in my head. How difficult would it be? What if I can’t make it? What if I loose the trail again?

I felt nervous. It really took some time before I could enjoy the hiking.

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Planet Prenj

Categories Bosnia & Herzegovina, Photo Diary, Via Dinarica 2016, White Trail
Planet_Prenj_view

Prenj is absolutely one of my favorites along the Via Dinarica White Trail. Not just because of its ridiculously beautiful vistas and views, mostly because Prenj was a place where I had a good dose of fun. With two guys from Tuzla who I met on Boračko campsite, I hiked from Boračko Jezero up to the mountain hut Jezerce. A great new hut on a fantastic location. Perfect place to spend the night. Or two. I really enjoyed the company of the Tuzla-boyz and the weather was extremely good. There was not really a reason to rush on, so I decided to join them on a day-hike to Zelena Glava and stay an extra night at PD Jezerce before I went further on my own.

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WILD BALKANS: nature versus mankind, what do they teach me?

Categories Bosnia & Herzegovina, Stories, Via Dinarica 2016, White Trail
wild tea

Many many wild plants were in my way. If I had known which I could eat, I perhaps would appreciate them more. I’m a city girl, but I’m getting more and more used to the wilderness. Still most of the time, the plants are in my way. Wilderness. Wild Balkans. Of course I also feel thankful that nature actually allows me here. When it’s wild and rough, completely overgrown it shows who is the boss. And that is absolutely not me!

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Magnificent Mountains of Montenegro, Via Dinarica White Trail

Categories Montenegro, Route Reflections, TRAILNOTES, Via Dinarica 2016, White Trail
montenegro_durmitor_np_Via_Dinarica

Montenegro or Crna Gora in Serbian. I have to confess that I didn’t know where the name comes from, I only know that it means ˝Black Mountain˝. I didn’t really see black mountains though. The mountains of Montenegro were green. Everything was green. Green valleys, green peaks, green forests, green fields… Green, green, green in all possible shades and shapes.

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