Peaks of the Balkans Trail Stage 8: Bora to Ropojansko Jezero via Vusanje (2023)

In this stage, I hike from Mount Bora to the lake “Ropojansko Jezero” through Vusanje. This lake, which sometimes dries up, is located near the border with Albania. In the morning, there were low-hanging clouds. You descend the mountain into the valley and then climb a bit after the village of Vusanje. Along the way, you encounter two waterfalls near Vusanje.

The original Dutch version is available here

Bora

Because the view from the top of the mountain is so beautiful, I walked back a bit in the morning to enjoy it. There were clouds around the mountains, and the sun was shining through. It was peaceful, and in the background, I could hear some dogs barking.

Hunter

As I walked back, I saw a hunter and had a little chat with him. He was hunting with his brother-in-law and nephew. He lived in Germany but had come back to visit his family. He grew up in this region. He also mentioned that hunting in Germany (like in the Netherlands) is heavily regulated, but in Montenegro, you can decide what you want to do. He had three hunting dogs with him to chase hares.

Fus Sirma

I made a quick stop at the sheep farm. The dogs guarding the sheep were not happy with my presence, but the owner allowed me to come. I had a cup of Turkish coffee there and then continued. They wanted two euros for it, so I gave them that. There wasn’t much conversation, but from other hikers, I heard that the girl in Vusanje goes to school.

German-Italian couple

A bit further, a German woman and an Italian guy were camping. They told me about the hut I had just visited. They planned to hike 25 kilometers a day through the mountains, which I found quite ambitious.

Man from Çerem

Further along, I met a man from Çerem (Albania), who was walking home. According to him, it wasn’t good for me to be walking there alone; I should do the trek with a nice girlfriend.

Vusanje

Vusanje has several guesthouses and a small restaurant. This restaurant is near a waterfall, but unfortunately, you don’t have a great view of it. I had a hot meal there and continued. I was overtaken by the German-Italian couple who came to buy a packed lunch and continued right away.

Oko Skakavice

Oko Skakavice is a karst spring. A karst spring is a source where a river resurfaces after an underground course. It gets its name from the crystal-clear water bed visible even at the deepest points, and it is translated as the “eye of the grasshopper.” The spring is located at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level and has a round shape with a funnel-like opening where the water flows out. On the north and south sides, the spring is surrounded by limestone rocks 3 to 5 meters high. It is one of the most powerful springs in the Prokletije region and covers an area of 30 meters by 25 meters, with a maximum depth of 8 meters.

Thunderstorm

I continue walking, and it has become really hot by now. As I hike further, it starts drizzling lightly. I am at an alpine meadow, so I quickly set up my tent and change into dry socks, different pants, and a different shirt before lying down. About 2.5 hours later, I wake up, and the sun is shining again. Later, I hear from other travelers that it rained for about 1.5 hours and there was a heavy thunderstorm. Well, I didn’t notice much of that. I later checked if it was a good spot to camp and didn’t change the location of my tent.

Conclusion

The eighth stage of the Peaks of the Balkans Trail takes you from Mount Bora to the lake “Ropojansko Jezero” via Vusanje. This stage offers beautiful mountain views and the opportunity to enjoy the tranquility and natural beauty of the surroundings. Along the way, I had interesting encounters, such as a hunter, a sheep farm, and other travelers. One highlight of the stage is the view from Mount Bora and the Oko Skakavice, an impressive karst spring with crystal-clear water and a unique shape. Despite a rain shower and thunderstorm, this stage provides an unforgettable experience for hikers wanting to explore the diversity of the Prokletije Mountains.

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There is an overview of the Peaks of the Balkans series, you can find it here

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