2024

PIC NOIR

Natural site to discover

This peak (Црн Врв/Crn Vrv, Maja e Zezë) lies at 2,585 m altitude in the Šar Mountains, on the border with Kosovo. It offers grandiose views over the entire massif and as far as the large Kosovar town of Prizren, some 17 km to the north-west as the crow flies. It can be reached via a relatively difficult, poorly-marked 8 km trail from Vejce (approx. 4.5 hrs walk and 1,500 m ascent). The route is described on several websites, including sharplanina.com.mk and sharamountainguide.com.mk. Scheuchzer's cottongrass(Eriophorum scheuchzeri), a "cottony" plant found mainly in Arctic peat bogs from Alaska to Siberia, as well as in a few valleys in the Alps and Pyrenees, was recently discovered near the Black Peak. It's also possible to reach the Black Peak via another 20.8 km itinerary, which ends in Vejce and requires a 9h hike. This one starts from the hamlet of Brezno/Брезно (officially, 3 Macedonian inhabitants) which is located at 975 m a.s.l., 6 km northeast of Lešok. First, you have to follow a carriage road (by 4 x 4 or on foot) to the locality of "Les Trois-Eaux" (Tri Vode/Три Воде) at 1,320 m above sea level. The trail then crosses the Tearečka Bistrica river and leads along Mount Suva Dupka (2,492 m) and to the summit of the Black Peak, before descending to the village of Vejce. The route is difficult and unmarked, with an ascent of 1,610 m. We recommend that you do both hikes with a guide.

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