SHARR HIGHLIGHTS PART 2

ARRIVE IN POPOVA SHAPKA SKI CENTER
As your first hike on this tour starts early in the morning, you will need to arrive in Sharr Mountains one day earlier. From Skopje, or any other city in North Macedonia you can use public transport (bus) to get to Tetovo. (see: Arrival & Departure section below). At the bus station in Tetovo you will meet your driver who will take you to the mountain lodge in Popova Shapka ski center. Popova Shapka is the base for many hiking routes in Sharr Mountains. It is located at 1.700m asl, looming above the city of Tetovo and Polog valley. Overnight in Popova Shapka.

TITOV VRV (2.747m)
One of the most challenging, and probably the most beautiful route in Sharr Mountains is from Ski Center Popova Shapka to Titov Vrv via the ridgeline route. It is a very demanding but very rewarding hike of 21km with 1.800 D+ that usually takes around 8 hours. Nonetheless, all the way to Titov Vrv the ridgeline route offers 360 degree panorama of all Shar Planina Mountian massif. Walking to the second highest peak in North Macedonia with 2.747m height – you will climb over “smaller” summits Sin Vrv (2550 m), Karabunar (2600 m) and Bakardan peak (2702 m). On its very top there stands a 3-storie brick tower serving as a metaphorical lighthouse for the exhausted but thriller mountain devotees. The return to Popova Shapka is on the easier, ‘Vakaf’ trail - as you traverse Bakardan peak at its base around 2200 meters - the pure alpine and unspoiled wilderness of Upper Leshnica region opens up down in a network of glacial valleys. The first half of the return trail travels across waste pastures and alpine meadows, and the second one along the ski pists and a jeep road. Overnight in the same mountain lodge in Popova Shapka.
Hike: 21km / 1.800m D+, 1.264m D-

PEAK PLAT & LESHNICA WATERFALL
Leave Popova Shapka ski center in the morning and head to the most beautiful part of Sharr Mountains – Leshnica Valley. In the beginning, the trail climbs gradually to circumnavigate Ceripashina mountain where the single-track turns into a jeep road until the first sheepfold, where we join the hiking path again, to a high plateau on 2.050m. The last 350 vertical meters to reach Plat are worth the effort – it opens an awestruck view of the glacial valleys of Leshnica creek and Pena river, and on their opposite side the vertical couloirs of Sreden Kamen (2.465 m). From here we descend to Upper Leshnica area at 1700m asl - the last ice age has left miraculous scars in this terrain and as soon as you get to the upper base of the valley, a waterfall can be heard in the near distance – Leshnicki waterfall. Further down, the narrow valley broadens as Plat and Sreden Kamen eastern sides open up to a larger and flatter valley of river Pena – this area is known as Dolna (Lower) Lehsnica. It’s at altitude of 1.450 meters. Next two nights we will stay in tents in this beautiful valley.
Hike: 13,4km / 858m D+, 752m D-

KARANIKOLICHKI PEAK AND GLACIAL LAKE
We suggest this unique hiking experience of 12km and 950 meters of positive gain where you will be an awestruck witness from near and far of the extraordinary glacial forces that had carved the “three rocks of Leshnica” – Plat, Sreden Kamen and Kriva Shija. These mountains (av. height of 2.450 m) are knife-cut and separated by deep narrow glacial valleys through which creeks flow feeding river Pena. Even though exploring each valley can be a hike by its own, we suggest going the opposite direction (north-western) towards Karanikolicki peak (2.423 m asl) and its two glacial lakes. As soon as you get on the ridgeline and reach Karanikolichki peak – a phenomenal panorama of the Dinaric mountain range opens up – looking at far north Prokletije in Montenegro/Albania, the great Kosovo plains, Shar Planina peaks and Mount Korab to the south. As an icing on the cake are the Karanikolichki lakes – nested in glacial cirques below the summit at altitudes of cca. 2.200 and 2.300 meters, respectfully. Walking down to Veshala village is a true pleasure having in the palm of your hand the magnificent Leshnica valley below you, while the roar of river Pena is getting louder and louder.
Hike: 12,2 km / 949m D+, 1.173m D-