When I was writing “Reflecting on 2023”, I kept some of my 2024 resolutions secret due to superstition. Now, having completed part of one, I’m ready to share it with you all! Last Sunday, I climbed Mount Korab, the highest mountain in Albania, located in Dibra County, peaking at 2764 meters above sea level (intoalbania.com, 2024). One of my goals this year was to climb three mountains. Although I had climbed Korrë Peak, I wanted to conquer three significant mountains. Korab was my first, and reaching its summit has given me the confidence to tackle two more mountains, excluding Jezerca, this year. I am now 33.33% closer to my goal.
I joined a guided group of around 60 people and 3 minibuses, a turnout that exceeded my expectations. While Korab isn’t particularly difficult, it is very long. At least that’s what I was told. However, I was prepared for the challenge. Our journey started in Tirana at 17:00, and we arrived in Radomire by 21:20. We ordered dinner shortly after leaving Tirana. Although the menu was limited, the restaurant served our food quickly despite the chaos. Half of the restaurant was occupied by locals watching the UEFA Champions League final match. I went to bed around 10:30 pm, but didn’t sleep deeply. Everyone woke up at 5:30 am, prepared for the hike, and had breakfast.
We set off at 6:50, taking the path to the majestic Korab. I was in the third group, which was slower. Although part of the group, I climbed mostly on my own, listening to music through my headphones. Being slower has its disadvantages; each time I reached the other groups during breaks, they would resume hiking, leaving little time to enjoy the view. During the first break, I applied sunscreen on all exposed areas.
I would divide the climb into two or three parts. The first part was a steady uphill with a gentle gradient, with colorful flowers as road companions. This section ended at a small waterfall created by melting snow, marking roughly 30% of the hike. The next part was steeper, with patches of soft snow. Though shorter, it was more challenging and took almost as much time as the first section. The next significant stop was a viewpoint about 1 km from the peak, right before turning left. This spot offered a beautiful meadow surrounded by proud peaks. I took my time to enjoy the view this time, take pictures, help others with theirs, and drink a bit of Rakia I had bought the previous night. It was a very small bottle, so it wasn’t weighing that much. By this point, I had changed my top three times: from a gym bra to a t-shirt, then to a tank top under the t-shirt, and finally my top coat.
As I approached the peak, the terrain became easier but very windy. Determined to be done with it, I took no breaks despite my tired feet. At the top, I took the legendary photo, changed clothes immediately, and found a spot with some wind protection. It was around 12:30, and everyone still there was having lunch. With the binoculars I had purchased for the safari, I aimed to spot something interesting amidst the towering peaks, life. However, I found the panorama from the earlier viewpoint more impressive than the peak.
Most of the first and second groups were already headed back. I was amazed by their strength and determination, as many had done this hike multiple times. After the group photo, I started the descent alone around 13:10. I could see people ahead and behind me the entire time. The path was clear, with no forests, and the weather was cloudy but perfect for hiking. I felt a sense of fulfillment and didn’t think much about the descent, knowing it required less effort. However, some parts were slippery from snow or dirt, and the descent was long. We made only brief stops to fill water. The sun was now out, requiring hats, long sleeves, or sun protection. I arrived back at the guesthouse by 17:30. Fortunately, I wasn’t the last one, like I usually am, so I had time to shower before our ride home. We arrived in Tirana at 22:20, concluding our long adventure.
Despite hoping for more time to enjoy ourselves with the late June sunsets, the journey was long and required constant movement. I hiked 25.82 km that day, with an elevation gain of 1,475m, reaching 2680m above sea level. With some will and training, anyone can accomplish this. Any suggestions on what should be my next peak? Comment below!
