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Bjelašnica Part 1

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Trail stats

Distance
81.45 mi
Elevation gain
10,459 ft
Technical difficulty
Moderate
Elevation loss
7,037 ft
Max elevation
5,806 ft
TrailRank 
60
Min elevation
881 ft
Trail type
One Way
Time
2 days one hour 5 minutes
Coordinates
5494
Uploaded
May 25, 2016
Recorded
August 2013
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near Čelebići, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Босния һәм Герцеговина)

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Trail photos

Photo ofBjelašnica Part 1 Photo ofBjelašnica Part 1 Photo ofBjelašnica Part 1

Itinerary description

I present in two tracks the traversal of the Bjelašnica group from Konjic to Sarajevo. The first track covers the Neretva and Visočica sections up to Umoljani. In the mountain part the road is rough and a strong mountain bike is recommended.

Outline: follow the Neretva valley to Glavaticevo. Here you are already halfway on the mountain. Along the road you find lots of stecci and rafting places. Notable alto the Boracko Jezero, which is a main tourist attraction in this region.
After Odzaci take the dirt road up the mountain. The pass is little after the archaeological site of Stecci Luka, located in a truly unique position.
The track features also the ascent by foot to the Baturak, where the whole of Visočica and Treskavica are in sight.
Pleasant descent to Sinanovici, where you join the asphalt again. Final ascent to Umoljani, with another important stecci site.

The mountain section is seemingly part of a Sarajevo-Mostar mountain bike traverse. Namely, you find some signposts about this. Actually, I also met some cyclist on the way, although not many.

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Here I transcribe the text supplied to http://www.panorama-photo.net/panorama.php?pid=13730 :

Between Sarajevo and the upper Neretva valley there is a wide and relatively desert mountain area arising from the juxtaposition of three massifs: Bjelašnica, Visocica and Treskavica. In the middle flows the river Rakitnika, which digs a dramatic and nearly inaccessible gorge before joining the Neretva in a highly suggestive spot which is accessible by a pleasant footpath from the tiny villages near Glavaticevo.
The only populated area within these mountains lies at the very source of the Rakitnica, with the little villages Rakitnica, Umoljani, Sabici and Lukavac. Farther south there is Sinanovici and, isolated west, there is Lukomir, a very special place which is also a popular destination for a Sunday trip from Sarajevo. I probably will show Lukomir, high on the Rakitnica gorge, in a future panorama.
The easy access to the central area is from Sarajevo, via an asphalted road running also through the ski resort of Babin Do (see N.11339). The far-from-easy access is from the south side, with a dirt track starting from the little village of Odžaci, which is already well beyond the touristic business, based in Konjic, which puts together rafting on the upper Neretva and bathing-tanning on the shores the idyllic Boracko Jezero.
Along this track there is an incredible archaelogical highlight which I plan to describe in the future; however, to come here plan to be equipped with a strong 4WD or with a likewise strong mountain bike.
The panorama which I propose is strange in that it shows nothing of what one expects to see: both the Olympic mountains of Sarajevo, namely, Bjelašnica and Jahorina, are hidden by relatively minor stuff. To compensate for this, one has a very clear glimpse on Velez, the mountain of Mostar, and to the relatively far Maglic; which, at the border of Montenegro, is at 2385 the highest peak in Bosnia. In the larger version (www.panoramio.com/photo/96039703) left of Maglic; one also distinguishes the dolomitic mass of the Bobotov Kuk, highest summit of the wonderful Durmitor massif.
The right half of the image is wholly occupied by the Visocica massif, culminating in the 1965 m of the Džamija, meaning "mosque". This recalls to me the Toubkal massif, where the second highest summit is called "mosque" as well - Timesguida, in Berber.
The little summit where I am is an easy 30 minute walk from the nearby pass. I had been instructed not to abandon roads and paths in Bosnia, due to the danger of mines, but I saw local people collecting huckleberries with professional combs - not to speak of the many sheep grazing all around. And actually they (the locals, of course, not the sheep...) guaranteed to me that the whole Bjelašnica - Visocica is totally safe under this respect.

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Waypoints

PictographPanorama Altitude 1,726 ft
Photo ofViewpoint after Kašići Photo ofViewpoint after Kašići Photo ofViewpoint after Kašići

Viewpoint after Kašići

Here begins the steep descent of the path towards the Rakitnica.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 3,455 ft
Photo ofJažeprosina Photo ofJažeprosina Photo ofJažeprosina

Jažeprosina

One of the loveliest hamlets along the trail

PictographMountain hut Altitude 4,389 ft
Photo ofRefuge at Umoljani Photo ofRefuge at Umoljani Photo ofRefuge at Umoljani

Refuge at Umoljani

A very pleasant stay.

PictographReligious site Altitude 4,238 ft
Photo ofMosque of Umoljani Photo ofMosque of Umoljani Photo ofMosque of Umoljani

Mosque of Umoljani

Also teased as "the rocket mosque"...

Photo ofStećci Umoljani Photo ofStećci Umoljani Photo ofStećci Umoljani

Stećci Umoljani

Wonderful site.

PictographIntersection Altitude 3,683 ft
Photo ofFork to Umoljani Photo ofFork to Umoljani Photo ofFork to Umoljani

Fork to Umoljani

The narrow road to Umoljani has a steep start here.

PictographIntersection Altitude 4,222 ft
Photo ofSinanovići Photo ofSinanovići

Sinanovići

Here the mountain-biking job is finished, and the asphalt is found again.

PictographMountain pass Altitude 5,005 ft
Photo ofSaddle below Puzim Photo ofSaddle below Puzim Photo ofSaddle below Puzim

Saddle below Puzim

Here the descent continues left.

PictographSummit Altitude 5,806 ft
Photo ofBaturak Photo ofBaturak Photo ofBaturak

Baturak

An secondary summit of the Visočica group.

PictographMountain pass Altitude 5,334 ft
Photo ofMountain pass Photo ofMountain pass Photo ofMountain pass

Mountain pass

Highest point reached by bicycle.

PictographFountain Altitude 5,185 ft
Photo ofFountain Photo ofFountain Photo ofFountain

Fountain

Few metres short of the pass

Photo ofStećci Luka Photo ofStećci Luka Photo ofStećci Luka

Stećci Luka

Exquisite archaeological site, in superb position.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 4,700 ft
Photo ofLush meadows Photo ofLush meadows Photo ofLush meadows

Lush meadows

Little below Stećci Luka

PictographIntersection Altitude 3,848 ft
Photo ofFork after Odžaci Photo ofFork after Odžaci Photo ofFork after Odžaci

Fork after Odžaci

Go straight here.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 3,298 ft
Photo ofOdžaci Photo ofOdžaci Photo ofOdžaci

Odžaci

Last significant village before the crossing of the mountain.

PictographMountain hut Altitude 1,274 ft
Photo ofVilla Neretva Photo ofVilla Neretva Photo ofVilla Neretva

Villa Neretva

Hotel located in exceptionally quiet position.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 1,200 ft

Mušičarska staza

PictographWaypoint Altitude 1,235 ft

Glavaticevo

PictographBridge Altitude 1,094 ft
Photo ofBridge on Rakitnica Photo ofBridge on Rakitnica Photo ofBridge on Rakitnica

Bridge on Rakitnica

Lonely place in the middle of the forest.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 1,477 ft
Photo ofNeretva - Rakitnica confluence Photo ofNeretva - Rakitnica confluence Photo ofNeretva - Rakitnica confluence

Neretva - Rakitnica confluence

The confluence of the to rivers. Very wild spot, with only one house.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 1,726 ft
Photo ofKašići Photo ofKašići Photo ofKašići

Kašići

PictographWaypoint Altitude 1,544 ft
Photo ofVillage near Kašići Photo ofVillage near Kašići Photo ofVillage near Kašići

Village near Kašići

PictographBridge Altitude 1,185 ft
Photo ofRope bridge Photo ofRope bridge Photo ofRope bridge

Rope bridge

PictographLake Altitude 1,428 ft
Photo ofBoračko jezero Photo ofBoračko jezero Photo ofBoračko jezero

Boračko jezero

Very famous in the district, and full of local tourists.

PictographPanorama Altitude 2,263 ft
Photo ofVidikovac

Vidikovac

Viewpoint on Boračko Jezero.

PictographReligious site Altitude 2,327 ft
Photo ofBorci Photo ofBorci Photo ofBorci

Borci

Little village with a nice church.

Photo ofKaursko groblje Photo ofKaursko groblje Photo ofKaursko groblje

Kaursko groblje

A site with many stećci.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 2,521 ft
Photo ofSpomenik Photo ofSpomenik Photo ofSpomenik

Spomenik

You see the mix of several wars here...

PictographReligious site Altitude 1,015 ft
Photo ofKonjic mosque Photo ofKonjic mosque Photo ofKonjic mosque

Konjic mosque

PictographWaypoint Altitude 1,060 ft
Photo ofKonjic Photo ofKonjic Photo ofKonjic

Konjic

Man centre of the upper Neretva valley.

PictographReligious site Altitude 902 ft
Photo ofČelebići mosque Photo ofČelebići mosque Photo ofČelebići mosque

Čelebići mosque

Modern building in beautiful position.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 906 ft
Photo ofČelebići Photo ofČelebići Photo ofČelebići

Čelebići

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