Maja e Kreshtë

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Bear Tracks on Maja e Kreshtës

Summary: Maja e Kreshtës is the second highest point of the Micekut Mountains (the highest being Allamani, about 5 kilometer away as the crow flies). While Allamani is difficult to approach, Maja e Kreshtës is the house-berg of Bulquize. The hike begins in the northern part (Qyteti i Ri) of Bulquize town.

It is here, that the Micekut Mountains show their most dramatic face - a steep wilderness of red rock, much different from the karstic formations that dominate much of the rest of Albania. Bulquize is mostly known for its mining industry, which takes place mostly on the southern side. While Maja e Kreshtës also sees some mining activity, it hardly affects the solitude and remoteness of the area. During our hike to the summit, we came across a common viper (German: Kreuzotter) and rather fresh tracks of a bear. We hiked in early June, and the abundance of spring flowers made this is a truly delightful hike.

We chose a roundtrip, ascending through the north-eastern couloir. The grassy slopes near the ridgeline are steep but quite manageable. From there, we went anti-clockwise to the summit, and back to Bulquize. Between way point 09 and way point 10, the trail was once broken up by some mining activity, which is now abandoned. The trick is to find the path that continues down the mountain - do not venture too far off the coordinates and make sure you return to a visible path after waypoint 10.

This is a long hike, without much water along the way.

Maximum altitude:	2102 meter
Minimum altitude:	888 meter
Cumulative height:	1216 meter
Cumulative length:	11.08 kilometer roundtrip
Difficulty	moderate
Time:	8.5 hours
Date of this record	June 2014
Download GPS info:	Maja e Kreshtës

Drive to trailhead: Just to find the best way to the last houses....

Maximum altitude:	890 meter
Minimum altitude:	756 meter
Cumulative height:	159 meter
Cumulative length:	1.4 kilometer
Difficulty	easy
Time:	5 minutes
Date of this record	June 2014
Download GPS info:	Trailhead Kreshtës

General location and approach: Bulquize town

Other Information: Shtepia e Bardhe, in Qyteti i Ri, is a simple hotel with comfortable and clean rooms. It doesn't have any signs, and is on the right side as you enter Qyteti i Ri.

Maja e Kreshtës seen from Fushe Bulquize (east of Bulquize town towards Peshkopi). The trail starts on the opposite side, and reaches the ridge at the lowpoint left to the summit.

Bulquize (Qyteti i Ri) and Maja e Krestës when coming from Burrel. The trail begins in the town and reaches the ridge below the red dot. From there it continues to left to the summit.

Near the ridgeline. In the background on the right is the pyramid of Maja Shën Noj (see separate trail).

On Maja e Kreshtës. In the distance Dhoksit (see separate trail)

View towards the rest of the Micekut Mountains. Allamani is the highpoint on the left.

The face of Maja e Kreshtës is wild and eroded

Some tailings from mining activity near the bottom of Maja e Kreshtës

Maja e Kreshtës from the approach to Arithit, which we climbed the next day.

GPS and trailmaps: The map and trailinformation is generated by

, based on GPS information collected from the actual hike. Waypoints can be downloaded to a GPS device from Wikiloc. If necessary, use GPSBabel to convert GPS data to different formats. For more hike descriptions by Palmtreetreeproduction, browse this website or visit Wikiloc and search for "Palmtreeproduction". You may also find nearby trails from other authors.

Google Earth: You may also view the trail in 3D by clicking "view in Google Earth" when on Wikiloc. You need to have Google Earth installed on your computer.