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Bosnia and Herzegovina: MTB trip with AO Tržič - Ljuta Greda, Devećani and Pasji trail to Travnik on Vlašić

Our local Mountaineering Society AO Tržič organizes a mountain biking trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2015 and this year's destination was the Vlašić mountain. Our today's trip took us along the Ugar river towards its source and then we continued below Paljenik to Planinarski dom Jusuf Pečenkovič mountain hut. When it started to rain, we continued on bikes. While the majority took the normal route to Travnik, Janez and me struggled on Pasji trail. All wet we arrived to Travnik, where Nina left our van and then we simply drove back to our "home", Planinska kuća Vlašić, kod Seje - Garmin Connect.

Previous days of this years trip: Day 2 - 16444, Day 1 - 16443.

Previous MTB Trips with AO Tržič: 1. 2015 (13161, 13162, 13163), 2. 2016 (13518), 3. 2017 (13889, 13890, 13891),  4. 2018 (14253, 14254, 14255), 6. 2020 (14997), 7. 2021 (15353, 15354), 8. 2022 (15715, 15716, 15717), 9. 2023 (16079, 16080, 16081, 16082).

Morning gathering.

We immediately left the asphalt roads.

Road and us.

Pushing the bike is part of the MTB game.

Vlašić mountain.

Regrouping.

Green nature spoiled with mountain bikers.

Sometimes up, sometimes down.

Looks like a great place to stop.

Airplane with water.

Real estate.

We stopped at one of the local huts and they gave us coffee and local Vlašić cheese.

Vlašić cheese is a white cheese that matures in brine. It is originally made from fresh sheep milk, but of recently also cow milk is used, or a mix of both varieties, and then left to ripen for two to three months.

Soon we moved on.

 

The "General Mehmed Alagić - Ljiljan" monument on Ljuta Greda s shaped like a ljiljan (lily), which is a symbol deeply associated with Bosnian identity and heritage.

Best friends.

Never-ending paths. 

In the far back we spotted Paljenik, where we cycled yesterday.

Following our noses.

Vlašić is part of the Dinaric Alps and is located in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, near the town of Travnik.

We were already a bit tired.

We skipped this "katun", a traditional, seasonal mountain pasture settlement.

During the Bosnian War, the Vlašić was held by the Bosnian Serb army (VRS). It was tactically important, overlooking Travnik which was held by the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH). The 7th Muslim Brigade attacked the mountain in May 1994. It was taken over by the ARBiH sometime before the Dayton Agreement, and subsequently incorporated into the Federation of B&H.

It is named after the Vlach shepherds who historically used the mountain for grazing.

Vlašić is a karstic mountain, with many caves and sinkholes.

One more settlement.

The average winter temperature is around -5°C to -10°C and snow cover can last from November to April.

Vlašić has a mix of Bosniak, Croat, and Serbian cultural influences.

Go Tuši, go.

The weather was with us so far.

Final ascent.

And finally the land became flat.

Last meters before the mountain hut.

Welcome comitee.

We regrouped outside of the Planinarski dom Jusuf Pečenkovič mountain hut.

Locals ship decided to see us.

Happy people.

It started to rain, so we moved inside.

The rain didn't bother him.

Although it was raining, we decided to ride to Travnik. It was cold, we were dirty, we got separated, still we all reached the city.

 

Nina left us the van, so we could drove back to our "home".

 

Last dinner.

#MTB #Vlašić