Tuši's blog: 16209

Croatia: Summer Vacation, Day 4: Hike Across The Velebit - Stage 2 - From Zavižan to Alan

Velebit is the largest mountain range in Croatia, stretching for about 145 kilometers along the Adriatic coast, separating the coastal region from the interior of the country and Nada, Bronco and me decided to hike from its start at Vratnik pass to an end, peak Crnopac, above Zrmanja river, where it transitions into the Dalmatian hinterland.

We woke up in Zavižan and made a breakfast in the kitchen inside and then we made a short hike to nearby Vučjak, one of the peaks which surround the Zavižan plateau. Soon we returned back and we put on our heavy backpacks, destination, Mountain Hut Alan. Soon after we started hiking, we joined the Premužić trail, which construction began back in 1930 and it was finished 3 years after. Constructed using the drystone technique, the Premužić Trail is today considered a masterpiece of trail building. On the way I made a small detour to Gromovaća and then it was time for a longer break at shelter Rossijevo sklonište. Soon we continued on Premužić Trail with a detour to Crikvena all the way to Mountain Hut Alan. This time they allowed us to sleep in the winter room, which we had to rearrange at first, remove the chairs and table and set up the mattresses. Much better than yesterday and with a beer and a travarica, we probably wouldn't know the difference between sleeping on a real room or here.

Previous days of our Summer Vacation 2024: Day 3 - 16208, Day 2 - 16207 and Day 1 - 16206.

Good morning from Zavižan Mountain hut. This is a mountain hut and the meteorological station at the same time.

Bronco had a rough night with his digestive issues but he seems better now.

Selfie on Vučjak, 1644 m, with a view to Kvarner bay islands (Rab, Goli otok, Sveti Grgur and Prvić).

Bronco and me searched for a geocache on top.

From the stop, on a clear day, you can even see the Alps and the Italian coast.

Goodbye Zavižan hut and meteorological station.

Entering Premužić trail. The first plans for making Velebit accessible to tourists were mentioned back in 1920s in various articles in the "Hrvatski planinar" (Croatian Mountaineer) magazine. The funds required for implementing these plans were obtained primarily owing to efforts of dr. Ivan Krajač, the then trade and industry minister in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The trail was laid out and constructed by the forestry engineer Ante Premužić, a passionate mountaineer and lover of Velebit. As a tribute to the constructor, the Croatian mountaineers later named it the Premužić Trail.

Above and below, simply because of the geocache.

Constructed using the drystone technique, the Premužić Trail is today considered a masterpiece of trail building. The route is laid out so as to provide the easiest possible access to the most rugged and inaccessible sections of north Velebit – Hajdučki i Rožanski Kukovi. The 57 km route runs along the mountain ridge from Zavižan to Baške Oštarije in central Velebit. As there are virtually no steep ascents, the route is also suitable for visitors unaccustomed to mountaineering. Branching off from the Premužić Trail are several paths that climb up to some of the most spectacular peaks of north and central Velebit - Gromovača, Crikvena, Šatorina and others. A 16-km portion of the trail runs through the Northern Velebit National Park. At about two hours’ walk from Zavižan is a mountain shelter called Rossi’s shelter.

The construction of the Premužić trail began in 1930. It was jointly funded by the Forest Directorate at Sušak (Rijeka), the Croatian Mountaineering Association, and the Royal Administration of the Sava Banate. Due to the lack of funds, the construction was stalled for a whole season, but was later resumed and finalized in the summer of 1933. The 1.5 km stretch from Čepuraš to Gromovača was the last and most difficult to build.

Bronco's paws weren't happy with this trail, as the rocks are too sharp.

Laying on the ground and admiring the shapes of nature.

Gromovača, a short detour from the main path, is the highest peak of Rožanski kukovi, and this summit offers a beautiful view of the stone labyrinth of the reserve and the adjacent northern Adriatic islands.

View from Gromovača, 1676 m, to the Adriatic.

The trail offers stunning panoramic views of both the Adriatic Sea and the rugged peaks of the Velebit range. Hikers can experience the diverse landscapes of Northern Velebit, including deep karst formations, lush forests, and open meadows.

Resting at Rossijevo sklonište shelter, situated in the heart of Rožanski kukovi.

The shelter is named after Dr. Rudi Rossi, a mountaineer and advocate for nature conservation in Croatia. It was built in the 1920s, making it one of the oldest mountain shelters in the region.