Hike to Savin Kuk
We started the day with the intent of hiking around Crno Jezro (Black Lake) again and staying on the correct trail unlike a few days ago. Once we arrived we noticed the path to Savin Kuk.
The trail to Savin Kuk started out with a slightly rocky path
Since it was early, we decided to walk up the trail a little bit just for something different and make sure it was well marked. It was reasonable to check it out even if for a little while.
The trail started pretty rocky but not near as difficult as the “stairs of death” we encountered around the lake. After a while we found that it was not much further to the Savin Kuk Ski Center (thanks to maps.me) which has a ski lift that takes you near the top of the mountain. There was no way we were hiking to the top. I can walk much further now but not up to what felt like Mt. Everest Base Camp.
We came through the forest and were greeted by lovely wide open spaces, much like the day before, of open meadows dotted with little A frames that skiers use during the winter. Lunch was in order at the restaurant and we enjoyed the view before we decided to take the lift.
The ski lift looks old but seemed “pretty safe” to our eyes anyway. Annette commented she hoped it was German or Swiss engineered. After watching several families take the lift we felt pretty confident and purchased tickets.
The ride up was incredible, leaving behind the the ever so slight hustle and bustle of the ski center and enjoying the peace and quiet on the long ride up was just amazing. The views are breathtaking and I was happy we decided to take the leap of faith and experience such remarkable views.
We spent time up near the peak but decided against going all the way up. We saw rain clouds building and heard distant thunder. The elevation (at Mt. Everest base camp) and hike through the forest had nothing to do with the fact I was ready to head back, I had nothing but safety in mind :-). We still had to walk back to Žabljak and wanted to be off the top of a mountain.
The hike back was much easier since most of it was downhill. After 15.93 kilometers round trip we were elated we accomplished such a long hike and were worn out.
Durmitor is something that should be on your to-see list if you appreciate nature. We can not recommend it highly enough.
Stunning Views from Savin Kuk
