Medjed

Overview

Medjed (2287 m) (Bear) is best known and maybe most photographed peak in DURMITOR massif and without it's beautiful outlook people cannot find a simple brochure about Monte Negro without its photo.

Medjed peak is best recognized Durmitor's peak because it is closest to Zabljak town, center of the Durmitor region, and with it's incredible beaufiful background scenery, proudly staying above famous and beautiful Crno Jezero (Black Lake, 1416 m, largest lake on Durmitor), Medjed peak together with Savin Kuk (2313 m) and Sljeme (2455 m, behind) make a unforgetable panorama which many people associate to famous and wonderfully Canadian mountain lakes.



Medjed proudly dominates above Crno Jezero lake and beautifully black pine trees forest, which surrounded this lake, making a very nice form of lake in form of number 8. Medjed means The Bear, because of it's rocky form. If you carefully look to Medjed crest, you can see Veliki Medjed (Large Bear, 2287 m) on right side of crest, and Mali Medjed (Small Bear, 2223 m) on left side of this beautiful crest. This two rocky bears are natural sculptures, which are very specific beauty and impressive God's gift to Durmitor.




LOCATION:

Meðed massif is placed on NE side of Durmitor massif. Medjed is first peak in a row of Durmitor's peaks, looking from Crno Jezero lake, which is common starting point for many climbing routes on Durmitor. Looking from Crno Jezero lake, left from Medjed is Savin Kuk (2313 m) peak, between Medjed and Savin Kuk is powerful rocky high plateau Sljeme (2455 m), which impressive wall is 2 kilometres long. This is one of biggest crest in Durmitor massif.


SUMMIT VIEW:

Medjed (2287 m) summit view is an extraordinary enjoyment and unforgetable experience, because of its diversity of many different panoramas and beautifully views.

N from Medjed summit you can see the best view to Crno Jezero (Black Lake, 1416 m), which incredible beauty can be seen like from plain. Amazing! Also, Zabljak town, Jezerska Povrs (Lakes Plateau) and Tara river canyon can be seen.


S from summit you can see Terzin Bogaz (2303 m) peak, powerful wall of Sljeme (2455 m), Bandijerna (2409 m), Milosev Tok (2426 m) and Zupci (2309 m) and beautiful glacier cirque Velika Kalica valley (1870 m).

W from Medjed summit you can enjoy in extraordinary and amazing view to central Durmitor massif and it's highest peaks as Bobotov Kuk (2523 m) and Bezimeni Vrh (2487 m), above impressive deepness of Lokvice valley.


E from summit you can see Savin Kuk (2313 m), Mt Sinjajevina (2203 m) and Jezerska Povrs (Plateau of Lakes).

For mountaineers with no great experience in climbing middle high mountains this tour can be dangereous, especially without appropriate shoes. On some parts of Medjed ridge use of hands is necessary, because on Medjed ridge some places are exposed.

Whole ridge of Medjed is marked, between Velika Previja pass on the south to Mali Medjed on the north. Ridge is accessible by 5 marked paths, two from Struga, one from Indjini Dolovi basin, one from Lokvice valley and one from Velika Kalica valley. Also, exist circle route around Medjed massif.

Routes Overview

~Indjini Dolovi approach: Crno Jezero (Black Lake, 1416 m) - Indjini Dolovi (1750 m) - Kljestina - Mali Medjed (2223 m) - Veliki Medjed ridge (Severni Vrh/North Peak 2287 m - Juzni Vrh/South Peak 2285 m) - Velika Previja (2145 m) - Virak (2020 m). Climbing time: 4 h.

~Struga approach I: Crno Jezero (1416 m) - Tocak water spring - Struga (1920 m) - Mali Medjed (2223 m) - Veliki Medjed ridge (Severni Vrh/North Peak 2287 m - Juzni Vrh/South Peak 2285 m). Climbing time: 3.15 h.

~Struga approach II: Crno Jezero (1416 m) - Tocak water spring - Struga (1920 m) - Medjed ridge (2160 m) - Veliki Medjed (Severni Vrh/Norht Peak 2287 m - Juzni Vrh/South Peak 2285 m). Climbing time: 3 h.


~Velika Kalica approach: Crno Jezero (1416 m) - Tocak water spring - Struga (1920 m) - Velika Kalica valley (1870 m) - Velika Previja pass (2145 m) - Juzi Vrh Medjeda (South Peak, 2283) - Veliki Medjed (Severni Vrh/North Peak, 2287 m). Climbing time: 3.15 h

~Lokvice approach: Crno Jezero (1416 m) - Indjini Dolovi (1750 m) - Lokvice valley (1693 m) - Bavani - Velika Previja pass (2145 m) - Juzni Vrh Medjeda (South Peak, 2283) - Veliki Medjed (Severni Vrh/Norht Peak, 2287 m). Climbing time: 3 h

~Circle route around Medjed massif: Crno Jezero (1416 m) - Lokvice valley (1693 m) - Velika Previja pass (2145 m) - Velika Kalica valley (1870 m) - Struga pass (1920 m) - Crno Jezero (1416 m). Or in another direction. Climbing time: 5 h

Getting There

Gateway for climbing Medjed (2287 m) peak in DURMITOR massif is Zabljak town. Information how to get there:

By Plane
~To Beograd (Belgrade, Serbia&Montenegro capital) airport. Than with plane to Podgorica, capital of Montenegro, or with bus or car to Zabljak town.
~To Podgorica airport. Than with bus or car to Zabljak town.

Information about flights find on the sites of JAT Airways, a former Yugoslav airlines, or on Montenegro Airlines.

By Bus
~Beograd (Belgrade)-Zabljak
~Podgorica-Zabljak
~Niksic-Zabljak
~Pljevlja-Zabljak

Buses go to Zabljak from Beograd (Belgrade) twice a day and from Podgorica, Niksic, Pljevlja and Mojkovac several times per day.

By Car
~Beograd (Belgrade)-Zlatibor-Nova Varos-Prijepolje-Pljevlja-Zabljak
~Niksic - Savnik (47km) - Zabljak (37km): 84km; Niksic to Zabljak approach from south.
~Niksic - Savnik (35km) - Zabljak (37km): 72km;
~Podgorica - Niksic (55 km)-Savnik (47 km)-Zabljak (37 km): 139 km; Add this length if you are going to Zabljak from Podgorica via Niksic. Road to Niksic from Podgorica is good.
~Podgorica - Kolasin (71km) - Mojkovac (21km) - Zabljak (67km): 159km; road is good all the way to Zabljak. Behind Podgorica (56m) you go inside Moraca River canyon (one of spectacular Montenegrin canyons). It is up to 1000m deep and has wild sides. That's spectacular drive. After that, from "Djurdjevica Tara" bridge to Zabljak - 23 km.

When To Climb

You can climb during all year seasons, but ideal period for climbing is mid June - mid September.

During the winter, Durmitor usually switches into ski resort. Under Savin Kuk peak (2313 m) is Durmitor Ski Center. (gondolas, ski lifts, chair lifts, restorants and their customers).

Crno Jezero (Black Lake) location is a common climbing starting point. All major trails further uphill are well marked with white circle/red border marks.

Whole Durmitor mountain is very good marked. Thanks to Branislav Cerovic, greatest knower and devoter of Durmitor National Park, who marked all routes on Durmitor mountain.

Camping

Inside of Durmitor National Park camping is permitted on camping dedicated spots only.

Major huts are in good condition, but with no service. Still, open to the general public. Hikers/climbers are supposed to bring all the jummy stuff with them.

On Durmitor exist camp in Ivan Do and few ~mountain huts and bivouacs:
~Hut with few small shepherd's houses in Lokvice valley
~Hut in Skrcka Lakes valley
~Bivouac in Velika Kalica valley
~Hut "Mushova koliba" on the road from Zabljak to Obla Glava (2303 m) peak, near Ledena Pechina (Ice Cave) - empty simply hut from wood, without service, simple conditions...

~In Ivan Do camp price for camping is 4 Euro per day.

Also, in Zabljak town you can rent private room or apartment. Price for 2-beds apartment with kitchen and bathroom: 10-12 Euro (5-6 Euro per person).

In some villages on mountain, for example in Bosaca village, you can rent a 2-beds apartment for price 6-8 Euro (3-4 Euro per person) with free milk products every day (1 liter of caw milk).

Red Tape

No fees or extra fees for entering the National Park.
No permits needed either.
Usual rules of behaviour for NPs do apply.

Mountain Conditions

Durmitor (Zabljak town) 5-7 days weather forecast

Additions and CorrectionsPost an Addition or Correction

Images

View Medjed Image Gallery - 72 Images