Obla Glava

Overview

On the path to Obla Glava (2303 m)

If you look from Zabljak (1456 m) town, you will notice easily on right side of Durmitor massif one peak with very special outlook and form. This peak is also important part of Durmitor's panorama and invite many mountaineers to climb it. Because of it's round form peak, Durmitorians gave to this peak the name "Obla Glava".

Obla Glava (2303 m)(Round Head) belong to group of these peaks of DURMITOR which rises over 2300 meters. Obla Glava N face looks to Korita (1976 m) valley, while it's SE face dominate above Biljegov Do rocky basin. From both sides, Obla Glava (2303 m) massif looks impressive.

This peak is very famous because of Ledena Pecina (Ice Cave), which is placed belowe NE side of Obla Glava massif. Ledena Pecina is natural beauty of Durmitor National Park. In this cave there are beautiful stalactite & stalagmite made of ice. Everybody who climb Obla Glava peak visit also this nice cave.

Obla Glava peak invite everyone who like impressive mountain summit panoramas, specially views to highest peaks of Durmitor's massif.

Obla Glava (2303 m) summit is one of the most spectacular viewpoints to highest peaks of Durmitor - Bobotov Kuk (2523 m) and Bezimeni Vrh (2487 m) N faces, which proudly and very impressive dominates above the rocky sea of Valoviti Do rocky basin. Also, Obla Glava (2303 m) summit is maybe the best viewpoint to see NW face of Minin Bogaz (2387 m), sharp and elegant peak of Durmitor massif.


LOCATION:

Obla Glava (2303 m) peak is placed in the heart of highest peaks of Durmitor massif. It's beautiful peak is surrounded by impressive and elegant forms of many peaks like Bobotov Kuk (2523 m), Bezimeni Vrh (2487 m), Rbatina (2401 m) and Minin Bogaz (2387 m). On the S, Rbatina (2401 m) peak is closest neighbour of Obla Glava peak.


Obla Glava (2303 m) & Rbatina (2401 m) from Crvena Greda (2175 m)

Obla Glava (2303 m) massif is situated on the W from Savin Kuk (2313 m), Medjed (2287 m) and Cvorov Bogaz (2152 m), on the N from Bobotov Kuk (2523 m), Bezimeni Vrh (2487 m), Djevojka (2440 m), Rbatina (2401 m), Prutas (2393 m) and Stit (Sareni Pasovi, 2248 m), on the NW from Sljeme (2455 m), Milosev Tok (2426 m), Bandijerna (2409 m), Minin Bogaz (2387 m), Zupci (2309 m) and Terzin Bogaz (2303 m), on the E from Planinica (2330 m), Susica Canyon and Skrka Valley, on the S from Stuoc (2200 m), Gologlav (2196 m), Pasina Gomila (2196 m) and Crvena Greda (2175 m).


SUMMIT VIEW:

E: Savin Kuk (2313 m), Medjed, Cvorov Bogaz (2152 m)

W: Planinica (2330 m), Mt Bioc (2397 m), Mt Maglic (2388 m), Mt Volujak (2336 m)

N: Stuoc (2200 m), Crvena Greda (2175 m)

S: Bobotov Kuk (2523 m), Bezimeni Vrh (2487 m), Rbatina (2401 m), Prutas (2393 m), Skrka Lakes Valley (1686 m)

SE: Sljeme (2455 m), Milosev Tok (2426 m), Bandijerna (2409 m), Minin Bogaz (2387 m), Zupci (2309 m), Terzin Bogaz (2303 m)

Routes Overview

Exist 4 approach to reach summit of Obla Glava (2303 m). All these routes are different and spectacular, because you going through different valleys and parts of Durmitor massif.

1. Northern (classical) approach: Crno Jezero (1416 m) - Jaksica Mlin (1514 m) - Stari Katun (1931 m) - Ledena Pecina (Ice Cave) - Obla Glava (2303 m): 3:30h


Entrance in Ledena Pecina (Ice Cave)

2. Crapulj Poljana approach: Crno Jezero (1416 m) - Jaksica Mlin (1514 m) - Poljanak meadow - Crapulj Poljana (1716 m) - Korita (1976 m) - Obla Glava (2303 m): 3h

3. Lokvice Valley approach: Lokvice Valley (1693 m) - Prla (1965 m) - Biljegov Do - Ledena Pecina (Ice Cave) - Obla Glava (2303 m): 2h

4. Skrka/Planinica approach: Skrka Hut (1723 m) - Planinica (2330 m) - Medjedje Zdrijelo (2251 m) - Gornja Alisnica (2091 m) - Donja Alisnica (1915 m) - Crapulj Poljana (1716 m) - Ledena Pecina (Ice Cave) - Obla Glava (2303 m): 4h

Getting There

Gateway to Durmitor National Park and Obla Glava (2303) peak is Zabljak (1456 m) 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

Obla Glava (2303 m) peak in Mt Durmitor you can climb during all year seasons, but ideal period for climbing is mid June - mid September. But, you can also climb with crampons and other equipment during winter-spring period. Obla Glava is very attractive peak for climbing in this period.

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, 1416 m) and Ivan Do Camp locations are a common climbing starting points for reaching Obla Glava (2303 m) summit. All major trails further uphill are well marked with white circle/red border marks.

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

Camping

Camping permitted on camping dedicated spots only.

The nearest place to Obla Glava (2303 m) for camping is Stari Katun (Old Hut), but this shepherd's hut is without service and beds. You can sleep inside in your bivouacs. Also, near place for camping are shepherd's houses on Crapulj Poljana (1716 m), belowe N side of Obla Glava peak.

You can climb Obla Glava peak also from Lokvice Hut (1693 m) in Lokvice Valley. Also, from Skrka Hut (1723 m) in Skrka Valley you can climb Obla Glava peak via Planinica (2330 m) summit and Alisnica Valley.

Generally, in Durmitor, major huts are in good condition, but with no service. Still, open to the general public. Just in mountain Skrka Hut in Skrka Valley and Susica Hut in Susica Canyon you can buy the food, but not cooking meal. There you can sleep on beds with blankets. In other huts, hikers/climbers are supposed to bring all the jummy stuff with them.

On Durmitor exist camps in Ivan Do and Razvrsje (near Savin Kuk), and few mountain huts and bivouacs:
~Hut with few small shepherd's houses in Lokvice valley
~Hut in Skrka Lakes valley (you can sleep and buy the food)
~Bivouac in Velika Kalica valley
~Hut "Mushova koliba" (Stari Katun) 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).

Mountain Conditions

The best weather forecast on Internet for Durmitor (Zabljak town) is VREME YUBC NET site. You can see 5 days forecast for Durmitor area, 4-times-daily forecast.

Maps

Exist three maps of Durmitor:

1. Map of Durmitor Massif & Tara Canyon - 1:25000. Author: Branislav Cerovic. You can buy it in Zabljak town in almost every store. Price: 5-6 euro.

2. Map of Durmitor National Park & Tara Canyon - 1:25000. Author: Branislav Cerovic. You can buy it in Beograd (Belgrade, Serbia) in Geokarta Co, Belgrade. Price: 2 euro. This map is better than first one and include many informations and facts about routes, peaks, lakes, glacial cirques, valleys, canyons,...

3. Durmitor Mountain Guide & Map. Short mountain guide with some basic informations and facts. Author of map: Pavle S. Bandovic. Editor: "Summit" Travel Agency, Zabljak, 2005. Price of Guide&Map: 7 euro.

Red Tape

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

Images

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