Cajup

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Cajupi Mountain (Mali i Lunxherisë)

Summary: When in Gjirokaster, Cajupi is right in your face, and the people of Gjirokaster get excited when talking about it - or hearing about your intention to make it to its summit. Still, we are not aware that Cajupi is climbed very often by visitors, though shepherds are going there regularly as evidenced by the many water holes on and behind the mountain. Shepherd and dog activity start only when the snow is gone, and an earlier time of the year might be advisable. May seems to be perfect.

The west face of Cajupi is fairly steep, and the ascent while not difficult is not for those not accustomed to heights. Perhaps this is a reason why Cajupi doesn't see many visitors, or does not appear in the guidebooks.

An early start is advisable..

The Drive: The trailhead can be comfortably reached from Gjirokaster in about 40 minutes, which removes the need for a camp at the trailhead. Only the last 2.5 kilometer are on a dirt road. With care, a 4WD would not be necessary.

Maximum altitude:	900 meter
Minimum altitude:	190 meter
Cumulative height:	713 meter
Cumulative length:	15 kilometer
Difficulty	easy
Time:	40 minutes
Date of this record	May 2013
Download GPS info:	To Cajup trailhead

The climb: A high, but not overly long climb, mostly on a mule-path. For those wishing to avoid any bushwhack (or rather grasswhack), the trail option to the right (as seen from the trailhead) might be the best bet.

Maximum altitude:	2145 meter
Minimum altitude:	910 meter
Cumulative height:	1305 meter
Cumulative length:	10.7 kilometer roundtrip
Difficulty	moderate
Time:	9 hours roundtrip
Date of this record	May 2013
Download GPS info:	Cajupi climb

General location and approach: The vicinity to Gjirokaster allows to stay in comfortable hotels without losing much time in the morning

Other Information: No potable water along the trail

The broad ridge of Cajupi Mountain, seen from Gjirokaster. The official name of the range is Mali i Lunxherise, and the highest point is named Maja e Laluk on some maps

Cajupi from the old town in Gjirokaster,with its clock tower, in the evening light. The main summit is under the red dot. The secondary simmit is under the blue dot (but mistakingly shown to be higher on the bunkertrails map). The more prominent knob on the right is more than 100 Meter lower, but sometimes looks like the summit when the highest point of Cajupi is obscured by clouds. Our trail follows the ridge behind the round cuppola, straight up to the ridge, to the left of the snaky snowfield. When on the ridge, the trail turns right to the summit.

View from the road's end and the trailhead to Gjirokaster. Already at an elevation of more than 900 meter, it is a still climb of another than 1300 Meter up to the summit.

An old dwelling, complete with cave and church, near the trailhead.

Peonies (German: Pfingstrose) are in abundance on the lower slopes of Cajupi.

Three quarters of the crew, still loooking fresh

Looking south. The path is very good for most of the time, except when starting from the trailhead (where it is easy to loose the path), and near the summit ridge (where the gradient of the slope is very steep and the trails become decidedly less stable)

Looking down. The mule-path winds along at a comfortable gradient

Almost at the summit ridge. Unobstructed view to the road and trailhead, more than 1000 Meter below.

Approaching the summit ridge, where a big cairn signals the best way.

Approaching the summit. The steepness of Cajupi's west face is palpable

The summit team: James, Tini, Gabi, Detlef

Special summit shot, with the southern (more rocky) peak in view.

Coming from the summit. The clouds are closing in, but we were lucky. It only rained once we were back at the car

Having crossed the second summit and heading for the pass - the lowest point before the ridge again ascends. All other bumps on the ridge are no contenders for the main summit

View east, towards the Zagoria valley, unfortunately without much distant views

At the lowest point of the ridge, where the main trail crosses over to the summer meadows

View into the Drinos valley. Gjirokaster would be to the left

James surveying the final descent back to the trailhead

Cajupi Mountain seen from Papingut, the summit of Nemercke Mountain. The view goes across the Zagoria valley. The main peak of Cajupi, and to its left the more rocky pinnacle can be clearly made out. Gjirokaster is behind Cajupi Mountain. The picture was taken a year earlier, but around the same time of the year (early May).

GPS and trailmaps: The map and trailinformation is generated by , based on GPS information collected from the actual hike. Waypoints can be downloaded to a GPS device from Wikiloc. If necessary, use GPSBabel to convert GPS data to different formats. For more hike descriptions by Palmtreetreeproduction, browse this website or visit Wikiloc and search for "Palmtreeproduction". You may also find nearby trails from other authors.

Google Earth: You may also view the trail in 3D when viewing it in Google Earth, which you need to have installed on your computer. The 3D perspective allows a good preview of gradients, steepness, possible views and is generally helpful when planning a trip.