Mali i Palleshit

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Mali i Palleshit

Summary: Mali i Palleshit is more of a ridge with several highpoints all just exceeding 500 meter altitude. The ridge itself is not easy to walk because of vegetation and uncomfortable rocky terrain. The intrepid hiker will have to pick just one of the highpoints and aim for it - and this is what we did.

Mali i Palleshit connects with Vrap mountain in the south and Dorez Castle in the north. It is part of the heavily eroded ridgelines west of Tirana or Petrele. We have been hiking many peaks and erosion rambles in the area, and it is possible to develop a particular taste for it.

For once, these relatively low altitude hikes can be done in winter (though might be too hot to do in July and August), they are close to Tirana, and they often give a glimpse into the agricultural life in the area. Importantly, they can be quite challenging due to the sheer drops on one or both sides, and the routes may change slightly from year to year as the ongoing erosion eats its way into the trails. This was the case with our trip to Palleshit, where we had selected a particular ridge for our return, but had to abandon it and retract for an alternative way home.

Some parts of the trail look like dirt roads on the satellite images (Google Earth or Google Maps), but most of them are too eroded to be used by any car any more.

Notes:

Between waypoint 03 and 04, the original trail is gone. Follow the diversion as indicated.
Another path (used by horses) crossed the ridge. It joins our trail at waypoint 05, and leaves it at waypoint 06.
Exercise caution at waypoint 07, due to steep drops and overhanging soil.
At waypoint 10, make a sharp turn to ascent to a (false) summit.
At waypoint 12, a wide path seem to suggest a shortcut down the mountain. Do not follow it.
Waypoint 15 is our summit of Mali i Palleshit. The next candidate for the potential highest point on the ridge is another 800 meter away (one way!).
At waypoint 16, it is tempting to follow the path (left) down the ridge. After several hundred meters, erosion has blocked the path.

Maximum altitude:	518 meter
Minimum altitude:	137 meter
Cumulative height:	512 meter
Cumulative length:	12.4 kilometer
Difficulty	moderate
Time:	6 hours
Date of this record	December 2013
Download GPS info:	Palleshit

General location and approach: Near Balldushk. Before you enter Balldushk center with its municipality and school, turn left on a small road to reach the trailhead.

Other Information: Beware of some sudden drops along the trail. They make the trail unsuitable for any children.

Early morning in December. The mud is still frozen.

Near the start, the trail follows a river bed for a while...

The area west of Petrele is subject to heavy erosion, which makes hiking both interesting and challenging

A typical formation. The paths are sometimes very close to the drops

View east. Left is Priske Mountain. Below is Petrele Castle and to its right is the first half of Durishit Ridge, which also offers spectacular hiking.

A Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo). It is very common in the area.

The fruit of the Strawberry Tree is edible, though not routinely collected.

Well into our hike, a horseman crossed the ridge and our path for a few dozen meters. Most of the trail up would not be suitable for horses.

View east from higher up. From left to right, Dajti, Priske (with snow covered Mali me Gropa behind), the white pyramid of Shen Ndoit, and Mali i Fagut can be made out.

Summit shot - about the only rocky place fare and wide

In the distance, Shebenik Mountain near the Macedonian border

Snow covered Polis, Gafer and Bukanikut in the distance. Mali i Shen Marie in front of Gafer. See separate trails for climbing any of them.

A rare glimpse of snow covered Ostrovice. More to the right, snow covered Tomorri mountain rises behind Mali i Gallushit. All peaks covered on separate pages.

Returning from Mali i Palleshit - after some forced detours due to erosion

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 by clicking "view in Google Earth" when on Wikiloc. You need to have Google Earth installed on your computer.