Maja e Runjes

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Diretissima on Maja e Rrunjës

Summary: Maja e Rrunjës, with an official altitude of 2047 meters, is one of the top ranking view points in north-east Albania. We had it long on our mind, but the approach - while not particularly difficult - tends to be long and requires an overnight stay. Lukan is a somewhat remote commune, and camping is possible on the fringes of the village. We arrived late in the evening and pitched our tent at a café in Lunare (near the sawmill) just before the turn-off to Lukan.

Because views to the summit slopes are unobstructed, it looks quite easy (and there are no technical difficulties whatsoever). But the altitude can be deceiving, and a hike to the summit remains a solid 1100 Meter climb on the rather steep grassy slopes. While we were lured into following a diretissima to the summit, the return along the south-east ridge was much more enjoyable, and we recommend it for the ascent. Indeed, at this end there are excellent trails up to end of the trees and shrubs.

The Hike: We took a figure-eight path, but as said above, it might be more enjoyable to follow the eastern ridgeline.

Maximum altitude:	2056 meter
Minimum altitude:	953 meter
Cumulative height:	1095
Cumulative length:	9.5 kilometer roundtrip
Difficulty	moderate
Time:	8 hours
Date of this record	September 2014
Download GPS info:	Rrunja

Drive to Lukan:

Maximum altitude:	1350 meter
Minimum altitude:	536 meter
Cumulative height:	`082 meter
Cumulative length:	33 kilometer
Difficulty	moderate
Time:	2.5 hours
Date of this record	September 2014
Download GPS info:	To Lukan

General location and approach: Lukan can be reached either from Peshkopi via Muhur or from Burrel via Qafe Murre (which is the fasted way from Tirana but not the easiest). Another interesting alternative is described here - starting from Shupenze on the road connecting Bulquize and Peshkopi.

The trail is generally in good condition. After rain, some places can become very muddy. The descend from the pass (about 1300 meter altitude) down to Lukan is very interesting, but not difficult.

It takes about two to two-and-half hours for the described track (we spent the night at the sawmill before the turn off to Lukan)

Other Information: The views from the summit are outstanding in all directions - including to Korab mountain, Mali Dejes and many more

The road from Shupenze to Lukan offers great views. Here Velivar and Krchin (see separate hiking trails)

On the pass, before the descend to Selishte and Lukan

Maja e Runjës from the sawmill at the junction to Lukan

Stately houses in Lukan, with a view up Maja e Runjës.It may not look like it, but it is a climb of about 100o meters.

On the Runjës Diretissima, looking down to Lukan

A sudden view of Mali i Dejes (the hike described elsewhere)

Maja e Kunora e Lurës, or the Crown of Lurë (two hikes to the summit are descrivbed elsewhere)

Maja Rrunja e Lures (under the red dot), Zebe mountain (under the green dot) and the area of Guri i Nuses (under the blue dot). Hikes to these summit are described alswhere.

Descending from Maja e Runjës, on the sout-east ridge - the regular way

View across the valley to Tolla and (slightly obscured by Tolla) Arithit.

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.

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