Page Type: | Route |
---|---|
Lat/Lon: | 43.33000°N / 17.07000°E |
Route Type: | Hiking |
Season: | Spring, Summer |
Time Required: | Most of a day |
Route described here is an interesting way of traversing northwest
portion of
one the largest mountains in maritime chain of the Dinaric Alps.
Some advantages:
- it is doable inside a single day
- one may pick-up
two major peaks of Biokovo range enroute
- starting and ending point are
not the same
- both starting and ending point are accessible by road
-
descending section is seaside oriented, which is much more scenic in terms
of the views enjoyed
- route does not require any technical gear
Basic
gear are sturdy hiking boots, water supply for a long day, kompass.
Also walking
poles, your knees may apprecciate using those.
Route description: drive or take a bus to Gornja Brela village, 45km
south from Split or 12km nordwest from Makarska. Split-Makarska is major coastal
through route posted E 65 or 2. Drive till Dupci, here fork left
direction Sestanovac-Imotski-Zagreb. Road leads uphill in numerous bends to
Gornja Brela. If by bus, take off at a stop near the food shop, if by own transport,
continue all the way to Bartulovici village (paved road).Arriving Bartulovici,
a barking dog or two may welcome you. Nevermind the dogs, at small junction
in Bartulovici, notice carriage road forking right, direction southeast. This
is where marked path (white circle inside red border) begins. Path takes
you gradually uphill, through the coniferous woods, in the summer carriage road
is lined with blackberries so you have something to do enroute. First major
landmark is water pond (not drinkable), here marked path for Scirevac peak
forks right and steeply uphill untill it catches with Biokovo's upper
plateau. As you reach the Scirovac (on some older maps sometimes marked as "Miletinjak")
peak, view widens, on your left (east) side, mountain drops toward Imotsko
polje karstic deppression, on your right portion of Adriatic sea with
Brac channel and the island of Brac is clearly seen. Two important landmarks
that may help you in orientation now clearly can be seen; infront of you,
almost bang opposite and accross the Biokovo undulated limestone plateau
is Sveti Ilija (St. Elias) peak with old chapel made of stone on the
top. Behind the Sv. Ilija peak, sligthly toward left, highest peak of Biokovo
range Sveti Jure is clearly seen. In the old days, Sv. Jure was also
hosting small made-of-stone- chapel, now it is hosting massive TV transmitter.
Massive as it is,
it is impossible to overlook it. As long as you can see
it almost straight infront, you are traversing Biokovo plateau, it is as simple
as that.
On your right (westside) dominating landmark is almost vertical
western flank of outposted Sibenik peak. Look more closely, and you'll
notice large quarry not far beneath the foot of Sibenik. Querry may not be pretty
to observe, however this is your landmark to follow in case of trouble, weather
going bad, or any other reason for which you want to leave the mountain
as soon as possible. From Scirevac, continue down southwest toward Sv. Ilija
peak, soon you'll notice the path forking right and downhill toward aforementioned
quarry. This is fastest emergency exit from this part of the mountain, hence
quarry is right above the Bast village. Otherwise, continue with the main path,
now you'll notice the Ledenica pit entrance. Once here, it means you have already
passed the emergency exit and you have accomplished half of the Scirevac peak-Sveti
Ilija peak route. Sveti Ilija is in many aspects (ascend, views) quite similar
to Scirevac peak which you have just visited. As you leave the peak, it
is time to concentrate to the geological formations and plants. Path now descends
into gallery of natural limestone formations, including several small
pillars and gate-shaped tresspass, forking toward right downhill the large scree
into black pine forrest, thus leaving the main Biokovo NW-SE traverse route.
Be sure to stick with rightbound trail, anything leading left is not what you
are looking for. Soon, you'll reach the Osicine hunter's lodge, nifty looking
yet being of no use for mountaineers. Path continues due west, walking poles
if you have them now becoming quite handy, and takes us to the Korita
water source. This is the only potable water source enroute, thus good place
to have a break. Hovewer, from here under 50 minutes of downhill stroll
takes us to the upper housings of Bast village (barking dog or two
again welcoming you), with parking lot close to the church and the end
of our route.
Hiking route stages:
1. Gornja Brela - Bartulovici village - Grjak
water pond - Kale - Scirovac peak - Mijaci - Ledenica pit - Sveti Ilija peak
altitude
difference 1378m/4520m, time required 6-7 hours
2. Sveti Ilija peak -
Jezero - Osicine hunter’s lodge - Korito water source - Bast village
altitude
difference - 1332m/4369f
length 5 and 1/2 km, time required about
2 and 1/2 hours
GPS points |
latitude |
longitude |
elevation metres/feets |
Gornja Brela |
43°22'0"N |
17°0'0"E |
241/790 |
Scirovac (Miletnjak) |
43°22'51.3"N |
16°58'31.4"E |
1619/5310 |
Sveti Ilija |
43°22'17.2"N |
16°59'49.5"E |
1642/53856 |
(coordinates given in WGS84)
Map
SMAND 32
Biokovo Park prirode mountain map 1:25000
Miscellaneous info
Makarska bus station info phone +385 021/612-333
Split
bus station http://www.ak-split.hr/EN/vozni.red/index.html
(from the drop-down list pick "Brela")
Nearest airport: http://www.split-airport.tel.hr
Weather
forecast for Bast
Mountain rescue service/Makarska 091/721-0011 (cellular)
National
mountain rescue service Croatia, dial 112