Hiking South Albania

Hiking South Albania
Explore South and have an unique rural experience

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

5 TIPS ON STAYING WARM IN THE MOUNTAINS



If you’ve done any kind of mountaineering, or even hiking above tree line, you know that inclement weather can roll in pretty quick. In fact, bad weather is less the exception in the mountains and more the rule. While it’s still important to check your forecasts, do your research, and plan accordingly, there’s always a chance you’ll be at elevation when the temperature drops, so here are 5 tips to stay warm in the mountains. 

1: Layers, Layers, Layers

Staying warm in the mountains starts before you leave the house when choosing what to wear on your climb. We talk a lot about layering here at Nemercka Mountain and have actually written a whole guide on it. Layering is essentially choosing the right upper and lower clothing pieces that complement each other, allowing you to manage your body temp, insulate you from the cold, and protect yourself against rain, wind, and snow. 



As you can see above, a typical upper body mountaineering layering system consists of a wicking base layer, a light insulating layer, a midweight insulating layer, a hard shell, and a heavy down parka. For your lower body, you’ll usually wear a light base layer, some climbing pants, and hard shell pants to protect against precipitation. If temps are truly frigid, you might want to look into some down pants as well. 

2: Keep It Movin’

It’s no secret that movement will get your blood flowing and warm you up, but it’s worth emphasizing that finding the optimal level of movement is key to avoiding a freezing experience in the mountains. I say optimal level because climbing as hard as you can to keep your body temp up is not the right move. Not only will you exhaust yourself more quickly and end up needing to stop moving to recover (not ideal in freezing temps), but you’ll also start sweating buckets, which can be extremely dangerous if you wet out your base layer. Once that sweat cools, you’ll essentially be wearing a wet towel right next to your skin, which will cool you down real fast. 

Find a comfortable pace and stick to it, taking 10-15 minute breaks once every hour or so. Whenever you stop moving, put on your most insulating layer, even if you’re hot at the moment; this will preserve the body temp you’ve achieved by climbing and prevent your sweat from cooling. 

 


3: Focus On Your Extremities 

When you think of a cold person, what are they doing? Stomping their feet and waving or clapping their hands right? Well, there’s a reason for that! Because our bodies are pretty good at temperature regulation, the capillaries in our fingers and toes constrict when we’re cold, allowing more blood to be directed toward our vital organs. While it’s cool that our bodies can do this on their own, it does not make having cold hands and feet any easier to deal with. 

To avoid cold fingers, we recommend you keep a 3-layer glove system in your pack at all times - lightweight gloves for warm conditions, midweight gloves for cold temps, and expedition gloves or mitts for those truly freezing summit attempts. The guides at our partner company RMI Expeditions have used this system for years, and it’s worked pretty well for them so far. Make sure your gloves fit well and aren’t too tight, as that can further restrict blood flow. 

For your toes, the most important thing is to make sure your boots fit well before your climb. During your climb, make sure to bring an extra pair of socks, especially if it’s a multi-day trip. Putting cold, wet socks back into your boots in the morning is a surefire way to make your climb miserable. While you’re on the move, try doing little “toe scrunches” inside your boots with each step. Finally, if you know you’re prone to cold toes, consider buying an over boot to go over your general mountaineering boots.

4: Fuel Your Inner Fire

Fueling yourself with calories is even more important during cold climbs than mild ones. Your body will be working extra hard to keep its temperature regulated while you’re trucking up the mountain, so it's important to fuel it with foods that will keep you going. Foods that are high in calories, healthy fats, proteins, and carbohydrates are best to fight the cold, and some of those foods can actually help heat your body from the inside out! Thermogenesis is when your digestive system produces heat from the food metabolization process, and the longer it takes for food to digest, the more heat is produced through thermogenesis. Complex carbohydrates, natural fats, and bananas are great options to warm you from within.


5: Drink Up

Ok, this one might seem kind of obvious, but hot liquids will keep you warm. Actually, staying hydrated in general is a great way to keep your body temp regulated. Dehydration can lead to lower blood levels, which affects circulation and means your body may start losing heat more quickly than it can be produced. 

When it comes to warm drinks, you really can’t go wrong. Coffee is great for a bit of stimulation (as long as you know when you’ve had enough), hot chocolate can be a good source of sugar (and fat, just add a half stick of butter), and ginger tea is great for jumpstarting that thermogenesis process we talked about earlier. Or, if none of those float your boat, some good old hot water will do the trick too. Despite what you’ve seen in the movies, you should stay away from alcohol; it may make you feel a little warmer but in reality, it can lead to decreased body temps, and impair your judgment. 

 

There ya have it, a few tips to help you stay warm while mountaineering! These tips are great for the cold conditions you’re bound to experience when mountaineering, but are not intended as emergency procedures in case of cold-related injury. 

This article is prepared by: Alexander Paskali - movement activist for the promotion of remote rural areas for more access and development “Dropull a rural experience” Coordinator of “Hiking South Albania” group, leader of personalized local guides in Dropull area for 11 years , visits to cult sites and areas of particular importance, very good connoisseurs of mountain trails. 

All rights reserved "Hiking South Albania" - Mountain Guides and "Dropull, a Rural Experience"

For more information you can find us at: 
https://www.facebook.com/Albanian.Adventurer/



Thursday, March 10, 2022

Kepi i Rodonit


Një nga destinacionet që vitet e fundit ka patur një rritje të konsiderueshme të numrit të turistëve është Kepi i Rodonit, që ndodhet vetëm pak kilometra larg Tiranes. Ky rrip i lartë toke në formë gadishulli shtrihet në detin Adriatik dhe ofron peizazhe tërheqëse si dhe disa monumente historike e kulturore të rëndësisë së veçantë. Nëse gjatë pranverës Kepi nis e vishet i gjithi nga një tapet përrallor lulesh, gjatë verës jo të paktë janë ata që e zgjedhin këtë vend për shkak të plazhit të virgjër e rërës së pastër e të imët.

Kalaja e Skënderbeut

Kepi që rrethohet nga faleza të gjalla me lartësi rreth 25 metra, është i njohur dhe për Kalanë e Skënderbeut. Kalaja që gjendet mu në anë të detit u ndërtua nga Skënderbeu rreth viteve 1450 – 1452, në mënyrë që të kishte një dalje më të shpejtë në Adriatik në rastin e një pushtimi Osman. Sipas një traktati të nënshkruar në 4 shkurt të vitit 1462, në rast lufte me turqit Raguza do të ndihmonte Skenderbeun me flotën e saj që do të dërgohej pikërisht në Rodon. Duke ju referuar dorëshkrimeve të Barletit kjo Kala ka patur jetë deri në vitin 1467, përpara se të vinin turqit e ta shkatërronin. Venedikasit e rindërtuan kalanë pas vitit 1500, dhe kjo ka mundësuar që të mbërrijë deri më sot në një gjendje mjaft të mirë.

Kisha e Shën Antonit

Shumë pranë Kepit gjendet dhe Kisha e Shën Antonit, një monument që histor
ikisht i atashohet të njëjtës përiudhë ndërtimi me atë të Kalasë. Kjo ndërtesë ka një arkitekturë të llojit romaniko-gotike, dhe sot mund të shihen gjurmë afresku apo dhe elementë të tjerë interesantë. Falë dhe pozicionimit pranë Kepit dhe detit, pamjet që shoqërojnë Kishën janë vërtet mbresëlënëse. Për të gjitha vlerat historike, kulturore e gjeografike që përmban, Kepi i Rodonit është zgjidhja më e mirë për një fundjavë relaksuese larg Tiranes.

Rruga që duhet të ndiqni për tek Kepi i Rodonit

eshte Tiranë – Manzë – Ishëm – Darç – Kepi i Rodonit.

                                       

Përgatiti materialin:  Alexander Paskali  – aktivist I lëvizjes për promovimin e zonave të thella rurale për më shumë akses dhe zhvillim “Dropull nje eksperience rurale”  Koordinator I grupit “Hiking South Albania”, drejtues I guidave lokale të personalizuara në zonën e Dropullit prej 6 vitesh, vizita në objektet e kultit dhe zonat e rëndësisë së veçantë, njohës mjaft I mirë I shtigjeve malore.

Të gjitha të drejtat janë të rezervuara “Hiking South Albania” – Guida malore dhe “Dropull, nje eksperience rurale”  

©Copyright Hiking South Albania

Ky artikull është ekskluziv i Hiking South Albania, gëzon të drejtën e autorësisë sipas Ligjit Nr. 35/2016, "Për të drejtat e autorit dhe të drejtat e lidhura me to". Shkrimi mund të ripublikohet nga mediat e tjera vetëm duke cituar Hiking South Albania dhe në fund të vendoset linku i burimit, në të kundërt çdo shkelës do të mbajë përgjegjësi sipas Nenit 178 të Ligjit Nr/ 35/2016.

    Për më shumë informacion na gjeni në :

     https://www.facebook.com/Albanian.Adventurer/


Monday, July 5, 2021

Kisha e Shen Merise, Manastiri Krorez

Është ndërtuar në një breg shkëmbor, në një pozitë natyrore të mbrojtur dhe 

njëkohësisht piktoreske, prej nga hapet një pamje e gjerë e peizazhit 

bregdetar. Nga ndërtimet e vjetra të manastirit kanë arritur deri në ditët e 

sotme kisha, kulla dhe një ndërtesë me çardak.

Kisha është pikturuar në vitin 1672. Është e tipit në formë kryqi me kupolë, 

me përmasa të brendshme 7,90×4,40 m. Proporcionet e zgjatura të naosit 

kanë sjellë një zhvillim të pabarabartë të krahëve të kryqit. Krahët verior 

dhe jugor janë tepër të ngushtë, ndërsa hapësirë më të madhe ka krah 

perëndimor, që përmbledh hyrjen për në kishë. Në pjesën qendrore lartësohet

 kupola mbi një tambur të lartë. Pjesët këndore janë mbuluar me qemere 

cilindrike, që hapen ndaj nefit qendror. Ambienti i altarit ndahet nga një

 ikonostas prej muri guri, me tri hapësira hyrjeje. Hapësira e tij zgjerohet

 së tepërmi nga dalja  jashtë e absidës së gjerë të bemës. Në pamjen e 

jashtme si absida, ashtu dhe tamburi janë shumëfaqëshe. Interieri 

ndriçohet nga dritaret e hapura në murin verior dhe jugor, si dhe nga 

disa dritare të ngushta të hapura në absidë dhe tambur.




Në pamjen e jashtme janë shumë të ndjeshme proporcionet e zgjatura të 

naosit. Kjo vjen edhe ngaqë krahu verior dhe jugor i strukturës së 

brendshme nuk shfaqen në konfiguracionin e çatisë. Çatia është dyujëse,

 e ndërprerë në pjesën qendrore nga tamburi. Në frontonin e murit 

perëndimor ngrihet këmbanarja, me një hapësirë të harkuar. Ngjitur 

me murin perëndimor është ndërtuar një mur i dytë, i hapur në krye të

 të cilit kalon ulluku që mbledh ujërat e shiut nga çatia dhe i dërgon në

 sterën e ndërtuar pranë kishës, në anën veriore të saj.

Muratura është  ndërtuar  me  gurë  dhe  është  rrafshuar  mirë  me  

llaç  gëlqereje.Ajo  përfundon  me  një  kornizë  të  hollë  guri. 

Apsida dhe  tamburi  janë  të  suvatuara me  një  shtresë  të  hollë 

 llaçi.Çatia është  mbuluar  me  rrasa  guri.

Ndërtesa me  çardak  është  ndërtuar në  vitin  1762.Ajo  është  

dykatëshe.Në  katin  e  dytë  del  një  galeri  e  mbështetur  mbi  qemere 

 dhe  e  hapur  në  ballë  me  një  rradhë  shtyllash  druri. Çardaku 

 është  i  mbuluar  nga  zgjatimi  i  flegrës  së  çatisë  së  pjesës  tjetër  

të  ndërtesës.

Kulla  ose  ndërtesa  e  fortifikuar  është  trekatëshe,  me  karaktere  

të  mbyllur  dhe  me  hapësira  ndriçimi të  pakta  e  të  vogla. Hyrja  

për  në  katin  e dytë  të  kullës   bëhet  me  shkallë  të  jashtme   prej  

guri,  të  mbështetura  mbi  një  qemer  cilindrik.

Përveç  këtyre  ndërtimeve,  rreth  e  rrotull  kishës janë  shpërndarë  

dhe  rrënoja  ndërtimesh të  tjera.Oborri i  manastirit   është  i  

shtruar  me  plloça  guri.

Përgatiti materialin:  Alexander Paskali  – aktivist I lëvizjes për promovimin e zonave të thella rurale për më shumë akses dhe zhvillim “Dropull nje eksperience rurale”  Koordinator I grupit “Hiking South Albania”, drejtues I guidave lokale të personalizuara në zonën e Dropullit prej 6 vitesh, vizita në objektet e kultit dhe zonat e rëndësisë së veçantë, njohës mjaft I mirë I shtigjeve malore.

Të gjitha të drejtat janë të rezervuara “Hiking South Albania” – Guida malore dhe “Dropull, nje eksperience rurale” 

©Copyright Hiking South Albania

Ky artikull është ekskluziv i Alexander Paskali dhe Hiking South Albania, gëzon të drejtën e autorësisë sipas Ligjit Nr. 35/2016, "Për të drejtat e autorit dhe të drejtat e lidhura me to". Shkrimi mund të ripublikohet nga mediat e tjera vetëm duke cituar Hiking South Albania dhe në fund të vendoset linku i burimit, në të kundërt çdo shkelës do të mbajë përgjegjësi sipas Nenit 178 të Ligjit Nr/ 35/2016.

    Për më shumë informacion na gjeni në :

     https://www.facebook.com/Albanian.Adventurer/

 

 

Friday, March 19, 2021

GUESTHOUSE ZEKO PARADISE





Thank you for choosing our GUESTHOUSE.
ZEKO PARADISE TEL +355674922944
HIKING SOUTH ALBANIA TEL +355692520506

This article is prepared by: Alexander Paskali - movement activist for the promotion of remote rural areas for more access and development “Dropull a rural experience” Coordinator of “Hiking South Albania” group, leader of personalized local guides in Dropull area for 6 years , visits to cult sites and areas of particular importance, very good connoisseurs of mountain trails. 

All rights reserved "Hiking South Albania" - Mountain Guides and "Dropull, a Rural Experience"

For more information you can find us at: 
https://www.facebook.com/Albanian.Adventurer/

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

HOTEL VALENDINA & RURAL ACTIVITIES


Our Guesthouse Hotel Bar Restaurant Valendina has been operating in the market for 20 years. Positioned in the village of Vrisera, on the axis Gjirokaster - Kakavie, the competitive advantage is that it is located near the Greek border, and only 6 minutes by car (2.8km away) from the big lake of Vrisera (the lake which we use for activities such as kayaking , fishing, hiking etc). Near the area is located the Monastery of St. Triads and other lakes of Pepeli, Likomil and the villages of Selo, Sotire, Koshovice, which can be traversed by car or by foot at a distance of 10 -15 km. The hotel has a capacity of 12 rooms in total, 3 triple rooms, 7 double rooms, 2 single rooms and the restaurant which has a capacity of 10 tables + 8 tables in the garden outside. In collaboration with "Hiking South Albania" we develop outdoor guides trekking, hiking, activities such as camping and mountaineering. The guides carry out activities on behalf of our guesthouse, as a way to keep tourists as long as possible and to offer a full service and an unforgettable experience. Below you will find some views from the hotel rooms and other facilities:



The rooms are equipped with air conditioning, toilet, and TV in the room. Free internet and parking space in front of the building for 15 cars. In addition to hotel accommodation we offer traditional cuisine in our restaurant, where the element of decorative wood prevails which makes the environment warm and family. 



For our friends who will visit us we have prepared 
a program which includes fishing activity that will 
take place in the lakes of Vrisera very close to the 
hotel. The person who will take care of this activity
will be Kristo Gjokaj (65 years old), a fisherman for 
30 years in the area, and caretaker of the Vrisera
lakes. He will assist tourists and will make available
the reeds provided by the restaurant. Kristo will 
also take care to cook the fish on the barbecue grill 
near the lakes as a way to relax and stay as 
close to nature as possible.


Moreover, tourists will have the opportunity to visit 
the dropolis villages in Selo. There they will meet 
Selio women, who are known for their polyphonic 
group and will dress in traditional dropolis costumes
their dances. They will be given the opportunity to
learn a seliote dance and will dress in traditional 
dropolis costumes.


You will also have the opportunity to get acquainted
with the handicrafts that will be demonstrated at 
the hotel by our staff and various work 
techniques about the traditional costumes. 
In addition, together with the group 
"Hiking South Albania" we develop 
trekking guides and cultural 
guides in the cult objects and protected 
areas as follows: 
Vrisera - Sotire 14.5 km 
(difficulty - average level) DAY 1 
Departure from the village of Vrisera (H = 335m) 
and reaches a maximum height of 712m in the 
village of Klishar. During this itinerary we will
have the opportunity to get to know the history 
of the area, visit monasteries that only the Upper 
Dropulli offers. The stop will be in the village of 
Sotire, and churches dating back to the 17th 
century and enjoy the stunning landscape, the 
only village from the Dropolis area included in 
the project 100 villages by the Albanian 
Government for development as a tourist village. 
Sotire - Murgana Peak 10 km 
(difficulty - high level) DAY 2
Departure from the village of Sotire (H = 517m) 
and reaches a maximum height of 1806m at 
the famous peak of Murgana, whose site
remains snowy until the end of May, as it is
a shady site, for this reason it has received 
its name. This is a climb that requires good 
physical preparation.

Below we offer you ALL INCLUSIVE and
ULTRA ALL INCLUSIVE packages
ULTRA ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGE
will be 90 euros / person (+/- 10 euros)
-Accomodation and room service, all meals
breakfast, lunch, dinner (lunch can be
taken and packed with you in case you are
in the guide or we bring
you with our cars atno extra charge)
-Drinks like raki, wine, beer
The price also includes transport from the hotel
to the destination you choose, as
desired: fishing equipments, village visits, dance
tuition fee for the instructor, transportation
of camping equipments, kayak guides, tourist
taxes, road taxes. Accompanying guide of
2 people, one who leads the group and one
who accompanies and explains the history,
areas of special importance and photographs with
drone participants during hiking, trekking,
or camping experience. During nature tours we
will have the opportunity to collect medicinal
plants such as sage, oregano, juniper, kocimare,
which we can take with us to the hotel.
-water 2x0.5l and dry foods, sandwiches, etc.
ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGE for tourists will be
50 euros / person (+/- 10 eur)
This package will include:
-Accomodation and service in the room, all
meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
The price also includes transport from the
hotel to the destination you choose, as
desired: fishing fee, visits to the village,
dance instructor, fee for picking medicinal
herbs and fee for walking in the famous
Stugara stream
The above prices are applied for groups
up to 8 people, if the groups will be
larger in number a discount of 20% will be applied.
Tourists are free to choose and order as desired,
the menu will be offered to you in any
case according to their request. Below we are
explaining about the different prices that apply
outside the package ULTRA_ALL_INCLUSIVE
and ALL_INCLUSIVE
OUT OF OFFER PRICES ARE LISTED AS BELOW
NOTES:
SINGLE
ROOMS 25 Euro / Person
DOUBLE
ROOMS 15 Euro / Person
THREE
ROOMS 12 Euro / Person
EXTRA
PORTABLE BED IN THE ROOM 5 Euro / Person
BREAKFAST
includes products such as milk, yogurt, jam,
pancakes, cheese, eggs, honey, fields
LUNCH
includes dairy products, various salads, meats of
different types as desired,
grilled grilled vegetables, various pies and
traditional dishes of the area
DINNER
includes dairy products, various salads, grilled
vegetables, various pies and
traditional dishes of the area.
BEVERAGES
ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OUT OF THE
PACKAGES, all are with extra
payment according to the
consumption of everyone.
The above prices are applied for groups up
to 8 people, if the groups will be
larger in number a discount of 20% will be applied.
Thank you for choosing our hotel.
HOTEL & RESTAURANT VALENDINA TEL
+355695229376
HIKING SOUTH ALBANIA TEL +355692520506

This article is prepared by: Alexander Paskali - movement activist for the promotion of remote rural areas for more access and development “Dropull a rural experience” Coordinator of “Hiking South Albania” group, leader of personalized local guides in Dropull area for 6 years , visits to cult sites and areas of particular importance, very good connoisseurs of mountain trails. 

All rights reserved "Hiking South Albania" - Mountain Guides and "Dropull, a Rural Experience"

For more information you can find us at: 
https://www.facebook.com/Albanian.Adventurer/