Country: Croatia Region: Grobnik Alps/ west ridge of Mudna dol Length: 30,8 km Elevation gain: 940 m Maximum elevation: 867 m Technical difficulty: 3/5 Download GPS Track: MTB Grobnik Alps Cyclotrail Date of ride: 08.10.2018 Suitable for E-bike: Yes (if e-bike has push assistance)
I’ve studied in Rijeka and lived there for a good part of my life, so I have many good memories and friends that connect me with this place. First time when I traveled to Rijeka I saw these mountains that look like downsized Alps. It took me almost ten years, since i first saw them, to visit this meadow mountains painted with rocks. I looked at many pictures, and watched many videos of Mudna dol ridge, but nothing compares to real life experience when descending through its singletrack, but let’s start from the beginning. My route started in the village Soboli near highway, and is really accessible and plenty of space to leave car.
Country: Croatia Region: Pelješac/ st. Ilija peak Length: 26,5 km Elevation gain: 1080 m Maximum elevation: 961 m Technical difficulty: 5/5 Download GPS Track: MTB Pelješac_st.Ilija_Cyclotrail Date of ride: 17.06.2018 Suitable for E-bike: No
St. Ilija is the highest peak of peninsula Pelješac. Because of its distinguished position st. Ilija offers one of the best views in Croatia and is situated on hill known as Zmijino Brdo (Mons vipera) or Perun’s hill. I mentioned Perun when I was writing about my visit to Mostar and ascend to Velež ( in Slavic mythology Perun is the highest god of pantheon and the god of sky, thunder, lightning, storm, war, law, fertility and oak threes) Peak was named by chapel of st. Ilija.
For a long period of time, visit to Zmijino brdo by bike, was on my bucket list. And I was sure that this visit would be once in a time, because remoteness and distance of peninsula Pelješac from rest of Croatia, but as it shows, I was mistaken. During 2018. I visited st. Ilija three times, two times by bike, and one time while hiking with my friends, and every time I visited this isolated area I discovered another beautiful part, which was hidden from me before. If I wanted to live in a peaceful part of Croatia, far away from city noise, light pollution and smog I would definitely chose Pelješac. As I’m writing this text, construction of bridge that connects Pelješac and mainland is in progress, and even though this move will ease access to Pelješac, it will also destroy islandish nature of Pelješac, I hope I’m wrong. On Pelješac for the first time I saw moufflons, jackals and the most venomous European snake vipera ammodytes. And when I saw them there, they seem so natural there, as if they were created for only purpose just to live on that harsh rock.
Country: Croatia Mountain: Grabovica/ sv. Ilija peak Length: 36 km Elevation gain: 1350 m Maximum elevation: 773 m Technical difficulty: 5/5 Download GPS Track: Gradac – sv. Ilija – Drvenik_Cyclotrail Date of ride: 28.06.2018 Suitable for E-bike: No
Biokovo Nature Park is the most dominating presence on the southern Dalmatian coast and its whole massif stretches 36 km along the coast and is very popular hiking destination. When I was in Gradac, first thing that I saw was very very steep hill which rises up to 773 meters at a short distance. When I watched that beautiful creation from the sea, I imagined that climbing to its peak would be like walking on the edge. Later I found out that there is 4 km long trail from from the cemetery to the peak (HPD Adrion maintains this trail) . At first I was suspicious that this trail could be ridden by bike, so my decision was to hike this ascent, and then decide if it could be “bike friendly”. I couldn’t ask local hikers for advice, because for them, most of the trails are not suitable for riding, our perception somehow differentiate. After hiking trip and refreshment in Adriatic sea I realized that this steep and at first sight unapproachable cliff could actually be visited by bike.