I2 – Skočivir – Demir Kapija 197.3km

General details:

• Length: 197.3km
• Elevation profile:

GPS trace:

Section I2 is complete with all tracks, markers, photos of points of interest, and added digital elevation.

Download the complete GPS track (KML format) for this section HERE ( Macedonian version, English coming soon )

An explanation of the meaning of the markers, types of paths and colors used can be read HERE

Google MAP ( How to use it ? )

Notable peaks on the trail or accessible via side trails:

– Peak Starkov Grob
– Peak Kajmakchalan
– Peak Nidze
– Peak Belo Grotlo
– Peak Sokol
– Peak Golem Kozjak
– Peak Dudica
– Peak Porta
– Peak Zelen Breg
– Peak K92
– Peak Mala Rupa
– Peak Dve Ushi
– Peak Flora

Description/Status:

Skochivir – Karaula ( sentry-watchtower ) Mandich

From the bridge in the village of Skochivir, the path briefly moves along the asphalt road towards Bitola and turns along a wide dirt road to the south without a major change in elevation. After about 1km, it separates and for the next 7km it moves along an old dirt road, which in the first kilometers is not even suitable for off-road vehicles, which means that you will not meet any type of vehicle. The path moves through the area of ​​Sreden Rid, Čolakov Grob and already when it arrives in the Shipkovo area, it slowly turns into a beautiful mountain road where more and more beautiful views of the whole of Mariovo open up and it reaches the first old sentry right next to the border with Greece.

Condition : In the lower part, the trail moves along wide dirt roads, so the movement and tracking of the GPS record is easy throughout this part of the trail, although there are no markings or road signs. Before arriving at the sentry it may be necessary to look at the GPS signal at times but the movement is generally clear if the direction of the ridge is followed

Karaula Mandich – Starkov Grob

After the first sentry, the path leads all the time near the border, which is usually along the ridge, which means that this part is full of views towards the Macedonian and sometimes the Greek side of the mountain. The nature and surroundings are getting more beautiful and the slope is not too big because switchbacks are used in places with a higher slope.

Condition : At the beginning of this section, you will need to watch the GPS signal in several places, and there are also several overgrown sections. As you get closer to Kajmakchalan, the path becomes more clearly visible, although it is not in the best condition because in some places you pass through dense low vegetation. The last 4 kilometers are already sporadically marked, but in several places you will have to check the GPS signal. The marking is already clearly visible on the side trail to the very top of Kajmakchalan.

Kajmakchalan – Dobro Pole

From below the peak of Kajmakchalan, after a few kilometers you separate from the wide road and slowly enter the most remote and therefore the wildest and one of the most beautiful landscapes of the entire transversal. You will come across many remains (trenches, machine gun nests, excavated caves, etc.) from the Macedonian front of the First World War that will further awaken your imagination. The path moves high under the ridge or on the ridge itself to Belo Grotlo, from where it continues in alternately deep evergreen and deciduous forest to climb again above the forest belt in the area of ​​Bela Crkva to the Dobro Pole sentry. 

Condition : In this part you are the farthest from civilization and it feels like a human foot steps very, very rarely, so the path is in many places in bad condition – overgrown or unclear and in several places it is completely lost, which means that it is mandatory you will need the help of a GPS device to follow the route because of course there are no markings or markings in this section.

Dobro Pole – Kula

After Dobro Pole, the transversal continues to Kravica, from where it slowly crosses a wide mountain road that leads through a mixed forest area to the saddle below the Golem Kozjak peak, from where the path moves along a forest road near the ridge of the Kozjak mountain, passing through the area of Kuchkin Kamen and Zhelezna Vrata descending to the saddle Tribor from where again on a wide forest road it continues descending all the way to the Kula pass

Condition : From Dobro Pole to Kravica you can still feel a great wilderness and a very rare human presence, so there are still overgrown parts of the trail. From Kravica there is already a clear wide forest road all the way to Tribor. From Tribor to Kula, you first cross a shorter section with a Truck Off-road wide dirt road, which fortunately quickly turns into a solid forest road all the way to Kula. This segment is also unmarked, however after Kravica the movement is much easier with minimal help from a GPS device.

Kula – Mrežičko pass

The transversal continues along a wide forest road, and after a few kilometers it separates first along an invisible path, which then turns into a beautiful forest path until the descent into the canyon of the Blaštica river. After passing Blaštica, the path leads for a short time along an asphalt road, and the path descends again into the canyon of Blaštica and passes through the cult place Portal of Life, which is actually a tunnel along the course of the river. The path continues near the bed of Blaštica until Mrežičko, where it diverges in the upward direction towards Mrežičko.

Condition : The path from Kula to Mrežichko after the separation from the wide road is uneven, that is, there is a part where there is no path at all and you need to follow the GPS signal. Then, until the descent to the river bed, the path is in good condition. After the asphal ,during the second descent into the canyon, there will be a section that is not recommended for use at the moment due to the dangerous part 30 meters before the portal of life, where a larger effort is planned to arrange the path. After passing through the portal, the path is marked and clear all the way to Mrežichko.

Mrezicko – Zelen Breg

The path passes over the village of Mrežičko and moves through the beautiful gorge of the Mrežička River to the area of ​​Shiroka Padina, where it emerges on a wide forest road and along Gorna Reka, it climbs up the slopes of Kozhuf to the mountain hut Golubec and further to hunters hut Dudicki Kolibi from where it gradually turns into a narrow hiking trail that moves high under the ridge of Kozhuf, passing under the peaks of Dudica, Porta and Zelen Breg. This segment is also one of the most beautiful segments of the entire section.

Condition : The path through the gorge of Mrežička Reka is solid and with faded markings. Then comes a section where the markings are already hard to see and the path is overgrown and difficult to pass at times and you will probably need help with tracking the GPS signal. After the exit of the wide road at Shiroka padina, the movement is easy, but there is no marking until the pass above Mihajlovo, so in this part you will also need the help of a GPS device due to several road crossings. From the pass above Mihajlovo, you are already on a clear route with road signs and markings, which, however, get lost after passing the Dudica peak, and at times you will have to check your GPS device.

Zelen Breg – Visoka Chuka

The traverse continues under the K92 and Mala Rupa peaks, then towards the rocky ridge of Suva Rupa and descends into a forest belt through the Isirova Preseka towards the village of Smrdliva Voda, all the way to the Cresha River, from where it crosses over the asphalt road to the course of the Slivka River. After arriving at the waterfall of Slivka, the path rises again, first to Asan Cheshma and then turns towards the peaks of Dve Ushi and Flora. Continue along a wide forest road through Orlik and reach the ruined old mountain lodge Visoka Chuka.

Condition : In the section from below the top of K92 to below the top of Mala Rupa, you are moving along a narrow, unmarked, unrecognizable and in two places overgrown mountain path, but with a little help from GPS, the movement is easy. After the peak of Mala Rupa, a marked path begins, which you briefly leave near Suva Rupa, and then follow a well-marked path to the exit to Smrdliva Voda, where you briefly need to follow the GPS signal while crossing the asphalt road, from where a nicely marked path begins again to Asan fountain and further towards the peak of Dve Ushi. You continue along an unmarked route, almost entirely on nice wide forest roads, to the Visoka Chuka ruined lodge.

Visoka Chuka – Demir Kapia

The transversal continues down the slopes of Kozhuf through areas with high dense forest, changing from evergreen to deciduous and vice versa. With a further decrease in height, the landscape begins to change, passing into the area of ​​more and more streams and rivers, a low-stemmed forest, and after crossing the southern slope of the rocky Krastovec hill, it enters the “valley of cacti” in the area of ​​the village of Klisura. From Klisura, the path continues along the eastern side under the rocks of Krastovec and descends to the southern exit of Demir Kapija.

Condition : From Visoka Chuka to the crossing of the Drenska Reka, the route leads along wide roads that change from beautiful forest roads to dirt off-road roads dug for the needs of forest farms and which are planned to be replaced with another better route. After the Drenska Reka river, it turns into a hiking trail, for which you will need to check the GPS signal more often. In the atar of the village of Klisura, you again briefly move along a cart road so that the route ends with a beautiful path until the descent to Demir Kapija. There are markings in this segment only on one part before Kopriški waterfall.