Maja e Qorres - 2000 Meter Above the Ionian Sea

Many travellers make it over the Llogara Pass, and their gaze is usually drawn to the sandy beaches and blue waters of the Ionian Sea. Unless, of course, they hold tight to the steering wheel and fix their attention to the winding road. The pass climbs to an altitude of 1000 Meter, and many find the altitude dizzying. Few travellers know, that another 1000 Meter higher, Maja e Qorres is in relatively easy reach offering even more astounding views. Maja e Qorres is only a few Meters lower than Maja e Cikës, separated from it through a 3.5 kilomters long ridge.

Maja e Qorres lies in the Llogara National Park which has many wonderful old pine trees. The predominant strong winds have caused the trees to bend into interesting shapes.

To climb Maja e Qorres, one doesn't really need a GPS device. The climb is very straightforward, and follows a visible trail for the first half of the hike. On the upper reaches, the trail becomes more indistinct, but the direction is generally up. We climbed Qorres while it had snow cover on many parts, and especially around the summit area the coordinates might have strayed off the path. Having said this, it probably is a good idea to take a GPS, in case of swirling clouds or fog causing poor visibility.

While the trail itself is relatively easy, we gave it a moderate rating, due to the potential for rapidly changing weather conditions in the coastal range.Many mountain hikers tend to study the weather forecast for temperature and rainfall. At Llogara Pass and Maja e Qorres, it pays to study also the strength of the expected wind. Even on the Llogara Pass, at half the height of Maja e Qorres, the wind can be fierce while those at Dhermi Beach below are roasting in the sun. The weather can change rapidly in the coastal mountains, and one should make plans to return from the mountain around mid-day.

More details under: http://www.palmtreeproduction.com/Hikes%20and%20Climbs/Albania%20Climbs/Qorres/Qorres-Gallery.html    .