Kalimash - Maja e Runës

Everyone heard the name Kalimash, as it is used to describe the place of the longest tunnel in Albania, made for the Autobahn connecting Tirana and the Adriatic with Kosovo. Few of those who look forward to the tunnel experience, are aware of the road that leads across the mountain that harbors the tunnel. Even fewer people may have contemplated hiking its summit.

Kalimash is the fourth of the major mountains surrounding Kukes. The others are Gjalica (which often provides the photogenic backdrop for Kukes and towers 2000 meter above the city), Koritnik on the border to Kosovo (and best climbed from Kosovo) and Pashtrik (also on the border with Kosovo, and rarely climbed from the Albanian side). Hikes to all of them are described on this site.

The hike to the summit of Kalimash is an experience that should not be missed. Kalimash is surrounded by mountains that all are a little higher than Kalimash itself - which almost adds to the grandiosity of the place. The mountains of Kukes, Korab, Zebe, Lure, Dejes, Munelle, and the Albanian Alps are all in good view. On 1 July, Korab and the Alps were still covered in snow, and Kalimash mountain was in full mountain spring - the grass couldn't be greener or flowers more colorful.

This is a pretty straightforward hike, first on wood roads, then on the grassy ridge leading to the summit. A few short stretches are a light bushwhack through trees, rocks and brambles.

For more info, check: http://palmtreeproduction.com/Hikes%20and%20Climbs/Albania%20Climbs/Kalimash/Kalimash%20Gallery.html