Mountain Hut Smreka – Peak Titov Vrv

Peak Titov Vrv, also known as the Peak Golem Turchin (EN: Great Turk) – the highest peak of the Shar Mountain and the second highest peak in Macedonia (after the Golem Korab peak). Its height is 2,747 m. The peak is located on the Rudoka massif. Under the peak, the Bogovinjska Reka springs is located on the southern side, and the Pena River on the northern side. This peak is the highest peak of Shara and the second highest in Macedonia. As stated above, it is 2,747 m high. It is located in the central part of the mountain, in its highest part, where all three peaks of the mountain are located, which are higher than 2,700 m. Titov Vrv itself is about 9 m wide, and on the plateau at the top, as is known, a mountaineering tower was built. The place where the peak is located is inside the Shar massif. Around it there are 2 more peaks with a lower height, Mal Turchin 2,702 m and Bakardan 2,700 m. The original and true, and at the same time the oldest name for this peak is Shar, according to which the entire mountain massif got its name Shar Mountain. The peak was originally named Shar in several old works and maps, including the book “Materials for the Study of Macedonia” by the Macedonian revolutionary Gjorche Petrov, who wrote that the peak was named that way by the local population, and the entire mountain was named after him. During the rule of the Turks, the peak gets the name Turchin or Turchin Planina, and the other two get their current names, i.e. Little Turk and Bakardan. During the Ottoman rule, it was a common practice to name the highest peaks in honor of the Sultan (as is the case with Osogovo and several other mountains), and this continued to be applied by the following authorities who came and named the peak after their leaders. Thus, the name of the peak remained Turkish until 1934, when in October it was renamed Aleksandrov Vrv, in honor of the Serbian king Alexander I Karađorđević. During the Second World War the peak gets its old name Turchin or Great Turk. It was like this until April 21, 1953, when by decision of the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia, the peak received its current name, Titov Vrv.

Source: Wikipedia

Tour

Golem Turchin or Titov Vrv – the second highest peak in Macedonia and one of the more difficult peaks to climb. We have been researching and planning the climb to Titov Vrv for a long time and here we will share our experiences in order to motivate you to go on such an expedition.

Titov Vrv is located in a rather inaccessible area in the heart of Shar Mountain. There are several directions from which it can be accessed and they are of different difficulty:

1. Winter trail: PD Smreka (Popova Shapka) – Cerepashina peak 2,480 m., Anteni peak 2,531 m., Sin Vrv 2,551 m., Karabunar peak 2,600 m., Bakardan peak 2,704 m. – Titov Peak 2,748 m. For us, it is actually the most difficult direction to conquer Titov Vrv. It starts immediately from PD Smreka on Popova Shapka, which is located at 1,800 meters above sea level, and immediately overcomes 700 meters above sea level in a length of up to 3 km. to the first peak Cerepashina. From the peak of Cerepashina to the peak of Karabunar, the 3 km long movement takes place along the ridge itself and is relatively easy and offers magical views of the surrounding peaks of Shar Mountain. The real test of endurance starts from the Karabunar peak where the descent to the saddle and the ascent to the Bakardan peak begins, and again the descent to the saddle and the ascent to Titov Vrv. This track has a total length of 10 km. and 1,530 m above sea level in the direction and is therefore characterized as an exclusively difficult route for climbing Titov Vrv, with a special emphasis on difficulty in winter conditions.
2. Summer or Vakaf trail: it is the trail that is most often used to return after a successful ascent of Titov Vrv. It starts from PD Smreka and is 5 km long. the path passes along a dirt road to the locality of Wakaf, that is, Vakafski Bachila. From Vakafski Bachila starts a hiking trail that moves along the isohypse and goes around the Bakardan peak to the saddle between Titov Vrv and Bakardan where it joins the Winter trail. This track has a total length of 10 km. and 1,530 m above sea level.
3. A third option adapted for children and families: We go with an Offroad 4×4 vehicle from Popova Shapka towards Konak to Vakafski Bachila along a 17 km dirt road. We leave the vehicle immediately after the dump and continue along the 6 km long hiking trail to Titov Vrv. and 855 m in the direction. The path practically moves from the southern side of Bakardan and passes by Mal Turchin towards the saddle between Titov Vrv and Bakardan. This tour is ideal for all those who do not feel ready to climb the winter trail and offers beautiful views towards Bacardan and Mal Turcin. Attention: for this route you need a ready Offroad vehicle with 4×4 drive.
4. Fourth option – Yes, there is a fourth option with a combination Offroad vehicle 4×4 and hiking where there is a possibility to arrive at only 2 km. from Titov Vrv – but we will not share it because we do not consider it a hiking tour J.
5. The fifth option – from Leshnica Valley / Peak Plat – in another post.

For this first ascent of Titov Vrv, our team used the third option because we don’t feel ready for the most difficult one – one of the biggest obstacles is getting up early in the morning and equipping yourself, which is necessary if you decide on the Winter route, something that is out of our hands and yet we practice it. We leave loosely around 9:00 a.m. from Popova Shapka and drive our Offroad vehicle along a dirt road towards Vakafski Bachila. We choose the option that passes by Konak, although there is another option: a dirt road that leads from the upper side – that is, through the direction to Leshnica / Jelak. After passing 17 km. on a serious Offroad challenge (don’t start without an Offroad vehicle with 4×4 drive) we arrive at Vakafski Bachila and park the vehicle 600 m. above in order not to disturb the keepers of the herd. Here we join the Summer or Wakaf trail to Titov Vrv, which is 100 meters above us, and the enjoyment can begin. We move along a gentle slope at the foot of peaks Karabunar and Bakardan. The location abounds with streams and springs of cold water and beautiful landscapes of the surrounding peaks. We arrive at the foot of Bakardan and follow the isohypsis around Bakardan to arrive at the saddle between Titov Vrv and Bakardan. A magical view of the mighty peak Mal Turchin (EN: Small Turk) and Titov Vrv opens before us.