Page Type:
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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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43.33000°N / 17.07000°E |
Route Type:
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Hike with some rock climbing |
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Time Required:
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A long day |
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Difficulty:
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Tough Walk-up, I |
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About Route
Sv.Ilija is NW of the main (Sv.Jure) group and is different from it because it has a shape of a pure ridge. Both sides of Sv.Ilija fall uninterrupted all the way towards the sea and continent and that is why views from the top are unparalleled. Highest peaks are Sv.Ilija (1642m), Scirovac (1618m), Ledenica (1589m) and Kuranik (1556m). In many ways Sv.Ilija is much more exciting peak than Sv.Jure. Approaches are tougher, scenery is wilder and as previously mentioned views are amazing. Sv.Ilija is much less visited than Sv.Jure and is reserved mostly for experienced mountaineers.
Starting point for this trail is Bast village (300m) bellow Biokovo. It is reached from the crossroad to Basko Polje; 10km NW of Makarska (towards Split), to Bast is 3km. On the junction in front of rock excavating plant turn sharply right. You can park in front of the church in Bast. If you walk from the Adriatic road it is additional 45 minutes. Village is placed on a green terraces just bellow the cliffs of Biokovo, which tower high above. Sv.Ilija is still visible even thou we are just beneath its mammoth face, which is 1300m high. It is small head on the ridge, little bit to the left.
Bast – Sv.Ilija (1642m) via Osicine: 5h
From the church path gradually ascends some 35 minutes till it reaches Korita source. You can refresh your self here. In the next 20 minutes, over the steep scree slopes, path reaches the junction. We turn left, while straight up over the scree is path towards Sv.Jure (1762m) over Motika pass.
Now the path enters the cliffs, you are out of the scree gully, and climbs steeply over the scree and shelves with great views towards Bast, sea and cliffs of Sibenik. After some 30 minutes it reaches beautiful black pine forest, which will provide 1 hour of so much needed shade during the summer. But don’t worry; you won’t stop sweating in that hour because the ascent is steep. Path is zigzagging in endless number of sharp bends till it reaches Osicine (1400m), a small foresters house. Just left of the house climb onto small group of rocks, which is out of forest and has amazing views towards the sea and perpendicularly down on Bast village, which is already more than 1km bellow. This view is great surprise because during the last hour in the forest view was limited.
From Osicine path continues its ascent towards the pass on the ridge. At first path is almost flat, cutting across two steep scree slopes with views towards Motika pass. Than it ascends steeply again, in many bends through pines till it reaches the small basin on the ridge (20 minutes from Osicine).
Now we are on BPS – main Biokovo transversal path. Towards right is way to Motika pass and further on towards Lokva hut. We go straight towards narrow pass that is minute away. Path now enters continental side and turns left. From here you see Sv.Ilija with the chapel on the summit. Trail goes little bit up and down, going around two basins, which are on the right. Than it descends left, through a small natural door in interesting funnel shaped hole with various rock forms. In one pit, which is natural well there is water. Short steep climb and you are stunned as you reach the main ridge and view literally explodes towards sea. 10 more minutes of ascent and you are on the summit. (45 minutes from the pass).
Towards the sea is pure 1300m deep abyss with Bast village on its bottom. Cars on the Adriatic road are noting but particles from here. View is fantastic on all sides. Brac and Hvar islands are in front, coast all the way to the Split. Towards the continent you can see Imotski town with two unmistakable craters, Modro and Crveno Jezero lakes and further behind mountains in Bosnia Herzegovina. In clear weather Italy is also visible.
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