Via Dinarica BH-W-06 Prenj Mountain

We hiked this section in August. Pull up from Jablanica was tough, its definitely worth staying at the campsite and starting from Ravna before attempting the climb to Meduprenje. Fill up on water here, most of the springs were dry even after heavy rain a few days earlier. PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING POINT. We followed the trail after this the following day, and were aiming to stay in the Vrutak Mountain Hut. At roughly N43deg, 33' 51.1, E17deg 53' 13.1, the markers lead off down into the valley, away from where the GPS trail is directing you to go, straight across towards the hut. We decided to follow the GPS as it was leading in the direction we wanted to go and meant we wouldn't lose altitude going down into the valley. After covering some very difficult ground we eventually made it back onto the track, only to discover that we had walked within 50m of a marked minefield. We were annoyed at ourselves for almost ending up there but at the same time we did follow the laid down GPS path, which had up until then been more or less bang on the route. This danger area is noted in Tim Clancy’s Brandt Guide to the Via Dinarica but not on the website or app. Annoyingly there are plenty of warnings about the minefield after the hut on the way up to Zelena Glava. The GPS trail urgently needs to be updated in this section. STICK TO THE MARKED PATH AT ALL TIMES ON PRENJ MOUNTAIN. It’s a very tough but rewarding section of the Via Dinarica, worth doing for the view on top of Zelena Glava alone. Just be careful when you’re up there.

Beautiful landscape and well indicated trail. However, except for the water tank at the first hut when starting in Jablanica there were no other water sources until reaching Biele Vode. We did the hike in July and slept in a tent, which was totally fine concerning the temperatures.

Tried to do it the other way around but failed in the middle. Started in Rujiste (took a taxi from Mostar for 50 Mark for two persons, you should only pay 30 though!) and slept one night in the mountain lodge. Call in advance, they provide food as well. In Rujiste the house keepers were very friendly and helped us a lot with informations or calls. They have a key for the hut 'Adnan Krilic'. Slept one night there. There is leftover food and gas to cook when we were there. Beds are good and there are many blankets. No electricity and tap water anymore. Rain water is next to the house and a spring 10 minute walk further the official path (after you pass the shelter on the left hand side). Didn't find the well closer to the hut. The shelter looked okay as well. Has even a small fireplace. We continued the next day to Mountain Hut Jezerce. The top Jelena Glava is worth it, but only if the weather is nice. Jezerce is a lovely place to stay and open all year round. The next day of our destination was Milanova Koliba (open all year round). The hut right next to it (Meduprenje) is closed if you don't call in advance. There is apparently a key in Konjic you can borrow. Walked down to Vrutak Hut (is mostly closed, key is in Konjic as well). Further down the gps is wrong, just stay on the marked path, because if not you walk straight through mine suspected area. The map of the book 'Via Dinarica' from Tim Clancy has the same failure and leads through the dangerous area. If you reach a plateau (Tisovica) there are two big sign poles. The one closer to Vrutak is a Via Dinarica and the other one is an older one. Didn't realise that the Via Dinarica don't show in which direction you have to walk, but in which direction the destination lies. Just go straight to the older sign pole (which is the opposite direction of what the Via Dinarica sign shows) and then head left. Be aware that this path is not even on the map as a dashed line). We lost too much time in searching the path because of the wrong GPS and coupled with bad weather we decided to go back to Jezerce and then the next day back to Rujiste. You have rarely phone signal on Prenj, so plan all huts in advance. Would recommend to sleep in huts. Walked in the beginning of september and it was quite freezing at night. Even in huts you should have some good sleeping material, that you don't get cold.