Hello fellow walkers! (not the zombie kind, thank you) Today I'll be taking you on a little climb up the giant overlooking Skopje - Vodno! ๐Ÿ™Œ

Vodno is a mountain that is located in the southwest of Skopje. It is relatively small - 1,066 m - and is visible from anywhere inside the capital. It is often used by joggers, bikers, climbers, and exercise people in general. It is a godsend and most people love to climb the familiar trails whenever they can. ๐Ÿ˜‰

Today I won't be showing you the entire mountain since we didn't climb the entire thing. ๐Ÿ˜… We? Yas! I'm with two other buddies this time around! Anyways, we'll just be going halfway up i.e. Mid Vodno, and a little more ways off until we reach a certain spot for chilling. โ„๏ธ

So, without further ado - Onwards! ๐Ÿšถ

header copy.png

๐Ÿšฉ HITTING THE TRACK ๐Ÿšฉ

header copy.png

We went around 12:00 a.m. on a Saturday which isn't the best idea. ๐Ÿ˜… Vodno has a lot of people climbing it on the weekends, and the tracks are usually tight so experienced trackers tend to avoid climbing on the weekends.

https://images.ecency.com/DQmZUbko7VXbkNMis2WD6vmtHd7iMfJSzNsdVn169ArX3aZ/1d6c8b5a_fbba_400e_8d81_dc75bfb5874e.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmUSV7FgyrzRhhm3DMVPNgdEHtwhDwyipWueabJDoG4LEm/5bad3bce_275e_4c08_b3c4_e562361bec59.jpg

One of my friends actually thought that we were just driving up the mountain to chill somewhere. We told him last minute that we were actually climbing. ๐Ÿ˜ He wasn't too pleased with us with that, since he got drunk af the previous night. ๐Ÿคข

https://images.ecency.com/DQmSYa8jstmtgF1tZzap7S4aZAH33GpXRRqbPmCnfderSzw/95de7f85_3046_44f1_9e58_987b67baffd4.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmVmckyHaE5wWZKFwVMvfvi51Vn7rc6wZHy2BSfymmNhSg/1fd6fa11_a1b3_4a86_88bd_127f435d124a.jpg

Let's just say he was complaining for the first fifteen minutes of the climb. ๐Ÿ˜

https://images.ecency.com/DQmNt5hgpNPx8GVdx3V5ew2EDJzQX3ppWMZZTxv1FGb1faf/c89bb875_eba0_461f_b828_b6d13a094dbb.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmXKdBcQLhnBnsx7oUYXke7h2wKpQn1FKoxpoafBwGqWrL/97f25449_164a_4edc_a388_bef12e879baa.jpg

He kept saying we tricked him to come. Which we really didn't. It was just miscommunication. ๐Ÿ˜‚ Regardless, soon he was sweating and huffing, and soon after kept repeating how this was actually a good idea. Of course! Sweat out the poison!

https://images.ecency.com/DQmTQazQ6dyY8T1GGs1iwHriKGYasANxu8EWoVULNKiwbFs/b1c39eac_f193_43c1_9b1e_d408e54a66ed.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmPdUsEqmPVJQZ6icpEmXzXuw2yg8Zpid3v5zNfEobrJp7/89f129c0_0d7b_4d40_ab62_ec92664032c8.jpg

The track from the bottom to Mid Vodno is relatively easy. Most people climb to the middle and then rest and descend.

https://images.ecency.com/DQmTmyBVpoX7GQy7vrBWL29Cqg6qxMuxcRFcmq6B67Y8M5e/9f852ad3_b3b3_4c77_ba2b_d94ed1174eff.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQma3xq8prBFfTsr7khKm1DokoySD2T8VTo8rQDPzE3EWvQ/09bdbe8e_f667_4072_9bff_f28e6f75d27a.jpg

The track from Mid Vodno to the top is a different story altogether. ๐Ÿ˜ I'll probably make a Wednesday Walk another time of that climb as well.

https://images.ecency.com/DQmPUyb8HsUf5U51UR3YSdvqRrD5veB9fpqYXJ8Jfh2zuaZ/8ae4d734_2c0b_4fa6_ad52_ec226dcaf681.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmbYc3ACJo5pELVmh6BQjdTYLTHg9WjMaFVJpeWboefTCu/3d97546b_3106_45ff_acee_84bec305c575.jpg

Winter just concluded so most of the flora is still in early bloom. ๐Ÿฅ€ Animal noises are a constant, chirping of birds, and the scurrying of squirils and foxes. it's amazing to have something like this in a city as busy as Skopje. A true blessing.

And since we see the main road it means that the track is over and we've made it to Mid Vodno! ๐Ÿ˜ฉ๐Ÿ•บ

header copy.png

๐Ÿšฉ MID VODNO ๐Ÿšฉ

header copy.png

At this point, I was tired and happy to take a breather.

Mid Vodno is a popular destination for many reasons. First of all it's not that high comparatively, and most people just like driving up and enjoying the fresh air. ๐Ÿ›ฌ

https://images.ecency.com/DQmUGpeFYrf5fDwTuwBCVSpC1njbSmc8hFhaXQ2mM4YaiUa/64082259_0da7_4daa_8d30_3834cbf4d4f6.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmR2qfSB4Fq9fHdAPAoW3nzRKrtovwQkrAsXuUfqVQMZ7i/7f1ac408_2ea0_4000_9b9c_45e273b817bd.jpg

It was pretty busy when we arrived.

https://images.ecency.com/DQmcgzFxfYWfM3pAP2fofynP4iPmnV8sgAJQZCmpLHNrqg3/1073083a_8e5e_402d_bacc_0fc38857e955.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmcPTDzPXd4udfvFJMz3b5RV49pTRqQX9CxUP3jNQacW2x/6f3ea7e1_bfa2_479a_8ee5_d02efcabb20c.jpg

https://images.ecency.com/DQmXnnH6gA3PYS7bZHCVWT1ZLPYKiTfrThXSTF7pzP9H5kd/d6ef3801_a65b_4793_8cc9_08905c8ba65f.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmdnqcvvNQwdAcjnCoyCWf5vSxjqA1ruQFaZmCWm5r6a8d/d6d4eefc_7095_4aab_815e_ccdb9392aee5.jpg

Mid Vodno is massive. There are plenty of places to just sit and chill. // I'm saying chill a lot in this one...

https://images.ecency.com/DQmeguHwdjyJ9FkP44njq5FqQ2PKZpVfhv1WxrwfWJY5rYL/a285971b_4a5a_488d_a397_df3dddd17a67.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmV84S1FZBgfuDc4gvvKbNpe81oAMZ89diocyY7p2X6Zir/c5ccc60d_316f_4a45_a3db_6e99b694b038.jpg

https://images.ecency.com/DQmUKhUEn9PLoTqVXdtjpbzFAn45dodo4mswRbnQ8a8wrJ9/92a56387_1270_41fe_881f_90e67668df3c.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmSDwWFiRKwhsu7BwgdG4we4JGHyzVZyp8S4LwousVuoFD/45dfcad0_b6d8_4af6_88cb_b58cae3ff5fd.jpg

There is a cable car to take you up to the top if you are a weakling.

https://images.ecency.com/DQmbFP9zANzyoJMTzgQQTicuF5nMVq6eTnShBDYvtKZrPSD/ccbc0fbc_d783_4462_9204_dd8d557b1df8.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmc9XefhFZbShJWfWwCAwiVBEKaqqQZSN9aMDMCgQNZyJR/cc346afc_1cd7_4718_908d_2517cc67b586.jpg

https://images.ecency.com/DQmW39d7AvWmdfJLBJfskT9Mps4oYZ4kQfaCYaRV295L72t/828472fa_00f1_43d8_a02f_e5155a7ff768.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmdQ6HfLYEENwFKoEYXEuZkzfdqMUEodrxkWk3p7kMjdqu/6145bb43_8dcf_4175_8f82_59d0c379de33.jpg

Mid Vodno is also home to lots, and lots of parties.

https://images.ecency.com/DQmdnqcvvNQwdAcjnCoyCWf5vSxjqA1ruQFaZmCWm5r6a8d/d6d4eefc_7095_4aab_815e_ccdb9392aee5.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmSEAnk4ACGAfCS39UE5FWgPo7VuEjnAfcWYsVEdwD9HMK/4923fa43_35f1_4bc6_9f61_f48216b2d773.jpg

They're always at night so ye. ๐Ÿ˜

https://images.ecency.com/DQmXgPjX7wPNeAacQaXUcwDyKYVELzEX8tx44fBAMqagRoG/dc336a93_2b1a_4871_b9c1_3279b7a96eac.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmUjxjrzJDvck9bb8538nKfDy4FsCq2PyVRqvg953q4rUW/a47a0545_de6d_4a91_8f90_93406697d8b7.jpg

Rested and ready we set out for our final little walk.

https://images.ecency.com/DQmeebkmJeuudQ1MbUUvX6aYqioHrcBMP2QzpVXR5mjLqQA/097ce1f1_f67d_4e89_876f_44d3bd918b6d.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmcM7rYuBtfrzYT5E3scMN5bZEy6GksDQSEgmanu1Mo1Km/70c2485b_9238_48d7_98e5_4581ea8f3bd6.jpg

https://images.ecency.com/DQmbnFc2H9EDaKhvx19HhbY8qcsdCAZyccruUvT8LWhFA1q/44845456_f69a_4f2f_b304_ff3bc6e09698.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmZKuSCdyksHqEhUGYiaGDWHeQELfxYyEutKy2Ki2a7bhj/345ad206_d56e_4fc0_be59_a4aff071135b.jpg

Follow the owlโ—โ—

header copy.png

๐Ÿšฉ THE VIEW ๐Ÿšฉ

header copy.png

This path actually is one of the many trails heading up to the top. But we'll be taking a little detour. We are staying at Mid Vodno elevation though.

https://images.ecency.com/DQmXMeZJFHEbcR5Z1NEKHwoT4jrorwNccCsPahEAcPHSjw4/65625b42_390a_4575_966b_733ee2e0c503.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmb7Fo3bnLkSWKDXW9Q4oiNwUxiWG7tLXjqVjXZgsZXMWc/9e17e06a_7773_4cd5_906c_7d60faaeaba2.jpg

https://images.ecency.com/DQmWGoiBwZZ2549jXXV4wr8uNEBETx3UsLVU4EjqU4HXT1v/4c705446_7805_4bfe_95c9_190f001685f8.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmVJpk4TWAmWpJFyhTrQ2PdGKYb16beNbfjaWgEUpyCJXV/2a7919cf_bc66_412e_a5e8_c43e5e0fdb02.jpg

There are a lot of grates like these throughout the mountain. They were once secret shelters where people used to hide in times of crisis.

https://images.ecency.com/DQmNpqzWdBBdTGE4e9QSjBg1tskTD3jJQpcA3wrzMc6SCT5/abc18a33_3d19_45fb_b471_b84d230bcce4.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmdqqDLYTuSRov1EwZmjR5RFLuyrBhWNYTWRJACDpdYhXf/586b0c25_230a_476f_8bdb_3087a5113afe.jpg

The path we're walking on is quite long. We will be making another detour on our detour ๐Ÿ˜ฒ and take a sharp left! ๐Ÿ”š

https://images.ecency.com/DQmdcpNzqmUrNdKHJc8T9YJ5qFa6HFfHNXHf2Ra8wEkoLNB/497a9a52_fb05_4efc_9315_8aa1433ee342.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmR6eSTJ74A3KL8GSTC2PwRwDCtERvZ5FMEDesawSVfNyx/ab16c85b_0e70_4c65_ac06_3d06d97385b2.jpg

The fauna here is completely different, this section of the forest is unique to this side of Vodno. shame Spring is not in effect already. I def need to do several more renditions of this walk. ๐Ÿ˜

https://images.ecency.com/DQmXtE3hTKuc8PbyC41ignyXVs9gN9UrAjZRYAjEpi9nGJB/6b6b8802_4c28_44db_acb2_d493ee735684.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmS4dBQECmArNDABLkCf3r3NCKfLp8xgAXde2N1ZyyJQuP/59983e30_fb13_4dec_afff_ae70522b5ac8.jpg

And we arrive! The views here are beautiful, but they pale in comparison to those even higher. Still, this is a perfect place to just sit and bathe in life's majesty.

https://images.ecency.com/DQmWirsBUafrmKJEyfux3wTs2qnTQhhXKUsVF8E25SWzCA9/2fbb1d8f_876e_4622_b218_ef7a7a7bfb29.jpg

https://images.ecency.com/DQmeQsponWSuntihvChZqGPc2rbDiFofo34SeenMSCsKnPk/c8d9e583_7732_4948_a357_8e735ced06a7.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmbhRGfpfCNhfkFSafgFccPBJfg9itkSNej9SRaToe3sSp/e1e2ae6a_a489_4234_bcbe_d96c508b36ea.jpg

https://images.ecency.com/DQmcmKCF3MvT2a1B8jete7okRbcNbrXKj3qEF73gVXxw9ap/ef507a57_fc13_4597_8f1a_9942ba0fcb3d.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmSxUVjgTVHBWgceVZyP3kMpH5FR49eQ3ZiM9KGz5YoEmz/6cc57e99_aa70_484b_b171_dd0a6205c332.jpg

https://images.ecency.com/DQmWUzjiaBVY5wwAuxHbdjiAeWBdGaw7HpWNRoqjkpeET3W/90bbb51e_a80e_4a86_8c1f_3934e4f4e0bf.jpg

We can't go through this entire article without a selfie from yours truly now, can we? ๐Ÿ˜Ž

After a couple of hours of doing absolutely nothing, it was high time we head back to our car. Yes, this means tracking down the same trail we ascended earlier. ๐Ÿ˜ I got some photos of the way back, and I'll dump them all on you now. ๐Ÿ”ฝ๐Ÿ”ฝ๐Ÿ”ฝ

https://images.ecency.com/DQmexJ4Whzo3gFNR4dXKYcPtExpQwusqAk84nX3SvJEPgXT/5f5da81f_989a_4f1f_877a_2cfa522cc97d.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmXfCu9m7PPRdhQqbVXBevpYEnZv2WmFbCTLTaBxC9UKzT/3ae1c0d9_8551_4eb5_9309_2e6dff78f7a2.jpg

https://images.ecency.com/DQmX5Y4GpguFqyLCWZrA2YBACtoVsdrbjdDnDy1Q8nQ8GBF/92db36a2_46b5_4419_9900_cdd63b5262bf.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmW4thhoZo9QpHiZCpuRPbhjaJhgKZwKx3PBdxnnvcp48Z/8fe97953_cf57_4898_9a42_472d11f68b11.jpg

https://images.ecency.com/DQmbqHZJ88coKDqWarTY1pmqn1WidNonYy5ZRhsvmD5D4dn/ee040d81_e092_44b7_9091_130073260bc8.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmQwVWFwU48Uik7tZVMmbW3Bd8qPSYzXFNi4ZUm5EyCxdj/8d89f6e2_6bea_4eee_9894_9cef0a54762d.jpg

You made it! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ Not sure how entertaining it was to look at trees for an entire article but oh well. ๐Ÿ˜

https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/grocko/23vsWvGoeV1ECkFmXuJDRCTWWtv3EE4qpmhsWN6WozTnaeTcN1m8MoVdxjdBH8xeeSv67.png

Not sure where we'll go next week, but I reckon I'll find something interesting.

Obligatory shout-out to the ๐Ÿ•PIZZA๐Ÿ• gang, ๐Ÿค™ gang. ๐Ÿค™

All pictures taken by me using an iPhone 11.

๐Ÿ‘Š Follow me on my HIVE blog ๐Ÿ‘Š

Thanks for reading and I hope you guys have a great rest of your week. ๐Ÿ‘‹


Return from A Stroll Through Lower Vodno, Skopje ๐ŸšถClimb to Mid Vodno to ะˆะพั†ะบะพ's Web3 Blog