Back to the roots Vol. 01

After an evening in front of the fireplace, we decided to
spend the night under the roof of the small music stage
out front. The next morning we marvel at what we missed
in the dark and pick up some background information:
The Visitor Center, once an abandoned and ruined village
school, has been painstakingly renovated since 2014
and given new life as a leisure and educational center.
It serves as a hostel with comfortable beds, a common
room, a big kitchen, a veggie garden and everything
else that goes with it. It is mainly attended by school
classes and knowledge-hungry mushroom pickers. Or
by climbers looking for shelter, coffee, a shower and a
washing machine.
Why are we here again? Ah yes, climbing. For anyone
without a wheelchair, the approach from Pecka visitor
center means a 1.5 kilometers walk up the hill. The
distance information has always been doubted since the
signpost was installed. In other words, it’s a sweaty and
exhausting affair, especially with our big backpacks. But
at least orientation is easy. The rocks are in sight all the
way from the valley.
Praised as the “Bosnian-Margalef” we are excited and
curious. Without having been to the Spanish original,
we guess that the rock there must be steep and very
pocketed. As always, the first thing to do is to set up a
weatherproof camp. We find something in a small forest.
But after a first night under the tarp in heavy rain, we
prefer to move under one of the numerous overhangs -
better safe than sorry.
For the first time on our trip we meet other climbing
tourists. They also speak German, how could it be
otherwise. However, except at the main fireplace, we
rarely see them. The selection of rocks and routes is
not to be despised. Most of the beautiful long lines are
available from the 6th French degree onwards. Those
who prefer to climb in lower grades have mostly shorter
lines that can be powerful for the grade. But with a little
commitment you can tick off an entire sector within a day.
Apart from that, most of the things have already been said
about the climbing: The steepness varies, the sharpness
of the unpolished holes does not.
Kanjon Tijesno
Pecka village
22