Window on Niksic

Of the two peaks called Žurim – the shorter, Mali Žurim, is the more interesting to look at and climb. The taller, more massive Veliki Žurim is less dramatic, easier to climb, but the benefit is that from its peak you have an excellent view of its little brother. Mali Žurim consists of a steep, flattened cone with three distinct sharp peaks which separate just below the summits. The easiest way to climb is to the right-hand side, as you approach from the road from Bare Bojovića, going up a stony, zigzagging path to a pass which leads towards Ilin vrh, a peak further to the right. From this point just before the pass, looking up high to the left, there is a red arrow painted onto a rock near the top of the mountain, although this is very hard to spot unless you know it is there. The slope has a lot of movable material, but there are grassy parts which provide more stable footing. The rocky peak requires some clambering, but is not dangerous on that side. We decided to clim...

This wasn’t my first climb up Prutas, in fact it was possibly my third; however, this was my first climb from the spring Sarban, which as it turns out is a relatively short route (which means almost straight up!). August is not a sensible month to be climbing such a mountain which has no trees, however this is a yearly event supported by the Montenegrin Army and the Municipality of Pluzine, which provide bean stew and beer, and of course company. The ascent is unrelenting in intensity, but it is by no means unattractive. From the top there is a wonderful 360 degree view, with a lovely view over the Susica Canyon, which leads to Lake Susica (which is a great walk for summer months, because there is plenty of overgrowth). We came down via the pass of Skrcko zdrijelo, down to the road through Urdeni do, but it was a long distance along the road back to the start place, so we were fortunate to be able hitchhike the remainder of the walk, which would have taken over an hour.