https://harmenhoek.com/links/
Store with prints – https://store.harmenhoek.com/
Travel Guide (flexible 7-13 day route) of this custom route available on Thatch: https://share.thatch.co/kGLQ.
ABOUT THE HIKE
In July 2022 I hikes a self-made variant of the Peaks of the Balkans trail in Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. My route started in Theth Albania crossing over to Valbone, Çerem, Döberdol and climbing the tallest peak in Kosovo (Gjeravica). I then crossed into Montenegro to Plav via Hrid Lake and Babino Polje. From there I hiked through Prokletije national park to Vusanje and Gusinje. I visited the Grebaje valley, and then got to the valley of the lakes to ascent the tallest peak in the Albanian Alps: Maja e Jezerca (Jezercë). I then made my way through the Poljanska valley of the Accursed Mountains, where I’d camped last winter (https://youtu.be/KaNzQwppzLw) and over the Qafa e Pejës pass back to Theth.
GEAR
Coffee and cooking kit sponsored by https://backpackinglight.nl/.
Coffee: https://backpackinglight.nl/product/tikaanis-outdoor-coffee-arabusta-melange/
Cooking kit: https://backpackinglight.nl/product/soto-outdoors-thermolite/
Camera: https://amzn.to/31aQofa
Lens 12-35: https://amzn.to/3jJN4ht
Lens 7-14: https://amzn.to/3GrLyu5
Lens 40-160: https://amzn.to/33Z1nKc
Drone: https://amzn.to/30XYeZl
Tripod: https://amzn.to/3vOW2ik
Spare batteries camera: https://amzn.to/3nBDv6k
Camera quick release plate: https://amzn.to/33PdKbk
Camera slider: https://amzn.to/3KRWDG6
Tripod head: https://amzn.to/3nEKlHU
Variable ND filter: https://amzn.to/3AgQIGy
Satellite communicator (SOS device): https://amzn.to/3HGWGDa
Phone: https://amzn.to/33pRaGJ
Headlamp: https://amzn.to/3tGULec
Tent: https://amzn.to/3t3xnXK
Tent footprint: https://amzn.to/3nHn48i
Backpack: https://amzn.to/3BgTRoM
Rain cover: https://amzn.to/3rvyg9o
Water bottle with filter: https://amzn.to/3pZzvi3
Water bottle: https://amzn.to/3bivrRb
Water sack: https://amzn.to/2XSsiVf
Air mattress: https://amzn.to/3pIKSKO
Pillow: https://amzn.to/3CoSoOE
Stove: https://amzn.to/3BmMOyk
Fuel bottle: https://amzn.to/3TNIaQO
Shoes: https://amzn.to/30XZ4VZ
Coffee drip: https://amzn.to/31vqdAf
Sleeping bag: https://amzn.to/3t84gmo
Summer sleeping bag: https://amzn.to/3r0BTUi
Socks: https://amzn.to/3Gmr7hX
Hiking Poles: Decathlon Forclaz MH500
Shirt: North Face Summit Series Futurefleece
Rain jacket: https://bit.ly/3GHQevD
Knife: https://amzn.to/3KtgrQL
Thin gloves: https://amzn.to/3KnxV15
Winter hiking boots: https://amzn.to/3tEtDwa
Snow shoes: https://amzn.to/33QOWQd
All gear on https://harmenhoek.com/gear/
This is an ambient film without dialog.
Timestamps:
0:00 Day 1: Cowboy camping in Valbone [24km, 1800m]
4:08 Day 2: The day I cut myself [19km, 1600m]
7:45 Day 3: Sunset above Döberdol [27km, 2100m]
11:36 Day 4: Tallest peak in Kosovo (Gjeravica) [16km, 1200m]
15:11 Day 5: The best food [24km, 800m]
17:11 Day 6: Foggy forests to Hrid Lake and Plav [20km, 700m]
21:48 Day 7: Camping on top of the mountain [21km, 1900m]
26:32 Day 8: 70% descent and best sandwich above Grebaje valley [22km, 1700m]
34:00 Day 9: Foggy day to Vusanje [16km, 300m]
35:00 Day 10: Valley of the lakes [17km, 1300m]
37:34 Day 11: Tallest peak in Albanian Alps: Maja Jezercë [25km, 1800m]
41:30 Day 12: Down to Theth [15km, 500m]
45:03 Outro
#hiking #solocamping #silentfilm #balkans #trekbalkan #peaksofthebalkans
32 Comments
Hope you liked this one as much as I did!
Editing-wise this was the toughest project so far, also trying to tell a secondary story of winter. But a great learning process. Love to hear what you thought about it. Criticism is more than welcome, I want to keep improving!
All the summer-winter transitions:
0:08, 1:07, 9:00, 10:16, 19:20, 21:15, 28:23, 31:28, 43:58, 44:46
Some random facts you might like:
6:36 I never fall on trail, but when it did happen it was kinda bad. I cut myself (probably on the rock I sled on) on my shin so deep I could see the muscle inside (hope I am not making anyone nauseous). I cleaned the wound with water al alcohol and glued it together. I always bring superglue for this multipurpose use. What I didn't show is that at guesthouse I stayed at that night there were some people with medical background that helped me disinfect the wound once more. All the days after I kept cleaned the wound with boiled water daily, kept it free of any dirt and used to antibiotic cream to prevent it from disinfecting, and all went well. Special thanks to Mirthe, Charlotte, Hester and the others from the guesthouse for helping me out there!
16:32 I don't think I've ever been this lucky with the weather. All nights outside dry, inside rain and thunder. What are the odds? (3/5 nights outdoors, 2/5 nights rain. (3/5)*(2/5) = 24% chance.)
27:43 This descent was steep! Average slope of 53%, with a 300m section of 72%. I probably should have checked the slope before I headed down that way. But a fun adventure.
31:42 The valley from winter camping last winter. Although I knew the route, I still had to convince myself I'd been there before. It was so different! Which season I liked most? Winter. With the snow it was so much more peaceful, everything was untouched and perfectly smooth, plus there were no mosquitos or ants crawling over you. In winter I could easily maneuver through the same forest that was now full of branches, loose rocks and blackberry bushes. Plus, the slopes were so steep that by no means I could pitch my tent here now.
35:46 This was my favorite camp spot of this trip. The remoteness, those tall peaks all around and the alpine lake of course. Loved it.
39:25 The highlight of this trip. That lighting in the morning, the beautiful and technical ascent and the 360 degree views up there. From there I could basically see the whole loop. And it was so windy up here! I took some effort to get the drone in the air and get these shots. My hands started getting cold and I if I lost that drone there, I would have lost all the drone footage of this trip.
Beautiful story! I love the transitions between winter and summer. The alignment and altitude looked well-matched. That must have taken some work to get the shot!
Wow!! Another masterpiece!
I predicted a million views on your winter TMB video, I predict at least a million here, too 😉
Craig Adams invented this genre but you've mastered it and got it to the next level! This movie, like your other ones, is art 👏
The world is your garden.☘🏕🏅
So much thought given to hiking and editing later. Hard work man but results is just beyond amazing and beautiful. Smashing job
I loved the transitions and the end result was just stunning! Thanks Harmen for the extra work.
I can't believe you've lined up all these summer winter shots. It looks absolutely impossible, but you've somehow done it. Amazing!
Lovely places 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Merci !
Stunning!
A wonderful achievement: a full film crew of scores of people – camera operators, directors, editors – could not surpass this. It achieves what it set out to do with aesthetic brilliance in every shot. Thanks for the nature details too: the butterfly, the violet carpenter bee, the gentians and other flowers. They are part of the mountains. Among my many favourite moments were https://youtu.be/USFKqGAvkA8?t=2101 the tracery of trees at https://youtu.be/USFKqGAvkA8?t=1168, and every winter-summer transition. The Accursed Mountains here looking blessed.
Wow! Beautifully done! Your channel has been something of a masterclass in this genre for some time, but you’re just showing off now.
It’s easy to see you put a lot of work into these videos, and I hope you enjoy the fruits of your labor. Thank you for these creations.
Just finished the Drakensberg film. Your videos give me peace in my city life that I'm living atm. Thanks for that!
Btw you also inspire me to go hiking more myself, will go to Slovakia in 2 weeks 🙂
As always, I enjoyed every frame. 😊 Your content is something I look forward to the most on the YT. Since you are in love with Balkan mountains I recommend you to visit Velebit mountain in Croatia. All the best! 🌄
Que paisaje tan espectacular gracias 🤗
Brazil 🇧🇷♥️
41:43 amazing view 😍🤣
Another amazing top notch video! Thank you!
Beautiful shots as always! Thank you, watching your videos makes me appreciate our earth even more!
What a video! It planned so well to connect winter and summer scenes! Absolutely beautiful!!
😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Thank you Harmen….as always, very nice!
Beautifully filmed (angles, perspectives, time-lapses) and some stunning scenery ! Interested in how you kept the drone batteries (how many did you carry) powered ? Simply recharging in B&Bs every couple of days? How much (typically) were the B&Bs per night? Maybe the only advice I'd offer would be to break the vlog down into more manageable 15 minute segments? 46 mins could be off-putting to some (I kept it in a browser tab for a week before watching) . Also maybe some on-screen (switchable on/off) text regarding places/people/prices/mountains etc.etc would add interest. I still loved it however!
Thank you.
Btw, I was curious about your switch to a soto pot, so I clicked on the link, but it seems to be geo restricted as I couldn't access it from Australia. But the site loaded properly when I used a VPN to an Amsterdam server. Thought you might want to know.
Nice pot. I use the thermostack combo, with the 750ml pot and nested cup set.
Wow. Stunning. Could you share pls how did you record all this alone? What sort of equipment did u use!
♥️♥️💪💪🌻⛰️🏔️🌨️💚🌲🌼🌺
this editing is next level . very impressive. i’ve hiked the theth route but didn’t go as far as you did. great vid!
Full respect to you man, what your doing is incredible and inspiring. Where most of us wouldn’t have the confidence to do, you do it with ease. I wouldn’t even know where to begin, how to trek the mountains, navigate in different countries, plan routes, locate fresh water and find rest points. Jealous is an understatement, I seriously hope one day I’ll be able to experience what you do and learn as well as you, I wouldn’t know where to begin. Thank you greatly for your efforts, continuous hard work and unbelievable content.
What a gift you have shared with us viewers. I cried watching this! I have no criticism to offer you,only to say I hope you listen and follow only your own intuitive guidance. You are an artist, with the help of our beautiful earth! I especially love that you take us on an incredible journey without the words!! Stunning… stunningly beautiful. Thank you so much for this. I can’t imagine the work you put into it. And glad your leg is o.k
herausragende arbeit harmen. 🙌🏼 bitte hör nicht auf die welt zu bereisen… greetings from germany