Guide for the Peaks of the Balkans Trail

Gear I use:
Instagram- @carywmercer

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:21 What is it?
00:42 Is it a hard hike?
00:55 Camping or booking accomodations
01:12 Food and water
01:41 Cash
01:57 Best time to go
02:05 Clothing
02:15 How to get there
02:43 Navigating on trail
03:00 Border crossing permits
03:23 Language barrier
03:34 My experience on trail using AllTrails

I really appreciate you watching. Take care.

[CaryMercer]

Any feedback would be helpful and appreciated. Anything like: what you found useful, what I could have included, what your hiking plans are etc. Thanks!

[eddydewilde]

Thanks Cary for making this info video, most helpful.

[WildernessEntertainment]

Fantastic video, very informative with a great balance between info and shots to keep us engaged.
My girlfriend and I and planning to do this trail in afew weeks, although my girlfriend is not so experienced in over night hiking to make this achievable i would like to break it up into some smaller sections. If we were to skip the Kosovo section and re supply in the towns how many days food / water would you recommend carrying? and also how much did your pack weigh?

[aleixbonafacia]

Hey Cary, thanks for the video!
Do you think I can find accomodation without having a reservation in every town during the route?
My starting date will change according to the weather forecast.
Thanks again!

[martindolog]

Hi Cary, very useful video. Any idea where I might be able to get a gas canister (the screw one)? I thought this was a common thing but last year in Madeira it was a nightmare to get one. Cheers.

[KTMracing]

Hi Cary, great work with the infos and the nice shots you share in this and the hiking video. My girldfriend and I were thinking about going to Balkan next year. We are doing a big trip with our van through whole europe (also scottish highlands 😍) and now we stumbled across your video of this nice hike! Do you have any idea where on the route we could park our van for the 10 days most safe or easy?

[CliffHall-tvmo]

Great video Carey, did you download the route on Alltrails? I could not find the full route.

[serpz]

Thanks for the informative video Cary, really appreciate it!
I'm looking at doing this trek like you; wild camping with a few guesthouse stays here and there.
Being from the UK we don't have any extreme wildlife and I know the Balkans have brown bears.
Is there any info on bear safety? Did you need to take any precautions for your wild camping?
Thanks again!

[johannesm]

Great video and thx for your effort! I'm planning a trip for the end of june with my brother. However, we don't have enough time for the whole circular hike and thinking of starting in Kosovo, Peja -> Plav -> Teth/Valbona. Do you think that makes sense or would you propose other starting points/routes? Appreciating your thoughts :)

[paulg]

Curious to know if you were you ever asked to show your cross border permit?

[larsjacobs]

hey, our flight arrives in the morning in Tirana as well. Do you think it would be possible to take a taxi or something similar from skhoder to Teth in the afternoon or is waiting for the morning bus in Shkoder the only option? Thanks in advance!

[AlpineTrails]

Thanks for this. Very helpful. Planning to go there in about 2 months. I was looking to use the same website but when you start the application it says "group".. Were you able to apply as a solo traveller? I sent them an email but still haven't received a reply. Cheers

[humanonsensechannel]

Can you share the route as seen in All Trails?

[maerosss]

I came to get down, I came to get down
So get out your seat and 0:13 ;-)

[rickdungen]

Is it possible to wildcamp by hammock?