Velebit 2009 - Little Prince Trail, Crnopac, Mt Velebit

Date: July 10-12, 2009

Destination: SE Velebit - Crnopac - Little Prince Trail

Beginning: Parking near Prezid (about 1000 m)

End: Parking near Prezid (about 1000 m)

Duration: About 6 hours of walking

Difficulty: Difficult, but very interesting signed trail

Altitude difference: 200 m* (see altitude profile)

Attractiveness: *** (of ***)

Tagline(s):

At this trail the time actually is ceasing to exist, because the beauty of landscapes totally occupies you and you forget everything else." says Slavko Tomerlin - Tatek, explorer of that part of Mt Velebit and the author of the trails.
Therefore, the selected route - Little Prince Trail is certainly more interesting than difficult, although it requires a climber's craft
Velebit at SummitPost created very good description of Crnopac (including Little Prince trail) with nice photos
Traditionally, we would gathered at Prpa mountain lodge, on Friday evening to prepare common dinner and to socialize. Early in the Saturday morning we will go to Prezid pass and walk to Tatek's shelter at Crnopac and to Little Prince Trail. On Sunday... a little hiking trip and bathing in the sea.

Maps:

Južni Velebit III (Southern Velebit III), Map No 18b, M 1:30 000, SMAND, Varaždin 2007.

Gathering: Mountain lodge "Prpa", July 10, 2009 in the evening

Return: Sunday, July 12, early afternoon

Accommodation:

Mountain lodge "PRPA" (927 m) - reserved for the group
Mountain shelter Crnopac
Additional information about accommodation facilities at Oštarije see Baške Oštarije - approach and accommodation facilities

Route:

0th day:

1st day

2nd day:

Notes (photoalbums):

{gallery}travels/velebit/central/velebit-2009_velinac/slides{/gallery}

Approach:

Information about accessing "Prpa" are on the page Baške Oštarije - approach and accommodation facilities
Accessing Crnopac by northern route.. from Gračac toward Prezid pass, to choose forester road on the left, about 1200 m before tunnel and go with that road about 3-4 km up to the parking place

Recommended equipment (summer):

An appropriate rucksack, mountaineering boots, water, food and other equipment needed for whole day long walking on karstic terrain

Other interesting places::

References:

Crnopac by Velebit @ SummitPost
Crnopac at Mountaineering forum (HR)
Slavko Tomerlin - Tatek, Mreža planinarskih puteva na Crnopcu (The network of mountaineering trails at Crnopac), Hrvatski planinar No. 4/2004
The list of other mountaineering references is here.

Notes:

Little Prince Trail belongs to the group of most difficult trails in Croatia (it can be compared with Vihoraski trail), but it is not too long (3-4 hours of walking/climbing)
The trail is placed in Velebit - Natural Park. Visiting rules must be strictly followed.
There are no drinkable water along the route! Mountain shelter Crnopac has a cistern.

Planinarix