Unearthed Secrets:

Tre Teni Peak And Velja Lazba

oon, our journey led us to the labyrinthine Trešteni, a lesser-known peak that Janko compared to the surface of some far-away moon, with its imposing limestone columns, stomach-churning drops, and spectacular naturally formed bridges.

As we breathlessly pushed on through treacherous terrain, Janko began to recount the tale of Velja Lazba, a mysterious hidden settlement concealed within the Mrtvice canyon. The story tells of a local mountaineer who fled from his village after cutting off the head of a famous Turk and found salvation in a small patch of fertility hidden deep within the barren, oppressive rock. As generations passed it grew into a small, thriving community that defied all sense of logic - an island oasis, floating in an ocean of stone and providing life in spite of its inhospitable location.

The settlement has stood abandoned and desolate for some 40 years, after battling along a death-defying trail that wound its way through the rocks, consisting of ladders and paths, at times cut into the very rock face itself, we reached the mysterious village. There we were greeted with the remains of the settlement, a crumbling reminder of a family that challenged the mountain and with the elements against them, carved out a life amongst the rocks. By the end of our journey, we had gained a deeper respect for the untamed beauty of Montenegro's northern region, the stories that reside within its towering peaks, and the sense of adventure that can only be found when one breathes deep, welcomes the unknown and ventures off the well-trodden path. As we reflected on our adventure, Janko Šćepanović's guiding philosophy resonated within each of us: in the mountains, we quickly learn how small we are as individuals, yet how significant the consequences for nature are. The mountain is a harsh environment, but equally fair to everyone, in which the titles and norms of everyday life simply do not apply.