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High Scardus Ultra 2026
Prizren, Kosovo, 5 Sep 2026
This point-to-point course starts at Hotel Scardus in Popova Shapka and crosses the Sharr Mountains on rugged mountain paths before descending to Prizren. The route includes a long alpine traverse with a decisive late climb to Oshlak Peak, so runners need solid mountain skills, steady pacing, and resilience for sustained climbing and descending. Its distinctive character comes from the cross-border journey from North Macedonia into Kosovo and the mix of remote high ground with a city finish.
4 distances from 12 to 57 km, up to 2,757 m of climb.
Distances
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57 km: 57 km, 2757 m of climb, highest point 2552 m, 5 Sep 2026.
This point-to-point course starts at Hotel Scardus in Popova Shapka and crosses the Sharr Mountains on rugged mountain paths before descending to Prizren. The route includes a long alpine traverse with a decisive late climb to Oshlak Peak, so runners need solid mountain skills, steady pacing, and resilience for sustained climbing and descending. Its distinctive character comes from the cross-border journey from North Macedonia into Kosovo and the mix of remote high ground with a city finish.
57 km cut-off times
- Checkpoint, 0.6 km: 06:00
- Vejce, 17.0 km: 10:30
- Prevalla, 31.1 km: 14:30
- Kopana Voda, 46.6 km: 17:30
- Finish, 57.3 km: 19:30
57 km aid stations
- Jelak Viewpoint, 8.0 km
- Brodec, 11.0 km
- Vejce, 17.0 km
- Konjushka, 24.0 km
- Prevalla, 31.1 km
- Oshlak Peak, 38.6 km
- Virovi, 42.1 km
- Kopana Voda, 46.6 km
- Novosellë, 51.4 km
On the course: water.
57 km equipment
- Basic first aid kit (bandage, antiseptic) (mandatory)
- Cold weather kit items may be required by the organization depending on conditions: second long-sleeved layer, polar or puff jacket, polar hat, overtrousers, polar gloves (mandatory)
- Cup 150 ml (mandatory)
- Emergency blanket (minimum 140 x 200 cm) (mandatory)
- Food supply (gels, bars, or solid food) (mandatory)
- gloves (mandatory)
- Hat/bandana (mandatory)
- Headlamp (plus extra batteries) (mandatory)
- Hot weather kit items may be required by the organization depending on conditions: liquids above 1.5 litres and cap (mandatory)
- Hydration system (minimum 1L) (mandatory)
- ID (mandatory)
- Long sleeve blouse or sleeves (mandatory)
- Mobile phone (fully charged, emergency numbers saved) (mandatory)
- Race bib (mandatory)
- Watch or GPS device (with the GPX map) (mandatory)
- Waterproof jacket suitable for mountain conditions (mandatory)
- whistle (mandatory)
- Action camera (recommended)
- Gaiters (recommended)
- Power bank (recommended)
- Race pack (recommended)
- Running poles (recommended)
- Sun cream SPF 50+ (recommended)
- Sunglasses (recommended)
- Sunscreen and lip balm (recommended)
- Vaseline or anti-chafing cream (recommended)
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34 km: 34 km, 2039 m of climb, highest point 2182 m, 5 Sep 2026.
This loop starts and finishes at Prizren Fortress and climbs into the Sharr Mountains all the way to Oshlak Peak before returning to the city. It is positioned as an entry skyrace, but the route still demands comfort on steep mountain terrain and sustained climbing at altitude. The course stands out for combining a historic urban start with a summit objective in a mountain setting that is central to the High Scardus event.
34 km cut-off times
- Kopana Voda, 10.0 km: 12:00
- Finish, 33.8 km: 15:00
34 km aid stations
- Novoselle, 4.5 km
- Kopana Voda, 10.0 km
- Oshlak peak, 16.5 km
- Kopana Voda, 23.0 km
On the course: medical, water.
34 km equipment
- Basic first aid kit / first aid set (mandatory)
- Cap when required by hot weather (mandatory)
- Cup 150 ml (mandatory)
- Electrolytes (salt tabs or hydration mix) (mandatory)
- Emergency / survival blanket (minimum 140 x 200 cm) (mandatory)
- Food supply (gels, bars, or solid food) (mandatory)
- gloves (mandatory)
- Hat or bandana / buff (mandatory)
- Headlamp with spare batteries (mandatory)
- Hydration system or water bottles/bladder, minimum 1 litre (mandatory)
- Liquids above 1.5 litres when required by hot weather (mandatory)
- Long-sleeve blouse or sleeves / thermal layer (mandatory)
- Mobile phone fully charged with emergency numbers saved (mandatory)
- Overtrousers when required by weather (mandatory)
- Polar gloves when required by weather (mandatory)
- Polar hat when required by weather (mandatory)
- Race bib clearly visible (mandatory)
- Second long-sleeved layer, polar or puff jacket when required by weather (mandatory)
- Watch or GPS device with GPX map (mandatory)
- Waterproof jacket suitable for mountain conditions (mandatory)
- whistle (mandatory)
- Action camera (recommended)
- Gaiters (recommended)
- Power bank (recommended)
- Running poles (recommended)
- Sunglasses (recommended)
- Sunscreen and lip balm (recommended)
- Vaseline or anti-chafing cream (recommended)
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19 km: 19 km, 830 m of climb, highest point 2001 m, 5 Sep 2026.
This trail invites runners into the wild heart of the Shar Mountains. The course launches from the villa area in Popova Shapka, rolling beneath the old gondola before diving into alpine meadows and pine forests alive with springs and mountain air. The path flows past the historic Jelak Hut before sending you onto a fast and scenic single-track finish through the forest.
19 km cut-off times
19 km aid stations
- Aid Station 1, 8.1 km
- Aid Station 2, 12.7 km
On the course: medical, water.
1 food and drink product on the course.
19 km equipment
- Basic first aid kit (bandage, antiseptic) (mandatory)
- Food supply (gels, bars, or solid food) (mandatory)
- Hydration system (min. 500mL) (mandatory)
- Mobile phone (fully charged, emergency numbers saved) (mandatory)
- Race bib (must be visible at all times) (mandatory)
- Action camera (recommended)
- Gaiters (recommended)
- Running poles (recommended)
- Sunglasses (recommended)
- Sunscreen & lip balm (recommended)
- Vaseline or anti-chafing cream (recommended)
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12 km: 12 km, 425 m of climb, highest point 851 m, 5 Sep 2026.
The Bear Trail starts and finishes in Andrra-Marash in Prizren and gives runners a short mountain loop on steady climbs, forested paths, and open views toward the Sharr Mountains. It is designed as an accessible but still demanding trail race that suits newcomers as well as runners wanting a quicker technical effort. As part of High Scardus Ultra, it carries the same mountain-event character while keeping the experience compact and scenic.
12 km cut-off times
- CP1, 6.0 km: 11:40
- Finish, 11.9 km: 13:00
12 km aid stations
On the course: water.
12 km equipment
- basic first aid kit (mandatory)
- Cup 150 ml (mandatory)
- Mobile phone fully charged with emergency numbers saved (mandatory)
- Race bib visible at all times (mandatory)
- Action camera (recommended)
- Cap in hot weather (recommended)
- Food (energy bars, gels) (recommended)
- gloves (recommended)
- GPX file on watch or phone (recommended)
- Hat or bandana (recommended)
- Hydration system (minimum 500 mL) (recommended)
- Liquids above 1.5 liter in hot weather (recommended)
- Overtrousers in cold weather (recommended)
- Polar gloves in cold weather (recommended)
- Polar hat in cold weather (recommended)
- Race pack (recommended)
- Second long-sleeved layer, polar, or puff jacket in cold weather (recommended)
- Sun cream SPF 50+ (recommended)
- Sunglasses (recommended)
- Sunscreen and lip balm (recommended)
- Survival blanket (recommended)
- Water bottles or bladder (recommended)
- Waterproof jacket suitable for mountain conditions (recommended)
- whistle (recommended)