Finally we drove to the Aljaz hut for some lunch, and of course we couldn't help ourselves but walk at least to the famous monument with gorgeous views of Triglav.
More photos here.
Showing posts with label Triglav. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Triglav. Show all posts
11 November 2009
Pericnik waterfall
After flying over the Julian Alps in the morning there was more than a half day waiting for us to take more photos. Luka, Mary and I headed to the Vrata valley to admire the Pericnik waterfall. Seeing it in winter with its myriad of icicles is magical, but so is its fall environment. We had the place to ourselves, which is a good enough reason to visit places like this during the week.
Finally we drove to the Aljaz hut for some lunch, and of course we couldn't help ourselves but walk at least to the famous monument with gorgeous views of Triglav.
More photos here.
Finally we drove to the Aljaz hut for some lunch, and of course we couldn't help ourselves but walk at least to the famous monument with gorgeous views of Triglav.
More photos here.
19 August 2009
Triglav in one day
As already posted, I took a day off in late July to get some fresh mountain air and stretch my legs. And my legs got stretched alright! :)
Ever since my teenage years I've wanted to climb Triglav via the Plemenice route. It's supposed to be one of the most demanding, precipitous and beautiful climbing routes in Slovenia as far as marked trails go.
It was a long day. After only 1.5 hours of sleep (yes, I was nervous and eager to go!) my brother and I set off at 3.30 a.m., parked the car in the Vrata valley and started hiking towards Luknja col at about 5 a.m. The sun slowly rose from behind the horizon and illuminated the peaks above us.
After gruelling two hours on scree this view of the Zadnjica valley on the other side opened up from Luknja.
Everybody had a short break to drink some water, put away the hiking poles and put on a helmet. Then the fun began.
Climbing! Yeah! Unfortunately there was a huge group in front of us, which meant a lot of waiting.
We overtook them at the first opportunity and enjoyed the climbing. We were gaining altitude fast. There is Luknja right below us.
My brother took photos, too. :)
It was really exhilarating, but at the same time, a word of caution - this is not a route for the faint-hearted. ;)
Every now and then the trail levelled out a bit and we had a chance to catch some breath and enjoy the views.
More climbing and more people on the trail.
All along the way we had breathtaking views. This is the Vrata valley below and Triglav in the background with its famous north face.
After breakfast on a grassy patch among the rocks we had to tackle a snow-covered slope. It was a bit slippery but the snow was soft and there was no need for crampons and an ice-axe.
Soon we reached the rock face again.
On the last stretch of the climb.
My brother had an advantage over most climbers with his long legs. :)))
At the top it's customary for everybody who's climbed Triglav for the first time to be 'baptized' with a length of rope.
The Kredarica-Triglav trail resembles a pilgrimage. Always crowded. :( The fog that rolled in from the south prevented us to see the precipice on one side of the ridge (which is good for those with vertigo :)).
Looking down towards Kredarica and Stanič huts as well as what is left of the Triglav glacier.
Jota - potato and cabbage soup - at Kredarica was delicious!
Our legs already hurt but we still had a difficult descent in front of us.
Climbing down is not as much fun as climbing up.
A few more snow patches to cross.
There are many reports of numerous ibexes around Triglav. We saw quite a few ...
... even cornered one with another group of hikers going up. The ibex didn't seem bothered at all, it just nibbled at grass, looking at us all the time, and then it leapt across some rocks and out of our way. Of course I had my wide lens on. :(
With lots of vertical meters to cover and knees that were already killing me, my will to take photos somewhat dwindled.
No more sun for us during the last part of the descent. This is one of the few stretches of the trail where you don't have to climb or crawl. ;)
What more can I say? A truly glorious day. And a total coincidence - while descending towards Kredarica I ran into fellow blogger Sandi! :)
More photos here.
Photos of me were taken by my brother Peter.
Ever since my teenage years I've wanted to climb Triglav via the Plemenice route. It's supposed to be one of the most demanding, precipitous and beautiful climbing routes in Slovenia as far as marked trails go.
It was a long day. After only 1.5 hours of sleep (yes, I was nervous and eager to go!) my brother and I set off at 3.30 a.m., parked the car in the Vrata valley and started hiking towards Luknja col at about 5 a.m. The sun slowly rose from behind the horizon and illuminated the peaks above us.
After gruelling two hours on scree this view of the Zadnjica valley on the other side opened up from Luknja.
Everybody had a short break to drink some water, put away the hiking poles and put on a helmet. Then the fun began.
Climbing! Yeah! Unfortunately there was a huge group in front of us, which meant a lot of waiting.
We overtook them at the first opportunity and enjoyed the climbing. We were gaining altitude fast. There is Luknja right below us.
My brother took photos, too. :)
It was really exhilarating, but at the same time, a word of caution - this is not a route for the faint-hearted. ;)
Every now and then the trail levelled out a bit and we had a chance to catch some breath and enjoy the views.
More climbing and more people on the trail.
All along the way we had breathtaking views. This is the Vrata valley below and Triglav in the background with its famous north face.
After breakfast on a grassy patch among the rocks we had to tackle a snow-covered slope. It was a bit slippery but the snow was soft and there was no need for crampons and an ice-axe.
Soon we reached the rock face again.
On the last stretch of the climb.
My brother had an advantage over most climbers with his long legs. :)))
At the top it's customary for everybody who's climbed Triglav for the first time to be 'baptized' with a length of rope.
The Kredarica-Triglav trail resembles a pilgrimage. Always crowded. :( The fog that rolled in from the south prevented us to see the precipice on one side of the ridge (which is good for those with vertigo :)).
Looking down towards Kredarica and Stanič huts as well as what is left of the Triglav glacier.
Jota - potato and cabbage soup - at Kredarica was delicious!
Our legs already hurt but we still had a difficult descent in front of us.
Climbing down is not as much fun as climbing up.
A few more snow patches to cross.
There are many reports of numerous ibexes around Triglav. We saw quite a few ...
... even cornered one with another group of hikers going up. The ibex didn't seem bothered at all, it just nibbled at grass, looking at us all the time, and then it leapt across some rocks and out of our way. Of course I had my wide lens on. :(
With lots of vertical meters to cover and knees that were already killing me, my will to take photos somewhat dwindled.
No more sun for us during the last part of the descent. This is one of the few stretches of the trail where you don't have to climb or crawl. ;)
What more can I say? A truly glorious day. And a total coincidence - while descending towards Kredarica I ran into fellow blogger Sandi! :)
More photos here.
Photos of me were taken by my brother Peter.
30 July 2009
Triglav
Last Saturday I decided on a whim to climb Triglav, Slovenian highest mountain. Having explored quite a few hiking trails as well as ferratas in the Slovenian Alps, I've wanted to try the Plemenice route for a long, long time but never really got round to doing it. I called my brother to ask him to come with me, prepared my backpack and set the alarm clock for 2.30 a.m. And off we went! Our climb started at 5 a.m. in the Vrata valley and took us to Luknja and across Plemenice to the top. We descended to Kredarica and then chose the Prag route back to Vrata where we sat down for some beer at 7 p.m. Oh wow, what an exhilarating day! My knees hurt as hell, but my soul was in heaven.
Just one photo for now, more about the climb, including pictures, after August 10 when I get back from a photo tour around the Balkans! :)
Just one photo for now, more about the climb, including pictures, after August 10 when I get back from a photo tour around the Balkans! :)
11 January 2007
Climbing Triglav in 2003
I dug out some more old photos, this time from a climb I did with a friend in September 2003. We ascended Mt. Triglav, the highest Slovenian mountain. These are some of the photos from that two-day hike:
We had a great time, apart from the crowds! Half of Slovenia seemed to be up there! ;)
Some more photos with the description of the hike is here.
We had a great time, apart from the crowds! Half of Slovenia seemed to be up there! ;)
Some more photos with the description of the hike is here.
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