| jan7121. 02. 2019 18:47:16 |
For a month I've been hearing the call of the mountains (Brana was especially loud) but I couldn't respond. First illness laid me low, then I had to catch up on missed work, plus my fitness left me, so it just wouldn't go. This week finally everything sorted out and I took a day off. Somewhat bittersweet, as the weather was supposed to be worse than previous days. When driving in the morning, the view towards the mountains didn't promise anything particularly good, but it cleared up slowly and soon after arriving at Sedlo it became a wonderful day.
Conditions for ascent to Brana are not exactly optimal. On the scree there is quite a lot of wind-blown snow and the entry to the "scree" needs to be set high under Šija, as the tracks of predecessors indicate. Need to be careful with every step, as the last snow hasn't bonded with the base and likes to slide underfoot.
Initially I wasn't too confident, but occasional old tracks gave me some moral support. Towards the top I went roughly in the middle of the wall, a bit more to the right than last time, but in the end I exited to the summit flank at the same spot as last time, since there's almost no other alternative.
Short stop at the top in moderate wind, just enough to feed myself and a couple of coffees, then headed back. I intended to descend along the ridge, as I expected it to be scoured to the old base. Unfortunately, after a few steps I realized it wouldn't work, as there is a lot of wind-blown snow that holds nothing. So I turned back and descended along the ascent path. I did the descent almost to halfway sitting down, it was safer.
Upon arrival at Sedlo a real spring fairytale; wonderful views, temperatures for sunbathing and no one anywhere! I lingered around the hut for almost three hours. The day was almost perfect, it would be better only if they rented skis at Sedlo and I could return them at Pastirci deposit . Well, the descent went without that too, as the snow was just soft enough for carefree sliding down, and the "track" was groomed too. At Pastirci again a short stop listening to birds and observing peaks. Spring has already rolled up its sleeves properly! But the sun was slowly losing its power and it was time to say goodbye to the mountains for today.
Below Pastirji still a bit of workout on quite icy path. When I thought I'd avoided all traps, I hit a fairly large ice slab hidden under leaves. It twisted me and I performed a real "pirouette". Since ice sports are not my domain, I did only a single axel, and even that with a fall! The landing was hard and painful but luckily apart from wounded pride I didn't suffer major injuries. Then just a relaxed walk to Jermanca. In short, as our Borut would say: "What a fantastic day!"
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