Kovačnica above Kurja dolina
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| Volk20. 07. 2020 18:53:36 |
Natural arch that I wasn't able to track down on a long-ago occasion, I finally spotted today! My friend's precise whisper in my ear left no room for doubt about today's success. Well, given the objective conditions (fresh rockfall)...
The approach is orientationally demanding. A steady step is also essential. I'd say visiting this landmark, marked on the map too, is reserved mainly for experienced souls devoted to pathless terrain. Such folks heartily welcome any ''gift at the goal'', though exhilarated during approach exploration we often crave an impressive discovery.
Why such words?
The Kovačnica arch is actually modest. It sneaks invisibly into the middle of the slope and slyly reveals itself just before you step in front of it...
Due to the completely fresh rockfall above the approach gully, movement in that world is objectively dangerous!!!
Regards.
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| andi221. 07. 2020 09:32:28 |
Wow, this is a mini gem, thanks for the post. And probably the only pic of that lesser-known relative on this side of the valley that I've seen so far. One day one needs to have a similar friend for a hint Before that of course walk both sides of Kurja dolina (Mokrica, both Turna). Regards
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| Volk21. 07. 2020 21:31:32 |
Mini gem.
Andi2, nice. True, 'things to do' in that area never run out easily. Already Mokrica from Kurja dolina is a big gem.
Regards and good luck.
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| Dr.ejči22. 07. 2020 06:59:36 |
Beautiful... so this is more towards Pisani Turn? ...
It is true that to me, as a "soul devoted to pathless", lately "little gems roll under my feet"... grateful for all!
Good luck to both, or all explorers of the "useless" world 
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| j.22. 07. 2020 08:37:13 |
Excellent, Volk!
And would you also be a little our friend and whisper to us pathless-terrain seekers at least roughly where to get to Kovačnica?.
Thanks in advance! If you think hidden spots need protecting from the masses, that's fine too, I won't hold it against you.
Friendly regards!
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| SilvestrO22. 07. 2020 09:27:35 |
Many years ago it was like this, if you went further towards Kompotela to the marked path, around Kovačnica the description was like this..."the goal is the ledge right under the wall, along it left down behind the edge into the hole and via cable through the window to the ledge, along it until you spot the cable up right that helps you to the edge and further left into the Jermenca gully...etc
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| Volk22. 07. 2020 14:26:46 |
j., of course. Kovačnica is no secret, but the descriptions confused me a bit too. Mine goes like this.
Target the starting point for the ascent in the far right corner of the Kurja Valley basin. Stick to the only road (higher track) leading into Kurja Valley. When it ends in the grass, continue in the same direction or slightly left through scree and vegetation to the walls. In the far right corner of Kurja Valley hides a narrow passage (gully) to Kalce (another story), direction to Kovačnica - the wide gully with visible fresh rockfall you find with a short ascent on the left. And right into the bushy corner left of the break. I quickly crossed the fresh boulders to the bushes fairly low in the rockfall entrance and steeply climbed up along the break with branch help. You follow a modestly noticeable trace through the bushes on the left, a few meters below the top of the bushes (cairn). With a bit of bushwhacking it brings you to the edge of a precipitous gully, down which you go a few steps. Cross the gully right on grassy ledges above the drop and via grassy chute among bushes (cairns) climb again under the walls. Follow a traverse left, over scree and grass in more open terrain all the way to Kovačnica. Through it hangs an old cable. And above it, per friend, another one before a nasty traverse, but sadly torn! But that's a third story.
Hope I helped. At zero meters elevation brains might work a bit differently.
And once more. WATCH OUT FOR ROCKFALL!!! It's fresh, sight of heavy boulders chilling...
Regards and good luck.
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| j.22. 07. 2020 18:17:25 |
Many thanks, Volk! Of course you helped, very much so! I appreciate the rockfall warning too. When I regain some fitness (I too was at zero elevation for a while, haha), I'll go explore.
If anyone else is interested.. I just found this online: 3D model of Kurja Valley. Seems pretty interesting to me.
3d model (author Marko Vrabec)
Good luck!
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| Volk22. 07. 2020 20:45:42 |
Wow, really interesting thing. I found Kovačnica right away.
Many thanks.
Regards and good luck.
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| Trobec27. 07. 2020 08:34:38 |
@Volk, super description, thanks Can be found quite nicely. Of course still demanding pathless terrain, as said, needs steady step and experience in such world.
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| Volk30. 07. 2020 12:15:31 |
Trobec, glad you found it.
Good luck.
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| zokipoki30. 07. 2020 13:37:42 |
Super! Again something that stirs the spirits of restless souls! Lp
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| Trobec31. 07. 2020 00:20:56 |
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| j.1. 08. 2020 23:50:30 |
Yesterday - Friday, 31.07.2020. Parked car at end of forest road into Kurja Valley (46.32798, 14.57452). The track I continued on forks after about 200m, its left branch turns into two paths after 100m. Left goes into torrent bed and further to bushy ridge by Veliki Krvavec (one variant for Mokrica ascent), straight up much less trodden towards Kovačnica. Path is gentle, then winds in comfortable zigzags at mild slope. But quite overgrown, so foot sometimes hits stone or root hidden under tall grass.
A bit below rockfall path disappears. Walking near yellow debris didn't appeal, so from whim checked if possible to climb overgrown ridge left of it. Up steep grass and among rocks and small drops I progressed well. Midway looked down and figured return orientation on steep grass between drops might be tricky. No human paths or tracks there, so excursus (© P. Plezalček ) I promptly aborted for both reasons.
So forced to bite sour apple. Up smooth slabs left of rockfall to far left gully top, where amid bushes spotted trodden steps and cairn Volk mentions. To "bush" edge just few tens meters, then diagonally down grassy ledges into gully opposite. Stubbornly continued up it to wall. But no need, as about halfway, right under small drop in gully nice passage through bushes (cairn, one or two misleading towards wall end). So traversed left between bushes and wall, from gully end to Kovačnica about 150m. Just before Kovačnica grassy traverse that in wet could be nasty at one spot. In arch pleasantly cool.
Returned same way, only avoided wall-bush traverse back to intermediate gully via nicer bush passage.
Was in these parts few days ago, Monday, but quick. Then climbed far right gully towards Kalce about 100m high to two-rock blockage. Could bypass on right. Stopped there, unclear if any of three variants to Kalce really goes gully bottom or maybe passages beside. On photos I took then later noticed rockfall from Volk's visit (so in 10 days) has settled quite a bit. On Volk's pic no.2 left side (upward) visible big sand deposits that rains in meantime washed away. Up cleaned smooth slabs (my pic no.1) climb quite comfy (if dry of course). Sand has also somewhat stabilized piled rocks. Rockfall apparently happened multiple times, first surely long ago (have it on several older photos). Last batch really very fresh and still dangerous!
Volk, thanks again for description, you treated me to nice day!
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| palček plezalček2. 08. 2020 09:57:05 |
Volk, you let your curiosity slip out into the open and Kovačnica has become an off-trail summer hit.
Congratulations to all.
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| Volk2. 08. 2020 18:27:12 |
Nicely relived, j.
By the way, passage to Kalce? Kodrovo gorge ...
But about that some other time.
palček plezalček, what would one do without curiosity. 
All the best to everyone.
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