On my day off Thursday I went on a tour I'd eyed for a long time, Mangart from Loška Koritnica. To Log pod Mangartom is over three hours' drive, dragging on the highway but interesting through lesser-known places from Jesenice onwards.
At Predel I see today's goal Mangart for the first time and forget the long drive. Park at the power station and start hiking just before nine. The path through the valley passed quickly, plenty of nice views to Mangart, Jalovec, Loška stena and Rombon in the back. Everywhere water, flowers, silence, butterflies, bliss!
Above the last house in the valley I met a couple watching chamois high on slopes, they were (to the top) the only people on the path that climbed another two hours or so to the saddle between Mali Koritniški Mangart and Kotova špica, where the bivouac stands that I headed to later.
The path then ran mostly over grassy ledges and steep slopes, then over rocks to a notch with wonderful view on blue lakes. A bit further a steep descent to Huda škrbina, ugh, it earns its name. Then ascent again over steep grass, secured in places, not others.
The summit approached too slowly but I reached the junction where the path from the saddle joins and here solitude ended - people despite late almost 3pm hour as many as wanted, some Italians, mostly Austrians, at end even a minibus of Belgian scouts. Funny to arrive into that hustle. An hour on top with decent weather and great panorama all around passed quickly and I returned to bivouac. To saddle took about two hours, then another half hour partly on faded marks, partly by nose through nasty ruined terrain and finally bivouac.
Prepare sleeping bag, have some supper, photo ibex that came to see who's disturbing their peace. Foggy wind started blowing and cooled down, so off to sleep and woke around half six in the morning, sadly too late for sunrise.
Sky looked leaden but I had good feeling it wouldn't stay so. And indeed, when I descended scree back to Loška Koritnica to the branch to Jalovec, sun started outlining Mangart and Jalovec over the valley, wonderful!
From there blue sky above me and white mountains, at Kotovo sedlo longer break with breakfast, then on to Jalovec on interesting path that passed quickly, surprised even a young ibex with mom grazing.
Closer to summit, surrounding peaks (except Mangart) got caps, surely not Jalovec too? On top "high five" with someone who overtook me, no problem, views to Mangart, Loška Koritnica valley and mist play still plenty for me, other side so-so. Started descending to Trenta and soon on ridge entered grey cloud covering whole valley obviously.
At Zavetišče pod Špičkom quite some guests who despaired over today's weather and postponed Jalovec to tomorrow. Treat myself lunch and coffee that really hit the spot for coffee lover me, chat a bit with couple at next table, then feet to valley. First climb scree under Pelc to notch, where ugly ugly descent through scree chute began. All broken, sliding, almost at end by 3m steep drop damaged cable. After few minutes trying and considering to bottom I had bit soft knees. Some more cables and path from nasty ruin turned to ledges over grass high above Bala valley, other side already Loška stena peaks.
Path comfortably descended long time, saw first marmot in life, though no chocolate whistling very happy. Slowly first bushes, path becoming more goat track with rare marks, 100m above valley obviously took unmarked but self-secured (pitons and thin cable) path over dry torrent or waterfall. Safe though uncomfortable led to flat scree, 15 min to first mark, then just under hour down valley to power station where car waited.
On way stopped at Rabeljsko jezero. Phew, how enjoyable to splash in and wash salt off. Then three hours drive again that passed quickly in good mood over done tour I'd repeat anytime, preferably in company. Really beautiful lonely corners there, Mangart and Jalovec truly mighty high over valley.