20-21 July 2019
Two-day tour starting in Zadnja Trenta. It's 6:50 and in the company of three friends I head towards Jalovec. The day is sunny and perfect for mountaineering, the path leads past the shelter under Špička, which we skip, and we head straight to Jalovec. Under Jalovec some mists await us, but they clear under the summit. We arrive at 10:30. Views are exceptional, I check the further path that awaits me. Since the friends plan only the ascent to Jalovec, I say goodbye to them. Next is descent to Kotovo sedlo, from Kotovo sedlo then descent to Loška Koritnica; after descent the path forks right to Mangart. I follow the marked path and then turn to the trail to bivouac Alberto Bussettini (bivak Tarvisio). The trail is still quite visible, with some marks on it; otherwise follow cairns. Caution is needed as there is huge amount of scree and rocks. At 15h I arrive at the bivouac and unpack. Follows snack and checking the area around the bivouac. It is placed on a small saddle and thus nicely visible from the path leading to it. I comfortably settle in the bivouac and sign the logbook, from which I learn it is not the most visited. Before sleep I quickly check a short section of the path to Mali Koritniški Mangart waiting for tomorrow. After exploring around the bivouac I go to sleep. At 4h the alarm rings; I find out no other hiker stayed overnight. I move the alarm to 4:30 since it's nicely warm and pleasant in the bivouac. When I get up I equip myself with climbing harness, self-belay kit and helmet, and at 5h head to Mali Koritniški Mangart. The moon shines nicely and lights up so I don't even need a headlamp. The path first ascends from the bivouac and then steeply descends, aided by a cable. I find the path marked in places, but the marks are very faded. Cairns are a great help again. After descent the path steeply ascends to the wall of Mali Mangart, then follows scrambling in the gully. Scree is present again so caution doesn't hurt. After scrambling in the gully follows a steep couloir equipped with cable. The ascent is quite steep and demanding, and arm strength is useful. When I ascend through the narrower part of the couloir I am, after a few minutes of flat terrain and a short ascent, on the summit of Mali Mangart; the sun has already risen and hides behind clouds. Then follows walking on the left side of the ridge where the path descends and ascends several times. Before Huda Škrbina we join the path from Loška Koritnica. Follows descent with cable assistance and some pegs and we are already at Huda Škrbina. The path then turns to grassy slopes below Mangart, follows crossing over grass and then ascent towards Mangart; when the grassy slopes end we soon join the Italian path. Follows the last part of the ascent and at 7:50h I arrive at the summit of Mangart, where surprisingly I am alone. I photograph the views, eat something, then a couple arrives on the summit asking me to photograph them; they return the favor. I sign the book and head back the same way; follows descent towards Huda Škrbina and then descent below the bivouac to the junction for Kotovo sedlo. Ascent to Kotovo sedlo drains a lot of energy from me and I use a lot of water as the sun already bakes devilishly. At 12:30 I finally arrive at Kotovo sedlo, oh relief; follows descent towards Tamar. I am arranged with a friend at Vršič but due to fatigue and carelessness I miss the turn-off for Jalovška škrbina. I descend too low on the scree, then check the map and realize I have to ascend back towards Jalovška škrbina. I check the backpack and have 4 dl of water left. I call the friend and tell him the situation, so we arrange that I descend to Tamar and he comes to pick me up at Planica. On descent I meet two girls and chat with them for a couple of minutes; they say they were at Jalovec yesterday and slept at the bivouac under Kotovo sedlo. It was quite full as four Italians also slept in it. I hurry to the valley as I don't want to leave the waiting friend in Planica so I bypass them and hurry to the valley. When I arrive at the hut in Tamar I order a large beer and štruklje. Uff, that hits the spot! Then I pay, fill another half liter of water and hurry towards Planica. At 15:30h I arrive in Planica, where the friend is already waiting. At the bar by the nordic center we chat a bit more and then head home. In short, an excellent two-day tour is behind me, and a multi-year wish fulfilled: from Jalovec to Mangart.
Safe steps to all! PS order of photos is not correct.