Pelci – ridge traverse from Škrbina za Gradom to Nizki vrh -
a tour that offers all the variety of mountaineering experiences: exceptional views, narrow ridges, sheer walls, ascents and descents on several ridge peaks, steep Trentarian grasses, scree fields, pathless terrain, solitary world, peace … and a dash of adrenaline.
The eternal question at the start: which direction to do the traverse in, is best left to the more experienced and those who've been here many times – and so we tackled it under M.J.'s guidance from Škrbina za Gradom, first to Kloniški Pelc, then to Veliki, Srednji and Zadnji dvoglavi, and below Nizki vrh via scree and behind Grivo down to the green grasses of Velika planina and further down to the abandoned Zapotok farmstead. From Flori parking in Zadnja Trenta past Špička to Škrbina za gradom is a comfortable marked path, in good shape and a slightly faster pace it takes a good three hours to get there, but if we start via planina Zapotok, we'll surely get more 'winded' and tired on the steep pathless ascent, as the distance is somewhat longer too.
Details of the Pelci traverse can be found mostly on the Primorska stena website or in Habjan's booklet Brezpotja/Sidarta and in some picturesque descriptions by good 'old forum vets' here - in summary briefly (and a bit superficially):
- very demanding approach ridge to Kloniški Pelc (aka Pinja, Pelc nad Kloncami) with one nasty notch,
- quite tough, varied and loooong and often up – down along the ridge edge to Veliki Pelc,
- easy over Srednji Pelc,
- again very tough to Zadnji dvoglavi Pelc, first very steep green stuff, then nasty narrow, steep and smooth intermediate notch ca 12 m, which we abseiled into (anchor is set up, if you don't trust it, a 2m sling around the rock horn works too),
- easy descent from Zadnji Pelc toward Nizki vrh and on to the vast scree between Grivo and the ridge Nizki vrh – Špičica - Skutnik
Rock is averagely good, ridge friability isn't bothersome, the steep dense green grasses can be unpleasant, not to be underestimated at all. Difficulty ratings are very subjective of course, my rating: average II, most parts I, at least two or three details over ridge notches that smell like III. Doing the traverse without rope and belay!? – maybe, for very experienced and bold ones, otherwise use your head for fun!
For the looped path we took 10.5 hours without major stops, of which roughly equally divided in thirds for approach, ridge and descent, so good psychophysical condition is very welcome. At the end the toe pads itch a bit too, since most of the tour you're more or less on all fours – hmm, … that's why chamois have it so much easier.