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Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol

vukovivek5. 12. 2016 12:53:26

Yesterday's tour of three 2000ers on the path: nothing particularly special without snow nasmeh

Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol Good morning Triglav

Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol Although there is no snow, it is still cold

Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol Valvazorjev Dom

Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol Potoški Stol, view of V. Stol

Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol Herd of chamois

Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol Play of mist and sun

Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol they lined up in a row like some platoon

Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol edge of the plateau coloured white

Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol summit S....

Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol towards Škrlatica and neighbours

Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol The flight everyone wants

Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol Celovška hut

Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol Glider pilots have come on their day

Potoški Stol, Vajnež and Stol hiked summits

(+5)

ločanka5. 12. 2016 17:32:09

Very nice variety of photos, each one tells something different

Powerbot5. 12. 2016 17:43:49

@ločanka thanks. nasmeh

(+1)

j.16. 02. 2020 20:19:47

Yesterday (Saturday, February 15th) from Rute valley (Bärental) to Vajnež and further over Potoški Stol to both Stols. Descent via Široka riža.

The road from "Stouhütte" (Pri Jožefu?) to the parking lot in Kot/Im Winkel (1152 m) was very icy in many places, so there were few cars. The ice on the road was getting thicker and somehow at the height of Široka riža I gladly turned onto the vegetated scree towards the cirque below Vajnež. But the joy didn't last long, for almost two hours I struggled with half-snow-covered scree, as it kept sinking deeply. Next time, if there's so little snow, I'll go through the pathless steep forest further to the right.

Snow without postholing started where the scree ends - around 1500m. A bit higher there's an option to exit right, close to Vajnež summit. But that part had been roped for some time and stones were flying down it, so I chose the gully leading straight up instead. From the end of the scree to Vajneževo sedlo the conditions were really the best. Quality and untouched snow, into which the first six or eight points of the crampons reliably gripped, allowed fast progress. Only before the exit there were about 10 meters a bit icier, but no problem.

From the saddle to Vajnež and back is just a short hop, the half-snow-covered ridge path over Potoški stol and further towards the cirque below both Stols dragged a bit more. From there onwards, dozens of hikers in recent days have created a wide and comfortable packed trail leading to both summits. Despite counting at least twenty visitors in the Stol area from afar, even seeing one ski tourer, I was completely alone on the summit and later at Prešernova hut.

I returned along my tracks to the lowest saddle between Stol and Potoški Stol, where a passage into Široka riža is marked with two cairns. Of course I didn't glissade down the back side as I read in one online description, but due to changing conditions it went quite slowly and carefully. The most annoying was in the lower part, where numerous rocks stick out of the snow and the snow between them changes from ice-hard to crust that sank unpredictably.

Finally: does anyone know the Slovenian name of the cirque below Vajnež? In Austrian records online it's Weinaschkar. Would it be Vajneževa krnica in our language or do we have another name? Also for the name of the snow-covered scree field I ascended to Vajneževo sedlo, which some call Dolga riža, I'm not quite sure if it's really called that. I'd appreciate any information or hint.

The world above the cirque below Vajnež: Potoški Stol, Vajneževo sedlo, variant of ascent to the top of Vajnež and Vajnež.

It wasn't only Todi on Jalovec who saw Martians.

The ruins are only a few hundred meters away, but difficulties for almost two hours.

A little below Vajneževo sedlo - view downwards.

At the saddle, view back: the gully is nicely filled, rocks protruding from the snow can be bypassed without difficulty.

From the top of Vajnež, Janežev žleb is clearly visible.

Ovčji vrh: with a little effort, the western slope would still be suitable for ski touring descent.

On the ridge, the sun shone truly spring-like, almost no wind.

From Vajnež to Stol: a whole bunch of switchbacks on the snowy path, grass around.

Summit of Stol and (forecast) lenticular clouds.

Two cairns mark the passage into Široka riža.

Široka riža: initially hard and firm snow turns lower down into breakable crust.

Kozjek (Ovčji vrh) and Mačenska planina.

(+3)

palček plezalček16. 02. 2020 20:26:19

Weinaschkar = Dolga Riža

j.17. 02. 2020 15:05:51

Thanks, Palček.

That's what I thought too, since it's posted on almost all Slovenian websites, except for one single photo on razmere.e-gora.si. Because of that photo, out of curiosity I checked the "paper" map Stol 1:25000 (PZS, May 2016), where Dolga riža is drawn where the photo places it. So on the NW side of Vajnež, almost exactly above the parking in Kot, left of Kvadenjska krnica and not under Vajneževo sedlo, as our online sources say.

On my photo no. 17 thus above the start of the route. It would also match the description (riža: furrow, scree slope, scree, band, track, row, see FRAN dictionary). "Kar" (from Weinaschkar) would according to web sources be something round, enclosed in the mountains (maybe cirque).

Now I don't know who's right: the internet or the paper zmeden

palček plezalček17. 02. 2020 16:55:50

I think the Slo. alpine association across the border knows Slo. names. I myself saw this name with them.

j.18. 02. 2020 08:46:57

Yes, I saw their website too. But doubt remains. Especially since I found a photo online from Ovčjeg vrh, where the riža above the parking in Kot is clearly visible and perfectly matches the description "dolga riža". Nothing to do, will have to go there and check... nasmeh

Thanks again very much.

sAleska1. 04. 2021 11:27:36

Yesterday, 31.3., to Vajnež and Potoški Stol and further along the ridge almost to the Žirovnica path. A little before the valley between the two Stols I turned down along the scree as long as it lasted. Saw no one until evening. On Stol there were processions. Blessed peace, snow whiteness and sky blueness. First I went past Valvasor (in the morning had to leave the car two turns below the hut) and towards Potoška planina. The road from Valvasor on is still quite snowy. Just before the planina I turn right up the cross path leading to the concrete bajta. Path hard to follow, lots of snow in forest, no tracks - well, animal ones. When the edge was visible from the cross path I headed straight up to Vajnež. Then along the ridge to Stol. Path is bare but need to cross several snow patches. Huge avalanches in gullies. Snow ideal for walking, minimal sinking, just right. In short a day that filled the soul for the days ahead when we'll be cut off from the mountains.