| JusAvgustin31. 03. 2011 14:44:17 |
RECOMMEND READING!!! For forum clarity, I'll add what happened under Storžič, as it all happened on the slopes or in the immediate vicinity. How mountains can be misleading. One wrong decision can mean serious trouble; in this case, a 6-hour descent, among other things also in complete darkness. Things happened approximately 20 hours ago, so it's relatively fresh. In short: A pleasant, almost too pleasant greeting at the top surprised us—what do they have up their sleeve? We stare in astonishment at two POORLY EQUIPPED female hikers sitting on the top of Storžič, watching us with big eyes as we scramble through the last meters of "Kramarce"... They've been wandering around KSA since 11 a.m. and ended up on the top of Storžič, thinking the path to Kališče is trodden and DRY! Then comes the human plea: accompany them to the valley, but only to where the snow ends... They don't dare descend on their own. Why?!
The hikers were in summer hiking boots; one was in capris, the other in warm-weather pants (around June, July, August...). There were no gloves or hat in the backpack, nor any mention of winter gear... Soon we form two teams and slowly start the descent toward the saddle (we give each an ice axe with a quick course on leaning and walking with the ice axe...). It took us 3 hours to get there. From the saddle, we continue the descent toward Bašelj (their car was there...) past Kališče on the path, which we soon leave, seeking passages through the steep forest. After 2 hours of walking, we're finally at the car, and that's when their emotions pour out... I think I know what they went through and survived in the end. Most likely, if we hadn't been in the gully that day, the ladies would have somehow survived—what you might call—an extremely cold night outdoors on top of Storžič. Remember: when you're at the top, it's only half the way! The most demanding part awaits you: the descent. You can deduce the lesson of this adventure from what's written. Names aren't important; what's important is that they were home yesterday (today), as we all arrived home around 1:30 a.m....
Sincere thanks go to Borut, who excelled, and to Matej, my indispensable climbing partner, who led the team on the descent. I myself searched for the best passages through the steep forest and finally the gully, which led us to... a sandwich and iced tea.
All's well that ends well; there's still snow in the mountains, and above 2000 m, the temperature is lower than in the valley!
A word or two about the Kramarce route. The gully is one big fantasy! We climbed it in an hour and a half. At the start, a dry jump; the continuation perhaps a bit icy. From the bivouac onward, concrete; at the exit, the jump covered with ice. Then to the top, 20 meters of scree.
Borut, Matej, Juš, and the "rescued"
whoever mentions crampons on "chains" to me again, watch out...
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