SuzanaM - Recent messages

Mysterious island in the southern Aegean Sea, where the mountain slopes drop steeply all the way to the crystal-clear sea. Beautiful beaches and picturesque mountain villages where time stopped centuries ago. Wild landscape that mass tourism hasn't destroyed yet. Strong wind that once powered mills, now blows into wind turbines for electricity generation and into the sails of the most experienced surfers. Friendly and helpful locals. The main town Pigadia (also Karpatos) offers some tourist buzz for those who want it. That's how I'd briefly describe the island of Karpatos lying between Crete and Rhodes.

While wandering the island, I noticed many marked hiking trails. In the middle of the main shopping street in Pigadia, I stumbled upon a shop with several hiking maps available. The best one listed trail durations and elevation gains. According to the shop owner, locals are enthusiastic hikers. Best time for hiking is mid-September to November and spring, when flowers bloom in the mountains and streams babble. November has more rain, winter can see snow on highest peaks for a day.
Highest peak on the island is 1,215 m Kali Limni.

The island mostly has strong winds, so heat isn't felt as much. Least wind in winter months. Hiking boots useful for rocky terrain and thorny vegetation that quickly scratches skin. Locals said lots of rain this year, so island was still all green at the end of June and in early July, temperatures not very summery. Daytime barely to 25, max 28 degrees, evenings chilly even in long sleeves.

Karpatos area is 325 km2, 49 km long and up to 11 km wide, narrowest 3.3 km (data from web, maybe not most accurate.)
Main roads in good condition, asphalted to major beaches. Careful only of rocks, goats and sheep on road. Roads very winding and steep up/down, better rent stronger car (especially if more people). Saw several cars with Slovenian plates that came by ferry from Patras or via Rhodes. Our airline flies there too, plane had at least 70% Italians, predominant guests during my visit.

On Karpatos I felt at home right away. Been drawn to it for 15 years and hope to return, it's etched deep in my heart.

On the way to Trieste I usually stop at the obelisk on Opčine and enjoy the view of the city lying below. That's how I also saw the sign for the circular Napoleonic road trail (strada Napoleonica). Probably Napoleon's road is more correct; I state the name as it is on the info boards along the path. The circular trail is 8 km long. To the Sanctuary on Vejna is 4.5 km. In memory of the last period of Napoleon's rule it got the name Napoleonica; in 2009 they arranged it into a footpath.

The path on a pleasant sandy road gently descends for most of the way, under picturesque cliffs before the settlement Borgo San Nazario near Prosecco, then starts ascending on asphalt. Before the parking it turns onto a trail along the cliff edge and then through the forest to the Marian sanctuary on Vejna or Griža (Monte Grisa). It continues on the asphalted path along the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis) and trail through the forest to the start on Opčine.

Don't seek solitude on the path, as it's extremely popular with runners and walkers. Instead enjoy exceptional views all the way to Savudrija and Grado; if lucky, catch Dolomites and Julian Alps too. I'll come back for those.

Strolling can continue through Trieste or by visiting the nearby Miramare Castle.

At the obelisk you can park only for 1 hour. A larger free parking lot is at the roundabout.

That's how it was a week ago, 24.05.2015:

Thanks to both. Live it's definitely nicer (now is just the right time), the gained impressions warm our hearts for a long time.

Colors. Yesterday due to late hour and hazy sky barely captured the sumac, which recent rain unfortunately didn't add intensity to. After sunset finally some joy. Wind cooled the air well this time too.

Zlatica, thanks. I'd like to show more sumac, but no luck catching it in full beauty. When I get to the bushes, wind always interferes, sun is low or hidden in haze, so no real mood. So all sumac lovers invited to Kras for first-hand impressions.

Today's walk on Cerje pleasantly surprised me, as in the last days sumac on Goriški Karst intensely gaining color. Probably Karst Edge not lagging.

More on link:
http://www.hribi.net/trenutnerazmere.asp?slo=1&gorovjeid=26&id=5619

In recent days sumac is gaining color quite intensively. Just over a week ago brown prevailed more than red. In the now colored leaves there's just a bit more intensity and freshness. A few more days and Kras will shine in its finest light. Today's view of freshly snow-whitened Julian Alps slowly appearing from behind clouds and golden glowing sea – worth persisting in the cold wind that despite warm clothes cooled quite decently.

How is sumac on Karst Edge, I don't know. At our Sabotin (609 m) sumac along the ridge already turned red, better said brownish. Lower it's just gaining color. At Goriški Karst - Cerje (343 m) also some bushes colored, but no real color here either. Also at Doberdob and Trieste Karst nothing different. We'll see how current rain and forecasted frost act on sumac. In such fire of luxurious colors as Karst glowed last year, probably not this year.

Matevž, beautiful. Especially the 1st photo - it's truly ethereal. Which place (mountain, lake) did you capture?

The Solarji-Kuk description covers the entire Kolovrat ridge. Most hikers start walking at the Open-Air Museum (instead of to Solarji we turn right towards Livk). More about Kolovrat and accesses is written in the first post on the first page. Via the road over Kanalski Kolovrat (Kambreško-Lig) we can avoid driving through Soča Valley (Volče-Kanal-Solkan/Nova Gorica or vice versa).

Even in mid-summer it can be quite pleasant on Kolovrat if we catch a day when rain has cooled the air. Otherwise on the exposed ridge at around 1,000 m.a.s.l. it's way too hot for longer hikes. Despite that, it's precisely then that Kolovrat is most visited. Numerous tourists are drawn mainly by the open-air museum, hikers and cyclists are plentiful too.

The Slemenska road over Kanalski Kolovrat is less scenic in summer than in winter time, but still an inviting alternative to driving through Soča Valley. The route goes through nicely arranged villages Srednje, Kambreško and Lig and descends via Korada to Goriška Brda. The road between Kolovrat and Korada is ideal mainly for cyclists who have mostly not discovered it yet. Tourism-oriented hikers can combine strolling around Kolovrat with ascent to Korada and Sv. Jakob and visit to the pilgrimage church Marijino Celje at Lig. Sabotin is along the way too and on hot days we can drive almost to the top on asphalt road, Brda always offer something.

Or on the other side of the valley over or past Tičarice, Kopice, Zelnarice. The path goes over M. Zelnarica.

More on the forum:
http://www.hribi.net/trenutnerazmere.asp?slo=1&gorovjeid=1&id=2810&stran=1

Ločanka, I attached the path to Lopatnik for Pogačica, because she is interested in return from Krn via Krnčica and pl. Zapleč. The path to Krn actually continues under Lopatnik.

Pogačica, I hope you have luck with the weather and enjoy the beauties of the Krn range. In the warm part of the year clouds form quickly here. I don't recommend the path over Krnčica in poor visibility.
In the heat take enough water with you, the path is very sunny. Water troughs are at pl. Zaprikraj (beyond pl. Zapleč), on the other road through pastures (where signs to Curk waterfall) and at the parking above Drežniške Ravne.

I myself miss creating photo stories and my long hill hikes. Sadly I've been grounded for a long time and limited to heights where cable car or road takes you.

To get to Planina Zapleč, go from Krn to Krnska Škrbina and then a few minutes toward Krnsko Lake. Soon a path branches off to Pl. Zapleč and Vrata, which is marked to Pl. Zapleč. Then along the road or across the pastures. The path across the pastures is very nice but more or less overgrown (depending on how much the cows have grazed). Until last year, there were only occasional faded marks here and there, so you have to follow cow paths and a bit by feel. The pastures are crossed by two gravel roads or tracks; on the second there is a sign directing to Drežnica and Curk waterfall. The branch is also marked from the road to Drežniške Ravne. I don't know the path and don't know how the next junctions are marked.
For the path from Pl. Zapleč to the trough and parking above Drežniške Ravne across pastures, we might need maybe a minute less than by road, which drags on but allows faster steps (around 45 min). From the parking above Drežniške Ravne to Drežnica it's approximately the same. Pl. Zapleč-Drežnica: around 1.5 hrs.
The path from the parking above Drežniške Ravne to Krn is marked at 5 hrs. I myself went only to Krnčica. To the valley thus at least an hour less, unless you're like me, who needs almost more for the descent than the ascent.
I'd like to provide more accurate information, but unfortunately I haven't managed to fully explore the Drežnica-Krn path yet. I'm most interested in the path to Drežnica past Curk waterfall, which will remain on the wishlist for a long time. Thus, I can only help with half-verified information.

Description of the path Drežniške Ravne-Lopatnik (path to Krnčica and Krn): http://www.hribi.net/gora/lopatnik/1/2309

After a long time yesterday, 29.6.2016, again on the ridge of Lower Bohinj Mountains. With the help of cable cars I climbed to 1880 m high Šija. Once a walk, now an effort on the edge of capacity. At the top I enjoyed solitude and cold wind for quite a while, otherwise the ascent in clear morning was really hot. After 10.00 clouds started gathering quickly above the peaks, from Vogel ski resort first hikers were already coming. Along the rocky ridge I walked to nearby Vrh Dlani, where a year ago I admired edelweiss and black crowberries, this year due to late snow departure they haven't bloomed yet.

After a long time back on Matajur. Because of Giro d'Italia both roads to Matajur village got quite a few kilometers of new asphalt. Otherwise it's still quite spring-like on Matajur.

I haven't visited this website for a long time and thus missed the debate on the topic of the name Fajti or Fajtji Hill. I'm not from the Karst, so I don't know what the locals call the hill. According to the signs it's Fajti Hill and that's what we from the valley call it too. Dr. Vasja Klavora published the book Fajtji Hill, the Municipality of Miren-Kostanjevica invites to the presentation of the book Fajti Hill. The Renče hunting society is named Fajti Hill, on hribi.net all posts are under Fajti Hill. According to the map it's indeed Fajtji Hill. Who would know what's right. Next time I'll ask at Cerje.

For me the description opens on the link:
https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrh_svetega_Mihaela

I myself have posted something about it under the topic Brestovec and Debela Griža:

http://www.hribi.net/trenutnerazmere.asp?slo=1&gorovjeid=26&id=5896&stran=1

Do you perhaps know why Monte San Michele is called Debela Griža in Slovenian?