journeyman - Recent messages

The trip was planned already in August, but somehow it didn't work out. On Saturday morning we head into Zadnjica and along the road towards Luknja and Dolič. The description says to start the tour at Luknja saddle, but we are more tempted by the direct approach to Planina Zajavor from the valley. Just before the junction of marked paths to Dolič and Prehodavce, we look for the start of the path to the left in the forest. It's not hard to find, even easier to follow, as it's really well preserved. The path immediately climbs steeply uphill and the steepness doesn't let up until the miserable remains of the pasture a little below 1500m above sea level. A wonderful view opens up to Zadnjiški Ozebnik, Prehodavce, Vršac and Kanjavec. Here the nice path ends. Above the remains of the walls we continue uphill into the forest, everywhere full of animal "paths", no real trail. Soon we are at the edge of the little forest. We read the description and study where to go next. The most logical to us seems along the wide grassy ledge, which turns out to be a good decision. Higher up, a followable little path appears in the grass, which zigzags up to the right along the grassy gully. After a while the path turns a bit more to the right into the dwarf pine area and here a clearing in the dwarf pines appears, letting you know you're on the right path. Here the path completely changes character - the ascent ends, traversing to the west begins. The little path is always followable, for orientation the sawn branches of dwarf pines help again. Before reaching Vrh Osojne Krnice, we cross two more scree gullies. We also turn to the natural window, which is really close. Then from the saddle we climb to the summit. The views are really wonderful, the Goličica - Planja ridge stands out. We sign the logbook as the second and third this year. Last year only one entry, the year before none - obviously this is really a forgotten and little visited trail. From the saddle we descend to the other side into the gravelly cirque and cross under the big hole in the wall of Šplevta. Here for the first time in the opposite direction we notice a faded green dot. There's one on the rock at the bend of the mule track where the Pihavec traverse starts or ends. We are on the "mountain highway", but the adventure isn't over yet. We descend a few bends, then turn off the "highway" to the hunting hut under the big boulder. There the hunting trail begins, which leads traversing along the slopes of the ridge from Planja to Goličica. In a newer encyclopedic guide we even found this path described as one of the approaches to Pogačnikov dom. The path is supposed to be followable with some sense of orientation and lead you above the 50th bend of the Vršiška road. So despite the afternoon hour we decide to follow it on descent. Soon we realize the path is not exactly well maintained, dwarf pines mostly already quite substantially "hanging" on the path, so a lot of bending and even crawling is needed to get through. We progress slower than expected. Across the first big gully we find a passage, then we find ourselves on the slope of Čel. Here a somewhat strange description confuses us, additionally nice passages mislead us and we head uphill. Later of course we realize we've really messed up and return. The day is already turning to evening, we are still looking for a passage to the second gully. We find it along a narrow ledge secured with a cable (which unlike previous ones on the path still holds), behind it fallen trees surprise us again and the passage over the last serious obstacle looks quite demanding. We decide to turn back. We hurry, but darkness catches us anyway about half an hour before the hunting hut. While shaking piles of needles off ourselves, we conclude that dwarf pines are enough for a while. We descend along the "mountain highway", which seems endless. After more than fifteen hours we are back at the car with half success - check for Abram's, that damn hunting trail remains a bone to gnaw until the next attempt - this time on ascent.

No, eleven and a half with stops, actual movement about ten hours. Ascent took me three hours fifteen minutes, ridge to Briceljka one hour, asphalt along Bavšica also almost an hour, rest was from Briceljka to Plešivca then descent through Bala.

Yes, I know the terrain, movement in such a world is not exactly foreign to me either.

Dprapr, eleven and a half hours for the whole loop.

Today after five years again on this big ridge. From Kluž past Izgora and Nakla on steep and overgrown slopes to Vrh Krnice. From the latter to Plešivec pure enjoyment. Airy and scenic scrambling worth shouting about. Really a wonderful ridge. Of course also add Votli vrh. From Plešivec descent to saddle Čez Brežič and further through Bala to Bavšica. At the end a pleasant walk on the asphalt road back to the starting point. It was a nice day.

I also remember Dejan's post on this topic. However, last autumn I climbed Strmo Peč via this path, so I was looking for it from memory. Despite that, I stared around quite a bit two or three times to find the continuation. If I hadn't known it from before, it would be a different story. In any case, I wouldn't recommend anyone to tackle it for the first time on the descent, the orientation is really demanding, the markings are heavily faded and sparse, and the terrain is quite steep in some parts. I also breathed a sigh of relief when I stepped out of the forest into the stream bed.

Yesterday a little after five I descend the road from the Zacchi chapel, cross the Dunja stream and continue along the cart track to the turnoff for Via Dogna. I follow a good path for a while, then at the next junction I head onto a less trodden trail. I cross the Rotta ravine and begin a long traverse above the Clapadorie gorge. Above the Muschi bivouac follows the most beautiful part. Enjoyable 300 m of climbing across the Grey Wall. Higher up I join Amalia, traverse to the bivouac and via Findenegg to the summit. There is a huge amount of traffic. After refreshment I descend back through the icy gully and via Velika Polica traverse to the Vrh Strmali saddle. From there I continue along the ridge to Klavne Nože and onward to Zabuš, which I traverse and descend into the Vandul saddle. Along paths 640 and 641 I then ascend to Strmo Peč. After lunch I return to the bivouac del Torso. Here I say goodbye to the sunny slopes and head back towards Dunja. I descend via the Norina via ferrata, a bit lower, below the secured passage through the ravine, I look for an abandoned path that descends into the valley of the Saline stream. Searching for the remains of the path is extremely demanding and I am very glad when I step into the riverbed. Before the path leaves it, I wash all the sweat and dirt off myself, then along the road/path Umberto Pacifico I do the last hour back to the car. It was magnificent.

From the valley snow is still visible on the southern slopes of the summit part, so there is probably still snow on the shady side, in that gully where the approach goes.

lp

On Saturday we parked at the bridge in Tig. We headed towards Bila and further towards Ravanca, then along the Lipa Path to Solbica. In Ladina we took path 643, which gently ascends towards the ricovero Igor Crasso. There was surprisingly little snow given the altitude, the weather was perfect and the views fantastic. After a snack and enjoying the views we started descending towards Pusti Gozd on path 632. Lower down at the fork we switched to 631, which brought us below Cima Tulsti. At the summit we basked in the afternoon sun. We descended to Ravanca, with some road still to the starting point.
It was a beautiful and warm day, spring has already returned to Resia.

Yes, probably really no point waiting for the cable car. Well, given how mountain-active you are, your legs would probably bring you back to the valley too?

I wanted to upload a few more pics too, but I can't. Well, anyway there's mostly fog on all of them.

Today from Žaga along unmarked paths to planina Baban. Snow starts a bit below the planina. I continue up the valley towards Velika Baba. The snow mostly held. I climb to about 1900m, there the fog thickened so much that in combination with the diffuse light I couldn't see even a meter in front of me. I pace around a bit and hope the wind would come to my aid, but there's not even a breeze. I decide to turn back and barely follow my own tracks. Below the planina I head to the marked path, from it soon I turn onto a nice mulatjera that rises a bit, then traverses the slopes towards Skutnik. No views, but at least under the foggy curtain. When I join the path leading to Skutnik, I descend via Osredek and past the wonderful Globoški waterfall back to the starting point.
It was a nice day, despite missing the sun.

Fixed

After Tuesday's Kamniški Grintovec, on Wednesday I head to the Trenta or Bavarian version. Shortly before midday I start from Soča village. Dry to the alpine pasture and a bit higher, then snow begins, but there is even less of it here than in the Kamnik hills. At three I reach the top. Clear atmosphere, beautiful panorama, but the cold presses and doesn't allow a longer stay. I descend in the direction of the ascent, on the pasture I admire the colors of the setting sun and absorb the silence that is native to these places. The last part of the descent back to icy Trenta in darkness.

Ugh, no idea what that is or how long it's been up there.

On Tuesday I parked above the hut at eight. To my surprise there was already some tin there. Road higher up icy, path to saddle trodden and hard, but went without crampons too. Higher I head towards Dolgi Steni and pull my own spur. At the summit very cold and windy, so we quickly head down with the only other visitor. Half an hour lower much better, lounged for a solid hour. Lower to saddle still in sunshine, then descent back into the dark.
Not much snow, but mostly, according to the temperatures, held all day.

Wonderful!
Nice little hill, I ticked it off on the way back from Monte Palavierte and Cuel Mauron.