potpodnoge - Recent messages

This time, because the weather is nice, my wife and I took a slightly longer path instead of the usual one: parking lot and goal then quickly back. We park at the parking lot in front of Jelovica-houses and carefully cross the road. We must realize that we are the disturbing element on the road, so carefully and quickly across the road when it's empty. Now we don't continue right on the asphalt road, but head towards the older very 'worn-out' house, where at the end of the parking lot a gravel path is visible left of the house. We enter the little wood, and if it's a hot day, we continue the path in pleasant shade. Quickly we notice ahead but still a bit to the right a wooden fence, well there used to be a wooden footbridge over which we climbed to Grajski vrt and the path led to the hotel, then still under the name Bor. So we continue left onto the gently rising hillock. At the top we turn right and continue on the path. Soon there's a branch to the footbridge by which we come to the hotel, which has borne the name Alma for some time. We don't turn towards the hotel, but continue on the path by the lake, where through the bushes we can fully see the Alma hotel. We continue on the path by the lake, and when we reach the start of the lake, we step on the footbridge, cross it, then don't look at the direction sign we notice ahead, but go on the sandy path forward again into a slight slope. At the top go left onto the still noticeable grassy path and continue north. A view opens to Krvavec then Potoška planina, Sv. Jakob, Zaplata a bit further then also to Storžič, Planina Javornik, Velika and Mali Poljana, Tolsti Vrh and further to Karavanke. When we arrive at the gravel road, continue right and reach the asphalt road. Here by the bend two bushy chestnuts grow, or we can catch our breath a bit on the bench, if not too much traffic that stinks up the pleasant air with cars. Continue on the asphalt road to the first parking lot intended for hikers to Sv. Jakob and beyond. Cross the parking lot and continue on the gravel road to the second parking lot, which is a bit further from the sharper bend. Now we can choose one or the other variant. The pictures that follow are by the second variant. Say the first is to continue the path on the road, where soon we spot a house on the left. Here roads branch, straight for Sv. Jakob, right upper road for Potoška planina or to Sv. Jakob, lower to Jakopina senčnica, which is also our goal today.
We chose the forest path that turns right at the start of the parking lot. And after some 10 m of moderate walking we come to the gravel path by which we'd come if we chose the first variant. Our forest one isn't, well it can also be a shortcut, depending on who takes it. When we reach the wider gravel path, continue right. The path up the hill across the road then brings us to the road for Potoška planina. Carefree continue to the junction and posted direction signs that direct us right. After a few steps continue left and after a very short climb arrive at the goal.
With the note on the board we can acquaint ourselves with the shorter past of Josipina and when we decide it's time to move, go down the valley on the other side. For my wife and me it's nicer if there's the option to go up one side, down the other. This path is narrower but nicely passable and undemanding. Soon part of the Home for elderly citizens shows through the trees, right above which the path goes and we spend much less time on the descent to the start of the first parking lot. Now we can continue our ramble on the asphalt road all the way to the junction for Potoče village, Alma hotel or descent past the holiday hamlet Hrib (why holiday, what's built are mostly just weekend houses), to the parking lot. If we choose to pass by the hotel, continue right and at the bend can view huge American sequoias, then continue further on the asphalt parking lot. Right a view to the mountains opens for us, we also see the playground where sand volleyball is possible. Sometimes when tennis was popular, the courts were set up for tennis. Well, continue towards the hotel, descend a short slope and decide, go to the car or walk a bit more in the area. When we tire of the stop, continue over the footbridge stretched over the concrete barrier of Črnjava lake. The lake kept its name, even if other names change.
Now no problem finding the path back to the parking lot where we left the car.
For the trip we'll spend a good hour walking, otherwise depending on each person. Some more, some less, important to enjoy nature and have a good time. Those who like to race will spend much less time, but what when the views are so beautiful that you can't just hurry to the goal and back and look only under your feet. Well yeah, otherwise as suits each one, everyone should adapt to oneself, only if group, must adapt to the slowest member.
A few more pics for better idea of the path, nature along the path and what the views offer on the path. And safe travels on the path, wherever you go!

Contact with contaminated water can cause skin rashes and inflammations, eye and ear inflammation, digestive problems like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, in more sensitive people even serious infections. Children, pregnant women, elderly and those with weakened immune systems are especially at risk.

"We call on all visitors to respect Kamniška Bistrica as a natural gem and use it only for walks, observation, photography or relaxation by the water. For safe bathing, choose officially designated and regularly checked bathing waters found on the website of the Slovenian Environment Agency or National Institute of Public Health," CČN Domžale-Kamnik also urged visitors.
Copied from Siol website, published 25.6.2025

I saw online instructions for nature preservation, which also apply to our nature in little Slovenia.

Sustainably!
- Never leave any remains in the environment, including cigarette butts. Food scraps contribute to rodent spread.
- Don't throw objects or waste of any kind into water.
- Respect animals, don't disturb or feed them. - If you see damaged specimens, report to emergency number 112. Also don't pull flowers or plants from environment.
- Don't pick or take stones or any other natural element. Don't alter it by stacking them into sad famous "towers".
- Don't use soap under showers.
- Preferably use sunscreens that respect marine or lake environment.
- Try not to disturb environment peace with excessive noise (loud music, shouting ...) or annoying activities like ball games.
- Pets forbidden in many natural pools. Make sure you can bring it.

Regarding the topic itself, I think the toll for state roads is already settled with the annual vehicle registration. Which says like this: "Annual levy for the use of vehicles in road traffic (we used to call it road tax) is paid by road users for road motor vehicles and trailers." So, tolls should no longer be collected additionally. The other matter is parking lots. They are not mentioned as state property or that levies are paid for them at the state level. But there is a problem with excessive traffic in some area. But, a person is free and can decide for himself where, when and how to go anywhere. Of course, provided that some social norm and individual behavior is taken into account, which we have to honestly admit that people are becoming more and more rude and reckless, which doesn't belong in a more or less undisturbed society. If the municipality provides free or paid with some moderate amount parking and arranges decent transport to the target destination, then excessive traffic on individual sections can be limited. But before limiting traffic, a truly acceptable transport alternative must be arranged. It's normal for parking fee to last for 24 hours and not until midnight, when parking lasts several hours or up to 24 hours. That we are spoiled and would preferably drive to the bar with the vehicle, we also know. And walking was never a problem when traffic wasn't as busy as today and you had to walk quite a while from the bus stop to the goal even on flat ground, only then the real ascent to the mountains began.

On 12 June 2024 it said on MMC website: Barrier into Vrata valley remains open this season, but parking fee required.
Search: Vrata valley parking, for more results.
If interested, check timetable for Vrata Valley: /mk.pzs.si/novice.php?pid=17136 (no spaces) Good luck, wherever you are.

Please don't go to the mountains in sneakers. Sneakers aren't for hiking in mountains, but hiking boots. Whoever hikes in mountains will soon find out why they're good, if not mountaineering boots then at least hiking boots. Take care of your health, that's the most you can do yourselves. On valley walks no problem, sneakers are great there.

I wouldn't interfere in your conversations. But you have to realize that the times for hiking in the mountains are written for some average ability of individuals. How long someone walks on which path depends entirely on the individual person. Some enjoy slow walking, others rushing, some see nature too, others only their goal and walking time. So don't argue about what time is written on the sign, but let everyone walk as they think is right. And don't judge either the slow or the fast ones, if you want to love the mountains, everyone will adjust the walking to their needs and thus have the desire and joy to continue visiting the mountains and the paths they love, not hate them because they can't overtake anyone and show off with their exceptional time. People are different anyway and that should be knowledge for all. Whoever likes to show off, shouldn't despise others, slower than themselves.

Sandra, I don't even agree with you. Everyone has some motivation to go hiking in the mountains, in nature. If someone hikes for stamps, great, just as long as they hike and don't sit in pubs just fiddling with their phone. Anyway, those who go to the mountains definitely don't see just the stamp, but do quite a lot of good for themselves, observe nature, some even realize that society in the mountains is completely something else than in the valley. People, most are more friendly to each other even if you give or get just a greeting, maybe sometimes even a kind word. So, it's not hiking in the mountains on demand, hike to the mountains and do what I do, because nothing else is worth it. But it won't hold, people are different, but it's important that a person in nature doesn't do harm equally to people, knows how to behave in society and it's better to be quiet than just complain and accuse others what they are.

There is some difference though. If you buy these small microcrampons, you can go around without a problem. Of course not in the mountains. When you buy 12-point crampons, though, you need to get used to walking so you don't injure yourself. If someone buys 12-point crampons and goes to demanding terrain, they will walk for a long time in pain because they won't know how to step without tripping themselves or injuring themselves.

I wish everyone the same: nice holidays, joy at the transition from the old to the new year 2023, especially health and safe steps wherever you are.

Otherwise I let everyone do as they wish and think is right. Still, I'm wondering if poles would also be useful for pushing off while running or swimming?

Erjavčeva hut, live picture shown on the WhatSup website, where you enter 'Vršič' and it offers 2 live cameras for viewing.

I don't like getting involved in certain posts, but anyway. The sheep owner can't watch the sheep every moment, especially if he's not nearby. An animal is an animal. Cows also shit on paths where people walk. If you check the Kriška gora webcam, you can see how they solved the same issue around the hut. Fence installation, but the owner of the object - the chapel - should install it in agreement with PZS. Why always shift the costs of problems to other people or organizations?

Nice, those cameras do work. But there's no hero to write what's up with the live streaming from the What Sup website. Too expensive, no more, will be when we agree, or something else. Is it that hard to write? We're not peeking through webcams at people, but at the landscape and what I wrote before. It would be nice if someone said something concrete. Otherwise I agree, what's the use of a big list of cameras if they don't work? Same as an empty ATM, but it's on the list. If you go to the What Sup website, images of most cameras from the hribi.net list are streamed. Thanks Tadej, some cameras that work and are being added.

Hello
I suggest replacing the live cameras from the What sup website with Alpe Jadran cameras, which do work. Nowhere is the reason stated why the latter no longer work. It's good to check what the actual weather is like in some part of Slovenia where you're heading. Especially in summer when they forecast thunderstorms, but sometimes it happens that in the area where one wants to go for a trip or hike, the weather is actually nice.

Hello
I am more of the opinion that if parking fee is paid (it is for maintaining parking spots, money collected by the landowner), parking cannot be at own risk, but vehicles must be insured for damage done on parking lots. And everywhere where fee is collected. Also, I wonder if parking fee goes into tax declaration or if tax is deducted or if it is just a flat rate for nicer income?