sloufut - Recent messages

Oh poor Uroš1, his pacifier fell out of his mouth and mommy forgot to tell the babysitter to change his diaper, now he's yelling like a calf. Average hikers are a bit tougher and more patient. If it doesn't work first time, we repeat or wait for better conditions. Really not everyone is suitable for caretaker, but obviously not for mountaineer either. Personally I'm fully satisfied with the staff at the hut on Krim, true I haven't been so tired yet that I had to sleep there. And a tip for the future: when you were already in the valley you should have rather turned to some 4 or 5 star hotel in Ljubljana, where they'd surely serve you a nicer bed than in a remote mountain hut, and you wouldn't have to drag your totally exhausted and tired self to another similar hill. Yuck-yuck, some really can't manage.

For about 20 years we've been vacationing in Viganj and every year I head to St. Ilija 3 to 5 times via different routes to see if there's anything new. I'd say I'm pretty familiar, although you don't meet real locals there. Mostly Czechs and Poles and of course Slovenes. Snakes? On trodden paths there are none, because they love peace too, but if you go looking for trouble in bushes and rocks a few 10m away, you'll find them (tested from experience, no consequences). St. Ilija is a nice hill, suitable for any physically healthy person with at least medium fitness. All paths are roughly the same length, technically undemanding and mostly very scenic. Mountaineers also have no issues following marked trails and with orientation. The path from the sea is marked 2:50 but moderate uphill walking takes about 2 to 2.5 hours, faster about 1 hour 45 min. Strenuous for small kids, especially when hot. But most important is early hour - as soon as morning light is enough for safe walking. Water 1.5 to 2 L per person suffices. Footwear for rock and scree, sneakers risk a stone hit on the ankle. 2 is better than alone (hm, as always; three is the best pair) and phone in pocket. Return from hill by 10 at latest, later the last part gets really hellishly hot. And that's all! Whoever follows these tips (from my long-term trials), will enjoy the trip immensely. Just stick to trodden marked paths and it's no more dangerous than to Kamniško sedlo - even less walking. Don't seek trouble "off path", because nothing is prettier there than on the path, quite the opposite, hard to find you if something "breaks". Otherwise go boldly and happy steps!