sonny4 - Recent messages

This year I successfully completed the STKP and thought I'd share some memories here (also for my own records). For all 41 stages, it took me four years. Thank goodness I'm stubborn, otherwise I wouldn't have finished it at all. The initial enthusiasm fades over time, and hobbies and life situations change. I rode all stages alone and stage by stage, which makes it harder because you have to return to the starting point.
Stubbornly, I rode every meter marked in the GPX files. That meant climbing some peaks twice if the route didn't allow a sensible return to the start via the descent route to the other side. For example, to Iztok Hut under Golaki, I first climbed from the Idrija direction, next time from Ajdovščina, so I could descend the planned route, even though I already had the stamp from that hut.
I can admit that the trail would be too hard for me with a regular MTB. It would be possible, but for me, given everything, it would be a life adventure. I had a good eMTB and two batteries. I usually rode stages in a figure-eight shape, leaving the car in the middle, riding one loop with one battery, then swapping and riding the other. Still, most of the time I had to pedal parts on my own power.
99% of the trail is rideable. On rare sections, you have to push the bike. Mostly marked (meaning signs at main junctions and blue-white marks along the trail), but without GPS it would be hard. So many unmarked minor junctions, singletracks, forest paths, turnoffs that if you want to follow the track, you need GPS. And the cyclist is too fast, misses signs accidentally. From stamp to stamp (e.g., main road), probably ok without. This isn't criticism of the trail managers; it looks like huge effort was put into the trail, and still is, so heartfelt thanks to them. They've arranged everything super. No comments or suggestions, just humbly wish they continue the successful work.
In short, the trail is long. Needs will to finish what you started. Rewards with satisfaction at completion. In between, I remember mostly the people I met. Discovered places I hadn't been. It was worth it.

Some stats:
- took me 43 days total (two stages too long for one day)
- 54-113km per stage, avg 70km
- total 3037km
- 600-2747m elevation gain per stage, avg 1774m
- total 76297m
- avg speed 13km/h
- Moving Time: 1h30min to 6h per stage, avg 3h41min
- Moving Time total 158h
- Elapsed Time: 2h to 8h30min per stage, avg 5h32min
- Elapsed Time total 238h

Specialized Turbo Levo

Thanks a lot . Yes, starting is hard, persisting even harder. It's hard to find time, and even when you have time, the weather has to cooperate.

I saved the nicest stages (for me basically around the Julians and along the Coast) for the end, to motivate me like "just get through these, then only the best await".

My favorite stages:
17 Marezige - Tumova koča na Slavniku
10 Idrija pri Bači - Cerkno
08 Dom v Lepeni - Koča na planini Kuhinja
07 Poštarski dom na Vršiču - Dom v Lepeni
06 Kovačarska koča v Krmi - Poštarski dom na Vršiču
04 Koča na Petrovem Brdu - Planinska koča na Uskovnici
02 Miheličev dom na Govejku - Koča na Blegošu
35 Dom na Peči - Dom Logarska
30 Ruška koča - Ribniška koča
29 Maribor - Ruška koča
25 Koča na Bohorju - Planinski dom na Resevni
09 Planina Kuhinja - Idrija pri Bači

Actually, the ski resort at Sella Nevea is closed for this season, but it offers excellent ski touring. Today there were quite a few of us, some went to Uršič saddle, some to Prevala. Super descent on softened and even partly groomed (from Gilberti hut down) snow. From Sella Nevea to Prevala is 1100m, just right for a nice tour. At the bottom you need to walk some 10m.

Maybe this thread is the most appropriate. Yesterday I went on skis from Ribčev laz towards Planina Suha, and a bit higher. Goal was the Čez Suho saddle, but upper part was quite hard, and I had no crampons, so didn't risk it. Snow actually good for skiing, but I fell sloppily twice because of crust. Caution not superfluous. With car up to 750m asl, then snow all the way, except a few spots with a couple meters clear.

Yesterday on Dovška Baba with skis. With slightly higher car can reach 1080 m a.s.l. Snow below summit was crusty, towards hut and lower already sinking in.

Yesterday from Rudno polje to Viševnik, then to Srenjski preval, descent to Jezerce on skis, then to Studorski preval, and back to Jezerce and Srenjski preval. Followed by skiing through Kačji rob back to Rudno polje. Crampons were quite necessary for me, especially back to Srenjski preval. Although, judging by the tracks, more skilled ones got to that pass on skis.

Everything is super trodden. Skiing was so-so - snow is quite varied.

Yesterday to Okrešelj from Logarska dolina. Car needs to be left at Dom planincev, so a 30-minute walk to the parking at the waterfall. Conditions excellent. Well trodden, also towards Savinjsko sedlo, and through Turski žleb (at least what could be seen from afar).

Yesterday by bike on the road from Podgorje to Slavnik. Conditions good, snow was still just soft enough to reach the top without walking. Nice variation.

Sorry for the unclarity. Groomed from Zadnji Vogel to Orlova glava, lower part not, but very "skied out". One can go up on foot, at least yesterday it was like that.

Sorry for the unclarity. Ratracked from Zadnji Vogel to Orlova glava, lower part not, but very "skied over". One can go on foot, at least yesterday it was so.

Yesterday at Vogel ski resort, fantastic conditions. A bit cold, but snow excellent, off the groomed runs on powder nice skiing. Through Žagarjev graben (groomed to the planina) one can ski right to the valley, plenty of snow.

Yesterday (30.11.) on Lajnar and Možic. Quite a few people, ski slope groomed, tons of snow. Phenomenal conditions.

Today on Plešivec from Loška Koritnica. Protections are in good condition - so the claims I read somewhere that all bolts are bent don't hold. Also no need to worry about the "too thin" cable, as it has been pulled out. The place that this cable additionally protected is normally passable.
Otherwise yes, to the saddle Čez Brežice is half climbing, half jungle. The trail is well visible and marked. Really few people go here. The path is demanding, the climbing part is quite vertical, exposed, awkward (or I'm just awkward...), lots of scree. SVK was useful and I recommend it. Otherwise, they put a lot of effort into this path in the past, as they carved steps into the rock to the top.
The path from the saddle to Plešivec is comfortable, a trodden little path. At the top, a great view as a reward.
Along the path, at around 1250m, a branch (20m) to a refreshing stream.
1500m elevation gain, 8h.

The described direction suited me fine. The advantage is that you go up (up is safer than down) on the exposed and pebble-strewn path to Bovška vratca. But it's fine either way, attractive in both directions.

On 15.7. walked the nice circular route of the predecessor, so from Vrata via Luknja to Bovški Gamsovec and then via Bovška vratca back to Vrata. No snowfields on the path that pose a problem (not even in the morning when hard), as they are gentle or can be bypassed.
On the way back met a ski tourer who descended from Stenarska vratca. Bravo!
In eight hours of moderate walking, 1500 m elevation gain accumulated.