n3jc - Recent messages

Since we didn't find any descriptions on the internet in a hurry for Capu Suariccione (1433m) and Capu di Melo (1562m), but we went anyway, I'm posting a short description here.

The two peaks caught our eye on the map, as they were right above our overnight stay. We started from the road descending from the Col de Vergio pass to the west. Along pleasant cart tracks to the path junction (pic 1), from the junction against all signposts: into the forest via pathless/game trails towards Capu Suariccione. From there a ridge path leads east, bypasses the next peak (Capu di Melo), but the summit can be reached with minimal effort via easy pathless terrain. If continuing in the same direction, next peak is Capu a Rughia (1712m), but we ran out of time for it.
Bottom line: very nice modest hike offering no prestige but peace: met no people on it, just loads of cows, goats and pigs.

Maybe it helps if you write this about Kriška stena in both directions in the topic dedicated to it. Maybe someone finds it or there is a greater chance that modern search engines ("artificial intelligence") with which tourists help themselves will find it.

Maybe from Cojzova koča towards Slemen (on the way towards Turska gora)?

Interesting that I now see the above question ... here's the answer:

Today's tour was meant to be something more grandiose, but the feeling didn't cooperate. So in the middle I changed plans and did the following route: Belca(village) - Sedejnikov Rovt along the path - road - Surkov Rovt - Borovje - saddle Sija (the one where there's a junction for Kurjeke, Erjavcev Rovt and Planica). At the saddle it was shady and windy and I spent a good hour there. Already on the previous visit I noticed that there's a special atmosphere there ... Then to Planica and further west. Right after Planica is the most annoying and dangerous part of the path, where the steep path, strewn with needles, descends over a steep slope, too steep to risk a slide. Not recommended. Then I stuck to the ridge, along which a medium to poorly trodden path is visible. To the left and right the terrain is unfriendly and unsuitable for retreat - steepness, rocks or windfalls. Somewhere in between I even find one guy. Extremely unrecommended terrain to force through blindly, although along the right passages it's quite okay. The ridge descends and the path becomes friendlier, then it rises and I find myself on a forested peak, on some maps the peak is marked with the name Na Siji. The ridge there splits into two arms, I follow the one that points towards Belca. I give up on the path because sometimes it's there, sometimes not, first I still stick to the ridge, later I move globally in the direction of least slope and reach the road, from which I go back to Sedejnikov Rovt and then back to the village Belca.

From the views on the ridge west of Planica there's nothing worth mentioning. The mentioned path slide is the biggest minus, also later there were "oops" moments when the foot slipped a few centimeters, an important aspect of risk is also orientation or the possibility of bad decisions in demanding terrain, where continuation is not always obvious. The same actually applies to the ascent to Sedejnikov Rovt and the descent (neither of them is orientationally trivial, each has at least one loop)

Everything I listed (with the exception of Borovje and Planica and the road) is perhaps attractive for those who find our upper Sava forests cool (Mezakla, Smrajka, Rutarski vršič, surroundings of Kurji vrh, Požar, parts of PP...), but even to them I'd rather say not to expect too much or it really goes for a "niche" experience. It's a similar type of beauty and similar pitfalls and risks. For others to whom this isn't - see risks - it probably isn't worth it.

"There are more leaves on the ground than in October ... and you still slip on them."

This is exactly the information I came looking for for the Julian Alps right now - this is key data for tomorrow's plans somewhere else. Thank you. Because of notes on conditions, it's good that descriptions are provided, even if it's a path described a hundred times ...

Just buying a pair of shoes ahead and went to check my post from a year and a half ago, adding some new thoughts:

1. Alpina Royal V 23: meant as a shoe for ~70EUR for the easiest hikes, but during ankle problems period it turned out Scarpa mescalito has so much better foot grip and comfort that now I always wear low Mescalito. Pricier but the difference for me is day and night. More about it below.

2. Scarpa mescalito mid - described in 2025 post. Retired workhorse waiting to be taken out a few more times

3. Scarpa mescalito low - wear it for all light hikes and uphill walks including several hours of regular dog walks every week. Signs of wear and minor sole peeling are here but it has seen a lot including travels. Far from the fiasco of sole falling apart on Mescalito mid described in my 2025 post. This shoe also best grips/"holds" the foot among all low ones I've ever had giving it a unique bonus due to occasional ankle issues. Sooner or later I'll buy another pair in stock.

4. La Sportiva boulder X - due to slightly too small size unofficially retired/reserve.

5. La Sportiva boulder X mid - workhorse for harder tours. Still the best. But with them or approach shoes in general I've hit the ceiling; for some tour types I'll start using high mountaineering shoe with lugged sole again. Not so much because of ankle but stability and grip where it really matters.

6. Kayland don't know which winter model: still perfectly ok.

A hike across Martinj steza a few days ago opened a "philosophical" question: an 80kg and a 65kg person find themselves in front of a rotten little bridge. Should the lighter or heavier person cross the bridge first?

If the participants are equal, there is no clear answer. More interesting is if they are not equal, i.e. if one is the "organizer", the other lets himself be led. If the organizer is heavier, it's probably right that he goes first. If the organizer is lighter, then it gets complicated...

Well, luckily the organizer was heavier and the suspicious little bridge withstood him first, then the companion. We continued across Rzenik and Konj, and across Presedljaj towards Orglicam - this last part of the path leads through a lot of forest windfall (there is a warning in maPZS) but the detours are really well arranged - no difficulties.

Thanks for the advice. I was thinking more for myself about extending to Kanjavec sometime on the same tour, not for the dog.

A bunch of thoughts after yesterday's hike from Krma to Dolič and back.

1. At six in the morning continuing to the last parking lot is a lottery which I lost this time and returned to the penultimate parking lot. That bad little kilometer I walked in less time than the attempt towards the first parking lot took (drive there + drive back + loss of time turning while others are also turning and meeting other vehicles that didn't know what to do)

2. Ascent from Krma: as always. There were some people but everyone walks at the same pace so there are actually few encounters.

3. At Bohinjska vratca: first time there this time. Lonely well marked. At one spot a lot of caution is needed awkward passage as if the path had been washed away a bit. If I had companions with me I would make a detour; it looked like maybe it was possible below the path; can't confirm didn't try.

4. Past Vodnikov dom towards Dolič: shady corners can be found all the way to 2000m (forest below some boulder above) I gladly greeted them because I had a dog with me. Surprisingly lonely.

5. Comment on the dog: I took him because it was cold everything went fine he had a good time. In typical summer temperatures I wouldn't even think of it.

6. Dolič: gratefully took the opportunity to get a cold non-alcoholic drink at such height. These days many of you talk about prices saying they are too high; I don't know the answer because of those who are tight with money I don't even want to defend the hut system which I don't know but still: yesterday's coke for 6EUR was better than 6 of the same in the valley for 1EUR each. Around Dolič I meet most people on today's tour and it was quite fitting at this point to return to the lonely path towards Vodnikov dom.

7. The purpose of the trip was to assess how a tour from Krma to Kanjavec would look. Roughly the heights in this case would rise towards 2200m. Just to Dolič you do 1500m ascent but also 300m descent which you have to make up on the way back.

8. The way back towards Vodnikov dom dragged on. Shady spots below the forest line are great and I took a lot of time to lounge. At Vodnikov dom there is a tap with cold water (thanks for the infrastructure - I use it for free - all too self-evident). The ascent to Bohinjska vratca is steep and richly sunny but passed quickly probably because I rested in the shade. If I ever extend this tour to Kanjavec and keep a sharper pace it will probably be harder. In late afternoon hours the descent from the saddle to Krma is completely in shade below the saddle you have to watch your step a bit then just to Krma where it drags as usual. That last kilometer to the penultimate parking lot no problem.

All the enjoyment of lonely corners stretched the tour to 13 hours well spent time.

So. Continue!

Where/what?

Between Pihavec and Bovski Gamsovec?

Toni guessed it, the picture was taken below the peak of Kompotele. Continue!

Not there

Where?

On meteo.si, weather, Mountain world, at the bottom of the table you have indication of atmospheric stability, and also humidity estimates. Moist air and instability mean favorable conditions for thunderstorm formation. If in the afternoon this probability is 95%, in the morning 5%, this does not exclude the possibility of a strong thunderstorm already in the morning - but because the probability that it will be sunny in the morning is high, the forecast shows a sun symbol with a white cloud, but you have to assess the thunderstorm possibility yourself by checking moisture and instability and over the long term build an idea what this means in practice on the terrain you visit (Julians ... Smarna ... Pohorje ...). Well, mountains.