Tone, first thanks for the offered opportunity!
After well-hiked days, I'm making the last plans on how to use the last free day of the week. I'm browsing reports and the Rokavs catch my attention! Why? They are my big unfulfilled wish since I first saw them on the path to Oltar. They look so mighty, wild, and beautiful! But at the same time inaccessible. That's what inspired me to follow the path of alpinism in life.
When I spotted the invite from user lijaneja, I simply couldn't resist his generous offer. Of course I decided to carry the rope - a small price to be taken to the mountain I wanted so badly. I try to send a PM and damn, right then hribi.net crashes.
Murphy, I say! First I thought it was just my internet, then I tried via phone and found out the site really doesn't work. What do I do now?
I didn't give up and after a few moments I try again. This time it went through and I didn't need long for Tone's call.
After a few words, I immediately knew he was the right guy and we quickly made a plan for the next day.
Yes, the morning was a bit chaotic, since I had never used public transport to Vrata before and relied on my "guide", but maybe we were a bit too euphoric in anticipation of the super tour and overlooked that our transport was standing across the street until it drove past our surprised looks haha
Truth be told, they could put up a more visible sign or board in Mojstrana where this Vandrovec stands or where its stop is.
Regardless, we managed to catch the transport at the second stop and started the day properly: with helmets on our heads
The ascent went smoothly. Hats off to Tone that at his age he can still confidently keep up with the youth!
When we arrived in Kotel my heart really danced. In front of me were the mighty walls of the Rokavs. I impatiently waited to dig into the scree first and then the rock and climb up to the glacier. We were up as if in the blink of an eye. I won't forget that sight for a long time! What an experience! The saddle between two sheer peaks (High and Middle Rokav) with nothing but steep walls above from which here and there protrude some monoliths, large pointed sculptures resembling obelisks. It feels like being in the middle of some fairy tale. This atmosphere is elevated to a higher level by moments like the roaring avalanches that move with unstoppable force down the slope of the Rokav glacier with large rock blocks and crush everything in front of them. God help, I think, what would happen if someone was down there just then, meanwhile it raises my adrenaline level just thinking that I'll soon be climbing above this ruined and abyssal world amid all this action below... hmmm what all one thinks of then...
On the other hand, concentration was really at a high level after we started climbing toward the summit, since you realize that any wrong step could be your last, and at the same time you have to watch the orientation so as not to stray from the optimal direction.
I admit that despite everything I really enjoyed the ascent to the summit, although every hold needs to be checked multiple times to make sure it holds.
In the end, when I finally manage to step onto the solitary summit, I realize that all the effort really paid off.
I'm overjoyed that my wish has finally come true. I needed to breathe a few times and convince myself that I really succeeded
Since we were fast and youthfully disposed (read full of drive
), we decided to visit Middle Rokav and Škrlatica as well.
Tone kept his word and after the tour treated us to pizza and drinks at Gorenc.
Thanks again for the unforgettable tour!
It was an honor to carry your rope.
I'm grateful that I made a new acquaintance. You can count on me again sometime!
Best regards,
Vito