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The Dolomites always enchant us again with their beauty and the tidiness of tourist places, especially architecturally their building style blends very nicely with the local environment.
Yesterday in beautiful weather the path took us to the pass Passo Gardena at 2120 meters altitude. For all-day parking 4 euros are enough, which doesn't seem excessive to me. With backpacks we hiked along an easy and not too steep path past the Jimmi Hutte hut, towards the notch Forcela Cier. After a short descent there followed an ascent to another notch Forcella de Crespeina, where a view opens to the north side, towards the Peuz mountain group. Then a gentle ascent towards the summit of Sas Ciampac at 2672 meters. In total about two hours of easy walking to the summit, the path is suitable for everyone as it doesn't offer any specialties, no deep views either, except from the top towards Alta Badia valley. The views this time were quite foggy and limited due to the heatwave, but nevertheless nearby peaks were nicely visible especially towards the Sella group, where mighty Piz Boe reigns.
Thus we nicely ended a beautiful but too hot day in the valleys in mountain coolness.

Sometimes it's good to test the limits of one's own abilities a bit. Although I mainly do shorter tours with the bike up to 60 km, today I finally decided for a more serious tour, to cycle from Styria to Gorenjska. Start early in the morning from Tinja, descent towards Slo. Bistrica, continuation towards Celje, under Trojanami turn right towards Kamnik, then towards Kranj, Jesenice and stop a bit below Mojstrana, where I meet my wife who had just arrived by car with another bike in it. We continued cycling to Aljaž Hut together.
The route went without major problems except for the last ascents towards Aljaž which I barely managed without stopping, as my knees were already burning a bit.
Although I've gotten blisters on my hands many times before (but not from cycling), today for the first time it happened that I almost got them on my ass too. Despite padded cycling shorts, the hard saddle, which is supposed to be called a bike seat, obviously left its consequences.
Total just under 10 hours of cycling including stops, and 210 kilometers traveled including the descent from Aljaž back down to the car.

Yesterday, day before New Year's Eve my wife and I went from Krma to Kredarica. Since conditions except quite strong wind didn't look bad, I ascended alone to Triglav summit. Wife was enjoying at Kredarica then.
Conditions unchanged for some time. Crampons mandatory already below Kredarica due to very hard snow, same towards summit but there also one or two ice axes needed. I took two, but soon realized both at least in my opinion useful only in first steep, later the second is more or less in the way. Quite some protections are out and using them is easier if you have one hand free.
Safe in 2017!

Today's pre-Christmas morning...

The whole five-member family swapped this year's Adriatic vacation for a seven-day stay in the Swiss mountains. We stayed in the mountain valley of Saas-Almagell, which is at 1700 meters above sea level. As temporary residents of this valley, we got special cards with which we could travel unlimited for free on cable cars, gondolas and bus transport in the area of four settlements: Saas-Fee, Saas-Grund, Saas-Almagell and Saas-Balen. This made staying in proverbially expensive Switzerland much more bearable, although prices there aren't exactly low. Roughly speaking, I'd say multiply our shop prices by 2, in inns, mountain huts and cafes at least by 3, or more. Interestingly, hut prices don't rise with altitude, they're similar to the valley, which isn't the case with us.
Still, mountainous Switzerland showed itself in a positive light to us with its natural beauties, mighty snow-covered four-thousanders and glaciers, and calm friendly inhabitants. The living climate is pleasant, a bit harsher and with lower temperatures than ours, water is top-notch anyway, as daughter would pull the tap all the way home.

During every vacation on the Adriatic we go hiking to some nearby peak. This time Pelješac peninsula with highest peak Sv. Ilija. Started practically from the bottom on the coastal path in Orebić. The path is very nicely and cleverly laid out, a bit of a detour but as much as possible in shade. The slope is not too steep, with early enough start the heat is no big issue. On top quite cold compared to heat below. No infamous snakes seen, maybe they hid from the heat too. At the hut a bit below the top a local surprised us pleasantly, some kind of caretaker who brewed us real coffee you don't get in cafes anymore.
Whoever is even a bit of a mountaineer, shouldn't be scared of this path.

Today four family members first time to Dobrča summit. Direct from Brezje near Tržič. Path mostly dry, upper part some old snow and ice covered by thin fresh powder. Summit view limited by trees, worth to Šentanski vrh with superb views. Back detoured to Dobrča hut, warmed up and drank hot as unusual cold for season got in bones.

As nice as it was on Saturday, it was that bad on Sunday.
At Kredarica, thick fog with frost and light wind, higher towards Triglav similar, but with strong wind gusts.
Quite a few tried the ascent to the Triglav summit, but no one went beyond Mali Triglav. My son and I turned back already below the first steep slope, as according to those returning it was too dangerous and risky for the summit ascent.
There will be another nice day.

Despite forecasted weather worsening, with my son we hoped at least morning would hold for Turska gora visit. With headlamps on we quickly went to Okrešelj where it got light enough to stow them. Without crampons we continued to about half the scree under the gully. Further without crampons and ice axe not safe anymore, snow was hard and icy in places. Crampons gripped great on it allowing fast progress to gully exit. There strong wind surprised us, none in gully. With quite cold we put on everything from backpack. As we went to Turska gora summit fog and light snow came. All caused express descent back to gully lee. Despite snow still many hikers ascending hoping to reach at least Turski žleb exit. Worsening came bit early maybe crossed some plans. With son we were early enough for successful first winter ascent of Turska gora.

For this year's conditions an unusually nice day lured us yesterday into the mountain world too. With both sons we walked quite a long path. Start from Pokljuka, past Vodnikov dom and via Planika over Mali Triglav to the summit. We descended via Kredarica.
Conditions for walking excellent, though to Vodnikov dom in the dark and fog. Higher sunny, warm, rock dry everywhere and to the top also completely dry.
It's a pity the huts in the high mountains are closing already, as the weather has only now shown its true nice face.

The rockfall is a bit below the top of the Mangart Saddle. Last year the road there was officially closed to traffic, although many ignored it and parked higher. I don't know how it is this year, probably the same as last year. Below the rockfall there is a small parking lot, further down along the road there is space for some cars. From there to the top of the saddle is about 15 minutes' walk. With the nice weather tomorrow there will surely be a crowd up there. If you get there before 6 a.m., some space will still be available; later it's hard to predict. The parking fee is paid lower in the forest; I don't remember the amount, but it is not excessive.

I admit, my definition of planinec and gornik is set very roughly. Of course it matters if someone got to Triglav from Kredarica or via the North Triglav Face. But when I stand on top of Triglav it doesn't interest me that much. All who stand on the top that moment are gorniki for me, regardless of which side and how demanding path they climbed to it. I wouldn't delve into further analysis and pigeonholing.

From my side I see things something like this: Mountain pastures are where there's ground cover, can also be rock still overgrown with grassy scree, forest or low shrubbery. When bare rock starts prevailing, which is usually somewhere above the tree line or at height around 1800 meters, (not necessarily, since this border can vary a lot in height), the rugged terrain begins.
By the same logic I also separate planinec and gornik. All I meet for example on Velika Planina are planinci for me that moment, even though they might otherwise also be alpinists. But if I meet someone on top of Grintovec, Ojstrica, Triglav..., then that's definitely gornik for me, since in the end they climbed to the top of the mountain.
Planinec and gornik I thus separate mainly based on terrain or area where the person is currently located and moving. Acquired knowledge and experience have no role in this naming.

Today, in nice and pleasantly warm weather, my wife and both sons and I went up the Kremžar route to the summit of Jezerska Kočna. The path rightly has the reputation of being one of the most beautiful mountain paths in Slovenia. Perfect cables and pegs are where they should be, elsewhere there are plenty of quite solid natural holds that ensure safe progress and make the path even more interesting and less boring. In terms of difficulty, the path is nicely routed through natural passages and shouldn't pose problems for an experienced mountaineer, as in my opinion it's even a bit easier than Hanzova's to Mala Mojstrovka or Kopinškova's to Ojstrica. But the climbing section is quite long, and the return along the same path or via Mlinarjevo sedlo back to the starting point isn't easy either, which requires prolonged concentration and sufficient fitness from the hiker.
Otherwise, there's only one small snowfield left on the path that doesn't require winter gear. On the path to Mlinarjevo sedlo, however, there's still quite a large and steep snowfield, on which hikers were crawling up on all fours, probably without winter gear, at least that's how it looked.

Interesting suggestion Janez, but I'm afraid the cows would laugh at me too then. Hope I've paid the cow toll for at least the next twenty years.

Probably salt around cars isn't sprinkled only by Bohinj folks but also Italians. But that not around cars but right on them. I don't have any hard proofs but two days ago I was quite surprised how nicely cows worked over my car on the parking lot under Calvi hut in Carnic Alps. Entire car as far as they reached they licked thoroughly for me, turned both outside mirrors, and to top it off with horns left permanent marks on sheet metal and plastic that only a body shop can fix.
Otherwise nice trip this way gets a bit bitter aftertaste but still you ask who has greater right to be there, car or cow. Luckily such cases are few and it has to be taken into account somehow. Even where no cows some "cow" can hit you so no sense overreacting.

To avoid the worst heat, we three grandpas set out early in the morning from in front of Koča pod Košuto towards Cjajnik. We warmed up nicely until the climbing section and first sweat drops appeared. Here we gear up properly and chat a few words with Family "primoža", who were just entering the tougher part. We bravely tackle the cable and completely dry rock, which allows pretty quick progress. We spot a completely new grouted piton, as the drilling dust hasn't been washed by rain yet. After a stop at the quite windy summit, adrenaline descent to Cjajnikova škrbina followed, spoiled a bit by torn and for bare hands dangerous cable right before dropping into the notch itself, and same spot somewhat hidden and poorly visible peg under the rock. Path continuation to Košutnikov Turn is no problem. On descent over hanging bridge, watch for crumbly rocks everywhere waiting to be triggered, not just under feet, also in hands you quickly hold a piece.
Us early birds had a nice day, others already got fog and stronger wind embracing highest peaks announcing weather change.