Skiing from Velika Martuljška Ponca

Type: Interesting

Description:
9.4.2018 - Skiing from Velika Martuljška Ponca
http://www.freeapproved.com/objave/2018/04/09/smuka-z-velike-martuljske-ponce-v-dnino.html
Four Freeapproved members and two sympathizers headed out early this morning to Gorenjska. At about 4:30 a.m., we began the ascent on skis and semi-splitboards (aka splitboard) from the 3rd serpentine past Koča v Krnici, where we turned sharply left toward Dnina. Unfortunately, our skis gripped only in the lower flat section, soon walking on skis over huge ice chunks from avalanche debris in the gully became so laborious that we switched to crampons and it stayed that way to the top of Velika Martuljška Ponca. Conditions for uphill travel were very favorable, and at a conversational pace we reached 130 meters below the VMP summit in less than four hours. We inspected several potentially skiable options, but despite the snowy winter we didn't find suitable lines, wasting more than an hour. But we had plenty of time and didn't stress. We dug into the steep slope, climbed the vertical water ice step that opened the path to the summit. Views from the top were divine, only the extremely strong SW wind pulled under our suits and cooled us significantly. We quickly descended from the summit, did a 60-meter drop, and ended up on enjoyable ski terrain where we waited over an hour. The upper part was great, sun-softened by the favorable sun angle, in Dnina quite hard but enjoyable. We avoided avalanche debris in the lower gully first to the right near the marked path to Špik via Lipnica, then far left lower down. The double traverse was quite a rodeo. Higher up the strong wind prevented feeling the high temperatures, lower down it was like a cauldron. On the 'sledge' track from Koča v Krnici to the meadow there were many hikers, many loudly and impatiently noting it's a footpath and skiers/snowboarders not welcome. The arduous hike back to the cars ended a great day.

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Video length: 01:01