Slovenia, 2007

 
  Day one in Ljubljana. Met Mladen, John (off-screen), Elena, and Diana at a cafe. John, Elena and Diana at the top of th Ljubljanski Grad (castle). Ljubljana. Diana strikes a pose. The museum of contemporary history.  
 

 
  My luxury accommodations (Thanks, Simon and Lidija!) A pleasant day hike. My transportation around town (Thanks Simon and Lidija!) The route up the flank of Smarna Gora -- getting ready for the via ferrate of the Julian Alps. A nice hiking trail.  
 

 
  I was clipped in at least. The view up the Sava valley. A kayak competition on the Sava. Tomas arrives. We leave for the mountains -- in Kranjska Gora.  
 

 
  First goal -- Prisojnik via the north face and the window. The Russian chapel near Vrsic pass. The window on Prisojnik. Me and Prisojnik. Yet another view of the Prisojnik north face.  
 

 
  Vrsic pass -- a WW2 era bunker. Vrsic pass -- a guard post The Postarska Koca -- our accomodations at Vrsic. The beginning of the via ferrata. Tomas starts climbing,  
 

 
  and continues climbing, and climbs some more, and keeps climbing, and takes a break. Me posing with the valley floor below.  
 

 
  A steep section. Another steep section. Tomas with the valley floor below. Steep scrambling. Via ferrata -- the iron trail.  
 

 
  Last time I was here, in 1993, I was gripped with terror. This time, I actually enjoyed climbing the route. As did Tomas -- his first via ferrata. Delicate moves on loose, snow covered rock. Up the chimney.  
 

 
  Which way is up? A bit of exposure. Which way is down? Easier terrain. Still on the north face of Prisojnik.  
 

 
  Tomas on steep ground. The cables were reassuring. The window. On the way up through the window. Loose rock, sketchy footing.  
 

 
  Through the window. Up the slabs to the exit of the window. The other side of the mountain. Me at the exit from the window. The trail back to Vrsic pass.  
 

 
  The route we just climbed goes up the right side of this face. Another group of peaks on the other side of Vrsic. Sheep. The trail up Mlinarica valley to Razor pass. It was a grind.  
 

 
  But we steadily gained elevation. And rested occasionally. Up near the top of Mlinarica. The trail up to Razor pass is steep. But equipped with cables in places.  
 

 
  View of the NW ridge of Prisojnik -- we were glad we opted out of that route. Alpine rock. Still going up? With some help from iron pins and cables. A poser on the trail.  
 

 
  Tomas takes a break. The trail we ascended is barely visible below. Nearing Razor pass. Signs of life among the rocks. Tomas approaching the pass.  
 

 
  Razor pass in the clouds. The Pogacnikov hut is barely visible below. On the front porch of the Pogacnikov hut. Tomas outside of the hut. Pogacnikov hut -- it's being given a face lift.  
 

 
  Sheep in the clouds. View from the hut -- the Soca valley. Tomas with Pihavec behind. Up the scree slopes of Pihavec. The short via ferrata to the ridge of Pihavec,  
 

 
  that goes up some interesting ladders, into a rubble filled gully, and out to the ridge. Nice views of the Vrata valley. Tomas on the summit of Pihavec, Triglav behind.  
 

 
  Cairns on the summit plateau. Me posing in front of Triglav. The Bamberg way goes up the NW ridge of Triglav. Tomas descending. Me on an exposed bit of trail.  
 

 
  Karst. Our comfy accomodations. One of the lakes behind the hut. Another lake behind the hut. A large goat strikes a pose.  
 

 
  Up Bovski Gamsovec. Another uphill grind. With a bit of exposure to wake us up. The airy ridge of Bovski Gamsovec. On to the summit ridge.  
 

 
  At the summit. And down towards Luknja Pass. The start of the Bamberg Way. Me posing at Luknja Pass. An old Italian mule trail, sadly it goes down,  
 

 
  and keeps going down, before going back up, and up, and up to the next hut. The Trzaska hut,  
 

 
  at Dolic pass. Tomas on scree, with Triglav behind. Up to another pass. And over the other side to the Seven Lakes Valley. It was hot.  
 

 
  Lake number four. The lake near the Seven Lakes Hut, where we got to kick back, before a late afternoon hike. Alpine flora,  
 

 
  and fauna. Looking southeast. Posing in the grass. Down into the forests again. Into the Bohinj valley.  
 

 
  Drago didn't make it. But we did. I even managed to visit Boris the nudist carpenter at his summer house in Croatia. Where we feasted, swam in the sea,  
 

 
  and watched the tide come in, and saw Zdravko, Natasa and family. Then Jimmy showed up in Ljubljana. To see the bike races, and the spectators,  
 

 
  and the artwork on the banks of the Ljubljanica river. And of course playing cricket with Greg was required, to make this visit to Slovenia, complete. Near miss.  
 

 
  Tomas after the game. Back in town.  
 

created with igal-wt