17 7 2023 Planjava Brana Okrešelj Križ

One training day in Kamnik alps (which is the shortest way for me to get in the alps from home). I call it training because I have been here many times so everything is very familiar and no so exiting as it was years ago unfortunately.

The plan was to attempt Planjava - Brana - Mrzla gora - Kranjska Rinka, if the conditions permit. Conditions in this case being the heat, because its the middle of the summer and and quite hot these days. Luckily the day was saved when the clouds gathered in the middle of the day powered by wind and the temperature sudddenly became perfect which is what you want. This laster for good couple of hours, making the hiking very pleasant. The water was (almost) abundant though the day because the snow is still melting and you can find weater sources everywhere.

Route through Grapa za Vrati. It the variation from Srebrno sedlo and its perfect for summer because the whole way its in shade. Actually its perfect in winter as well when condition meet :)

On the top of Planjava, view towards Zahodni greben Planjave, which is the other peak easily accessible from the standard peak using the sinple path. Definitely worth visiting.

Descent towards Kamničko sedlo. You can see the clouds in action which made the conditions and the temperature perfect in the middle of the day.

On the top of Brana. Met group from Međimurje here. They were quite excited that the clouds finally broke up a bit and the view opened because it was quite cloudy on the peaks for a while.

View towards Turksa gora (left), Mrzla gora (right)

Descent from Brana

Kamničko sedlo, Ojstrica visible in the distance.

Mrzla gora in all its glory.

After Okrešelj I decided to skip Mrzla gora, because the day suddenly became hot again, clouds have dissapeared, and I would not have energy and time to do Mrzla gora as well. In the end I needed to get back to my car which was still very far away and I was not ready to suffer that much.

So after Okrešelj I went directly to Koroška Rinka, Križ via ferrata route to Ledine. This on its own was already a big climb. Aftrwards I confirmed the doubts (I did not have :) that there was no way I managed to do Mrzla gora that day as well. The day would lenghten long in the darkness if I went that way.

Velika Baba

Top of Koroška Rinka and around 19 o'clock. It was actually quite cold on the top because the wind was blasting and I did not even had the windbraker.

In the end I descended to the car right before the dark and ended with quite a big blister on my left foot. I guess I took the wrong shoes. And again I did not brake 4000 meters of elevation :)

All in all a good day, some washing in the bloody cold river of Kamniška Bistrica and some peanut butter before sitting in the car and driving home.

 

10 7 2023 Kukova Špica Škrnatarica Dovški Križ

Day started hot, too hot .  I also started too late (around noon ) because I drove from home that day. Its my first time on this route. Parking lot was empty so I knew most probably I wont meet anybody which is almost to be expected on this part of the Julian alps, especially over the week. Thats a good and the bad, depending how you look at it. If you want a crowd, going to Triglav at any route is your best bet always. If you are looking for peace and quiet, this is the place to be, like most other non marked hiking routes, or like Slovenian call them "brezpotja", translated roughly like "no paths". There are paths ofcourse, but they are just not marked.

View on the Triglav. The path is clearly visible on start and goes through the forest at the beginning,  which is great becuase its in shade. Later it exits the forest and becomes pretty much standard loose rock uphill battle. Those familiar know that the route from Plaz Črlovec to Kukova špica is actually best done in winter, when all the gullies get covered with snow and in good conditions it becomes a joy to climb up directly though the gully. 

On the top of Kukova Špica. The view is pretty serene and worth any efforts. Triglav on the left in th distance,  Škrnatarica on the right, on which we are going next.

Better view of Škrnatarica with a might amphitheater on the right.

We chose approximate free style route on the right marked in red dots. There are many options. Official route goes through the gully on the left, which still has some snow, but its duable as well.

On the top of Škrnatarica. What this picture does not show is that to get to the actual top of Škrnatarica you need to free climb roughly 5 meters of steep rock (around grade III). The same goes when you want to come down, which then gets even harder. I managed to get around this when going up, because if you dont go through the gully, but instead you free climb right, you get straight t

Beautiful amphitheater right of Dovški Križ

Better view of Triglav, which is usually not the most beautiful peak (whcih will many people tell you), but from this angle, it looks quite good. Its probably the best angle to look at Triglav. Also the huge 3 kilometer long rocky north face of Triglav is always impressive.

Crossing the ridge towards Dovški Križ actually requires the rope for many abseils along the way. The path is equipped with abseil points, if oyu have the rope of course. Alternative it the go down  and left of the ridge where the path is almost normal most of the way and you can get along without needing the rope or anything else.

Mountain flowers along the way.

On the top of Dovški Križ. Looking back from the ridge we came from.

Heading down. Bivouac (orignall called Bivak na Jezerih) visible on the right. This place is called Šplevta. 

Last good view of Triglav before heading down the steep route of Poldov Rovt, which has a lot of loose rock on the way. Loose stony debris on a slope we call "sipar". This is a good way to come down fast but only if have real high mountian shoes, like you would in the winter. If you are in a sneakers, than its a disaster for your sneakers :)

This is how my shoes look after few of these loose rocky descents. Things get expensive very quickly :P