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| Two days in the Julian Alps - Krnica, Kriski podi, Vrsic |
My friend Jaka and I made a quick decision to make the best of a great weather forecast and spend two days hiking in the Julian Alps. Starting in the Krnica valley we climbed the Kriska stena face and Mt. Kriz, and spent the night at Kriski podi. Day 2 was marked by an injured knee, so we took the shorter trail than intended to the Vrsic pass. |
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Pinkish light in the pre-dawn Krnica valley.
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First touches of orange sunlight on the mountain peaks.
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Going up on loose scree was strenuous.
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Light was quickly changing from orange to yellow and finally white.
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At the end of the valley we were faced by the Kriska stena rockface.
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Fisheye view of the sky and surrounding mountains.
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After breakfast in merciless wind we began the ascent.
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At the very end of the valley there was still quite a bit of snow.
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Climbing - yay!
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We were gaining altitude fast while the Krnica valley behind us was already bathing in the sun.
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More climbing.
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We had gorgeous views of the Razor range across the valley.
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In the rockface.
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An iron peg and a blaze.
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Jaka and his blue helmet.
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We stopped every few minutes to take photos.
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Steel rope helped with the climbing.
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At the top of the rockface.
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Jaka and Mt. Razor.
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We were headed for the Pogacnik hut.
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After reaching the trail to the top of Mt. Kriz the view of the Pogacnik hut opened up.
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Me on top of Mt. Kriz pointing to Mt. Triglav with its famous north face.
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Mt. Kriz, and Mt. Razor and Mt. Prisojnik in the background.
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A quick descent to the Pogacnikov dom proved to be long and hot. But the views were great. This is the upper lake of the three (Zgornje Krisko jezero).
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We spent a glorious afternoon at the Pogacnik hut enjoying the views.
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Benches with the view of the Trenta valley.
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Reflection in the middle lake (Srednje Krisko jezero).
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We were surrounded by mountains.
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Cheeky young ibex.
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Karst landscape below Mt. Bovški Gamsovec and Mt. Pihavec.
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Mt. Planja and Mt. Razor in sweet light with the Pogacnik hut.
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Another ibex.
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Then a bigger ibex came and chased the poor youngster away.
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Everybody at the hut enjoyed the wonderful late afternoon light.
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A detail.
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Last sun rays.
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Orange horizon over the Trenta valley.
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End of day.
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Prehodavci and Mt. Zelnarica in golden light. Put the cursor over the photo to see the same scene 30 minutes later.
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Mt. Bovski Gamsovec was on fire.
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Quarter to eight the sun was gone.
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Trenta.
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Trenta.
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Silhouette.
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The beautiful Lepo spicje face and Mt. Zadnjiski ozebnik in the foreground.
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Last traces of orange in the sky.
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Prehodavci.
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It was getting dark fast.
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It was dark - this is a 15s exposure.
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The Pogacnik hut before we called it a night and packed our photo gear.
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Early morning - Mt. Planja and Mt. Razor in pink.
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Looking back towards the hut and Mt. Pihavec.
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More scree.
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Smooth rocks.
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An ibex at breakfast.
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Climbing.
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Heading towards the Planja saddle.
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Just before the saddle.
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Looking back we could see Mt. Triglav.
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Our hut down below and the nasty scree trail that we had already covered.
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First sun rays from behind Mt. Razor.
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At the Planja saddle views of the other side opened up: Mt. Jalovec, Mangart and Prisojnik.
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At the saddle we had to make a sad, but reasonable decision: due to Jaka's injured knee we would have to skip Razor and head straight down towards Vrsic.
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Last look of Mt. Triglav before descening to the other side.
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The trail goes below the summit and offers great views of Mt. Prisojnik.
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Jaka was in pain and had to walk slowly.
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More great views.
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Finally Jaka caved in and took a bandage for his knee.
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But there was more climbing ahead of us - going down.
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Mt. Prisojnik with the Mlinarica saddle.
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Thus far we had only seen one other hiker - at the Planja saddle. It's great to have the trail all to yourself. :)
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We had lunch below the Razor rockface. Yes, we came down this way. :)
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Another summit we had to leave out - Mt. Prisojnik. But there will always be other opportunities, so no worries. :)
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The trail to Vrsic on the southern flanks of Prisojnik. Mt. Bavski Grintavec and Jalovec in the background.
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Mt. Prisojnik from below.
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Down the grassy slopes.
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It was scorching hot.
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Mt. Razor looks very imposing from this stand point.
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The shady woods didn't offer much relief from the heat because the air was so sultry.
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More and more puffy clouds above Mt. Bavski Grintavec.
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Jaka braving his pain.
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A short ascent before reaching the Gladki rob ridge.
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Detail of Mt. Razor's face with the route we took.
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Suddenly the summit was shrouded in clouds.
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"Tired tower" (Utrujeni stolp) of Mt. Planja.
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Jaka and I just before the end of the hike.
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A chunk of the mountain crashed down a couple of years ago.
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The ideal conclusion of every hike: jota with sausage! :)
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