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Abram's path around Pihavec

journeyman13. 09. 2021 21:51:25

The trip was planned already in August, but somehow it didn't work out. On Saturday morning we head into Zadnjica and along the road towards Luknja and Dolič. The description says to start the tour at Luknja saddle, but we are more tempted by the direct approach to Planina Zajavor from the valley. Just before the junction of marked paths to Dolič and Prehodavce, we look for the start of the path to the left in the forest. It's not hard to find, even easier to follow, as it's really well preserved. The path immediately climbs steeply uphill and the steepness doesn't let up until the miserable remains of the pasture a little below 1500m above sea level. A wonderful view opens up to Zadnjiški Ozebnik, Prehodavce, Vršac and Kanjavec. Here the nice path ends. Above the remains of the walls we continue uphill into the forest, everywhere full of animal "paths", no real trail. Soon we are at the edge of the little forest. We read the description and study where to go next. The most logical to us seems along the wide grassy ledge, which turns out to be a good decision. Higher up, a followable little path appears in the grass, which zigzags up to the right along the grassy gully. After a while the path turns a bit more to the right into the dwarf pine area and here a clearing in the dwarf pines appears, letting you know you're on the right path. Here the path completely changes character - the ascent ends, traversing to the west begins. The little path is always followable, for orientation the sawn branches of dwarf pines help again. Before reaching Vrh Osojne Krnice, we cross two more scree gullies. We also turn to the natural window, which is really close. Then from the saddle we climb to the summit. The views are really wonderful, the Goličica - Planja ridge stands out. We sign the logbook as the second and third this year. Last year only one entry, the year before none - obviously this is really a forgotten and little visited trail. From the saddle we descend to the other side into the gravelly cirque and cross under the big hole in the wall of Šplevta. Here for the first time in the opposite direction we notice a faded green dot. There's one on the rock at the bend of the mule track where the Pihavec traverse starts or ends. We are on the "mountain highway", but the adventure isn't over yet. We descend a few bends, then turn off the "highway" to the hunting hut under the big boulder. There the hunting trail begins, which leads traversing along the slopes of the ridge from Planja to Goličica. In a newer encyclopedic guide we even found this path described as one of the approaches to Pogačnikov dom. The path is supposed to be followable with some sense of orientation and lead you above the 50th bend of the Vršiška road. So despite the afternoon hour we decide to follow it on descent. Soon we realize the path is not exactly well maintained, dwarf pines mostly already quite substantially "hanging" on the path, so a lot of bending and even crawling is needed to get through. We progress slower than expected. Across the first big gully we find a passage, then we find ourselves on the slope of Čel. Here a somewhat strange description confuses us, additionally nice passages mislead us and we head uphill. Later of course we realize we've really messed up and return. The day is already turning to evening, we are still looking for a passage to the second gully. We find it along a narrow ledge secured with a cable (which unlike previous ones on the path still holds), behind it fallen trees surprise us again and the passage over the last serious obstacle looks quite demanding. We decide to turn back. We hurry, but darkness catches us anyway about half an hour before the hunting hut. While shaking piles of needles off ourselves, we conclude that dwarf pines are enough for a while. We descend along the "mountain highway", which seems endless. After more than fifteen hours we are back at the car with half success - check for Abram's, that damn hunting trail remains a bone to gnaw until the next attempt - this time on ascent.

Abram's path around Pihavec Warming up in the valley.

Abram's path around Pihavec But we found it, it wasn't difficult.

Abram's path around Pihavec Remains of the mountain pasture and beautiful vistas.

Abram's path around Pihavec Creation of nature or of man?

Abram's path around Pihavec The path runs through wonderful terrain.

Abram's path around Pihavec tracks of predecessors

Abram's path around Pihavec view downwards

Abram's path around Pihavec The passages through the brushwood are eased by the switchbacks.

Abram's path around Pihavec Traverse below a large boulder.

Abram's path around Pihavec Wild surroundings.

Abram's path around Pihavec Cliffs above the largest gully that the path crosses

Abram's path around Pihavec Even two pitons are found during the descent

Abram's path around Pihavec Chimney below Šplevta

Abram's path around Pihavec Green dot and poor cable

Abram's path around Pihavec View back into the cirque from which we came

Abram's path around Pihavec At the bend of the mule track

Abram's path around Pihavec Here the real adventure is just beginning

Abram's path around Pihavec Debris for removal

Abram's path around Pihavec The surroundings are truly incredibly wild

Abram's path around Pihavec This one holds rather poorly

Abram's path around Pihavec We even went on our knees

Abram's path around Pihavec Descent into the first of two larger gullies that the path crosses

Abram's path around Pihavec Finally a passage to the second gully is found, the day is slowly fading

(+10)

n3jc13. 09. 2021 22:41:25

Last year's entry was mine. Melisce on pic 11: I got to it descending the small gully from smaller saddle, to saddle was steep grassy ascent. Did you find a better path?

Felt like I walked too high for some time.

(+1)

mary13. 09. 2021 23:40:19

Wow, wonderful tour. Lovsko under Kanceljni I walked two years ago too, likewise in descent and only to the place like you two velik nasmeh

Night didn't chase me, but thunderstorm and I hurried back from there instead zavijanje z očmi

I had no description of this path, followed it easily to there. Special wilderness in this end...Another "debt" I almost forgot mežikanje

(+3)

turbo14. 09. 2021 07:40:35

yourneyman,
does Aljaž's miniature tower still stand? Left on the grassy hillock among the dwarf pines, before the path turns right around the corner and comes above the pitons in photo no. 13? By the way, those pitons are the work of Kopiščar (sorry, forgot if younger or older), they are there to make it easier to get over the jump with a chamois on the shoulder. First-hand info mežikanje

Above Zajavor, in the gully of Mali Pihavec, you can find water, it was on the pasture too as long as sheep were grazed. With Kopiščar we searched for it in vain years ago, he knew where the hut and trough were, then higher in the gully we found a spring. Crazy beautiful spots nasmeh

(+2)

journeyman14. 09. 2021 08:56:22

n3jc, we descended a bit over the scree, we were quite low, then had to climb back under the wall to catch the traverse to Vrh Osojne Krnice. I think we followed the right path, oriented by the height of the traverse in the dwarf pines. We reached the other side of the gully under the big boulder, there it seemed to us there might even be a cairn.

mary, nice that someone else is poking around here, you practically get no info about this path on the internet, obviously really few decide to visit, although it's very visible from nearby peaks. We followed it quite well too, but at some spots there is fallen wood that makes finding a bit harder. One such spot was exactly the passage to the second gully. On the opposite side we saw the path well, but due to the time decided not to crawl over the fallen trees. I think the passage over that gully is the hardest spot on the path, we saw a narrow ledge, no cables though, we had a rope anyway, so probably would have managed somehow. Definitely worth exploring.

turbo, Aljaž's tower still stands, inside nice logbook and two stamps, next to it a plaque with Abram's verses. They really put effort into this remote summit, which is really a wonderful viewpoint.

But lower on the slope of Pihavec we noticed another trail boldly traversing narrow ledges. It seemed to me it could be continuation of the hunting trail under Kanceljni. Has anyone tried the traverse? On Triglav map (1:25000) I noticed it's drawn, but ends somewhere mid-slope of Pihavec.

(+4)

turbo14. 09. 2021 16:01:52

Let me clarify which Abram it is:

I recommend reading his book My Trenta nasmeh

(+6)

Janez Seliškar24. 06. 2024 12:30:04

We start at Na Logu and through Zadnjica to the junction for Planina Zajavor. The trail is in good condition and nicely followable, only in the upper part, on a small clearing, it disappears briefly. Don't go too left, but straight up, where we step back on a good trail. Of Planina Zajavor only some stones remain, view fantastic. Above the pasture some searching for continuation of "path" doesn't miss, but soon we are at the larch with red dot. Continuation along and right side of grassy gully falling from under M. Pihavec requires a good eye, trail in grass barely followable. Right through dwarf pines the path was heavily overgrown. On the other side of dwarf pines up along it, where we luckily miss the junction of path back left through dwarf pines. On the right we notice a mighty grassy head, which turns out to be an excellent viewpoint. Back to dwarf pines and descent along its western edge to the line of the path. Traversing the steep grassy gully is demanding, no more trace of path. On the other side of gully we precisely catch the continuation through dwarf pines. Path was heavily overgrown. Further to the saddle under Vrh Osojne krnice, overgrown sections of path and gullies to cross alternate. At saddle go left to summit, excellent viewpoint. Back to saddle and demanding descent to screes of Osojna krnica. Over scree to grassy rib and down it (path hard to follow, partly overgrown). Over gully and slightly right up to last gully, where passage over it is right under the wall. Braided electric wire is frayed and almost unusable, can cross without it too. Some descent through dwarf pines, right around rocky belly with some pitons and descent to marked path Zadnjica - Kriški podi. Orientationally the most demanding part is from pasture to red dot on larch.