I was thinking whether to post my yesterday's experience in the mountains at all, but it's better to stay quiet. Still, I'll write what I experienced and upload pictures. The event shook me quite a bit. I know, many will say, look at that "softie". Right, softie, that's just who I am.
Mid-morning I huff up to Kredarica, a couple of people were just heading down to the valley. I stay alone in front of the hut, warming in the sun and enjoying the views. Later another hiker comes up, together with the meteorologists we were four. Just right for a chat. Even though the meteorologists had other duties, they kindly served us too. We were all in front of the hut when the hiker spots an ibex right at the entrance to Triglav.
He was beautiful, a young male, one could say at the peak of his strength. We watched his light step, how easily he advanced in that steepness. Occasionally he stepped to the very edge of the rocks, looking over his kingdom. No hurry in his walk. He seemed like a true mountain enjoyer. We enjoyed watching this beautiful animal too.
He was getting higher and higher, if you didn't follow with your eyes where he was going, it was hard to find him again. I take quite a few pictures. When shooting from afar like this, some pics turn out, others don't. I waited for him to come out of the shade to take a brighter picture. And he does step onto the sunlit edge. Great, I think.
I take a few pics, one more, where is he now? And I see him slowly sliding down the snowy slope. We all shouted in unison, he's fallen. For a moment it looked like he would stop, but the snow patch was too short. He falls over the first rock jump, onto the snowy slope below. Rolls over a few times with increasing speed and is carried far down into the abyss under Triglav.
We are completely speechless, just staring at each other. The male part was visibly shocked too, so no one thinks I'm just a poor thing. You simply can't believe your eyes.
All the way to the valley, the thought of the unfortunate ibex haunted me. What went wrong that the poor guy ended like this. Law of nature, perhaps.
Since the post has nothing to do with current conditions at Kredarica, I attached it wherever. If it's bothering someone, they can delete it without sin.
Best regards to all.