Nazarje, Sunday, 4 November.
I've long wanted to repeat the hike that my friend Jure and I enjoyed about seventeen years ago. The whole week I hoped that the weekend would be the moment and it really happened. Jure isn't nearby, so I go alone. Around ten in the morning I drive from Nazarje towards Čreta and in ten minutes arrive at the start. I park by the road before the last right bend before Kraple. Exactly at the bend a gully branches left upwards steeply ascending to the marked path to Čreta which crosses it. Fifty meters approx. I start straight into the gully. Wet. In the initial part I climb the buried gully, scree and dodge fallen trees. Soon the gully forks and I head left. Water flows on the right. Direction is correct. Above me I spot a short almost vertical rock step (3-4m) leading to a small gully midway in the gully. Rock covered in moss and slippery. Don't risk it. Cross gully left and climb out to steep terrain. Ten meters higher, right by big rock notice possible variant to return to gully. Climb by the rock. Grab roots and undergrowth. When I crawl to possible passage, find myself by and above gully. Decide to advance along edge on steep exposed terrain. A little higher see path crossing gully and spruce with mark. Keep left, reach short ridgelet and there step on marked path. From there go right on marked path to top of gully, where exit forest to Jegovnik meadow. Further path keeps slightly right by meadow, twenty meters to junction. There head even more right pathless and by feel moderately ascend to Krapletov vrh (905m). Summit good five minutes from junction. At summit view opens to Zadrečka valley, Zakrajski peči and prominent rock tower Orlovi peči. Head there. Turn left and descend short partly steep terrain all the way to road to Čreta. Step on road and continue right down towards Kraple. Past cross, fifty meters. Before reaching Kraple turn left from road by fence to clearly unmarked path. Views are nice. Follow path, which enters forest, crosses two narrow wild gullies and leads to steep north slopes of Čreta, under Zakrajski peči. Along path look back to peči and search passage, gully that Jure and I climbed. Find it! Happy continue and after a few minutes reach Orlova peč. World is wild and smells of history. Bloody stories envelop this natural monument. Feeling is gloomy.
Satisfied that I've reached here, decide to go further and try to find Jarekov brlog, 40m deep cave with two meter wide and four meter high entrance. Think it will be possible. Follow trail to junction. Take steep path that leads closer to peči. Look and look, don't see cave. Walk further and suddenly see road to Farbanca below me. Missed the cave. After consideration determined to find suitable ascent at extreme west edge of peči and head to Borovnjak (928m). When I succeed I tell myself that I will cross peči along the top towards Čreta and starting point, then below me after approximately five minutes of walking spot cave. Is this Jarekov brlog? It seems to me that it is. Descent straight down not feasible without rope, so turn and return back under peči hoping to find cave. On rock spot red direction mark. This will be it. Ascend up and down along peči and follow some red lines on rock that appear every twenty meters. Terrain is demanding, wet, very steep. Leaves make path difficult. After some time on rock notice red abbreviation B. G. F. (didn't photograph). Look around. Nowhere see any cave, nor passage. A bit nervous advance along rock under peči. Climb over rocky passages littered with leaves and watch step. Here and there still some red line on rock and game trail. Walk further and again spot Orlova peč, this time below me. OK, missed again. A bit angry and tired abandon search for cave and instead look for passage in Zakrajski peči that leads to top of Čreta. Time is pressing. Trudge through leaves steeply up the gully. Keep right, climb by rock towards narrow rocky chute at end of gully. In hand remain roots, leaves, soil and stones breaking from rock. Last ten meters become even steeper. Crawl on all fours and pull over wet rock. Fall would not be favorable. Adrenaline does its job and in a few swings I'm at the top. Yesss! Pant and groan. Tired from crossing under peči and final ascent, treat myself to some water and banana. Slightly shaken look right and about ten meters away spot memorial plaque to the late, once active member of PD Nazarje Robert Teržan. From there go left towards southwest in direction of Čreta. When reach forest road turn left and soon reach church of St. Katarina on Čreta. Follow descent to mountain hut I. Štajerski battalion (966m), where treat myself to tea and stamp deserved stamp. From there further, back up towards church of St. Mother of God, which stands in beautiful location. From church descend right towards Jegovnik, across meadow back to forest, above gully where I started today's path. Go through passage for gully to avoid it and descend left on steep slope straight to car. After five hours of wandering, crawling and climbing north slopes of Čreta, satisfied and tired, mentally and physically, drive back to valley.
Čreta offers a lot. I would like to repeat this hike, of course in dry conditions and with more time available. Hope I succeed in finding Jarekov brlog too.
Stay safe!