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| puma4. 10. 2011 22:05:59 |
@Loni: nice to hear that someone managed to get rid of such problems, gives you encouragement, we can easily arrange for Šmarna sometime
@MajaO: I'd say both, my mind doesn't distinguish whether I'm on a ledge looking down or somewhere on a shelf, on a summit looking down into the abyss, it always feels like it "pulls" me down and it's best to sit down because if not I'll fall.
Story from Storžič. Went up from Povlje village, (at the top a dad told his son it's a tourist path  , well to me it didn't seem exactly the most touristy, it's quite steep and long) and no problems until I got to the top and had to walk a couple of meters to the stamp, one side abyss, other side maybe a meter of rock, so had to walk narrow path and I just looked at my feet, will they obey and go forward or are they actually shaking like in a cartoon (cause the feeling was exactly like that) stayed on top a couple of minutes, didn't even look anywhere, cause I knew the same song awaits on the way back and I just wanted to get past asap... totally horrible
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| neph4. 10. 2011 22:13:26 |
I myself stopped visiting mountains with my parents in early teens precisely because of excessive fear of heights. At the most exposed places I always thought bad things, why do I need this etc. If you really want to visit mountains or more demanding paths, you just need to make a shift in your head. If you don't enjoy the path and black thoughts besiege you, there's no sense in forcing your head through the wall. The point of hiking is to enjoy. Of course adrenaline comes with it, momentary fear maybe, but it shouldn't hinder movement for example. In sport climbing, once you understand well how to approach it, you're almost 100% safe. But true, people basically aren't inclined to falling as such, so you never really want to fall. But over time fear of falling is lost. The problem is, once you head into mountains, off-trail, difficult secured paths and possibly not roped, you're completely dependent on yourself and your abilities. Then you can't afford a fall, like e.g. in sport climbing. Good luck with mastering the fear, in a few months report how it went. I don't doubt you'll succeed.
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| VanSims4. 10. 2011 22:44:28 |
@Facko, thanks for the warning, forgot about descents(of course if you have balls you can go down the same, but sometimes you have to):
Westrova - descent via Kovačeva
Amariana - same
Poldašnja špica - via Zajzero(other car or bike)
Säuleck - same
Celjska koča - easier to Zagrad, couple km to start
Stol - same
Komarča - via Komna
Svinjak - same
Gradiška tura - several options e.g. via Plaz
Aloisiasteig - according to user LidijaJesih's note at Dobrač, via parking at end of road, to Alpengarten and back to Almwirtschaft, or to Čajno(other transport to start)
Ankogel - unfortunately same(not so bad if you already went up it)!
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| main5. 10. 2011 09:50:39 |
The eyes of the gentleman in the first picture confirm it 
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| alpin5. 10. 2011 10:12:09 |
I'll add some more pics so it doesn't stick out.
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| jax5. 10. 2011 13:48:38 |
Heh, eternal and interesting topic ...
I actually never fully got rid of fear of heights, although I've done quite a bit in between, including Via Amalio and even played a bit of alpinist (there were some issues there ...). But anyway, at least for me, it depends a lot on the situation. That basic exposure when the path drops straight down is actually fun (at least for me). Pulse rises a bit, situation gets serious, but as long as everything's under control, no problems. I had more trouble on crumbly, loaded and unsecured sections, when I wasn't sure if the step would hold. But I always stick to never letting my own fears beat me, and in key situations you just have to know how to calm down. And so far I've always succeeded And still (or better said again) I go, even on very demanding paths, usually without protection.
Otherwise I'd just mention Westrova, mentioned above. That would probably be very suitable for this purpose. I've been up there many times, but let me say that once I went up with a friend who later complained quite a bit about exposure e.g. Storžič ridge or ridge from Zvoh to Koren. Anyway, that friend had no complaints about Westrova (except it's steep ...). So that's probably a good intro. By the way, from my Šmarna experiences, descent from Šmarna to Vikrče via Zatrep is more pleasant than via Kovačeva. Difficulty same in both cases or none.
Further on - has anyone thought of Polhograjska Grmada? Been once, but remember it as a nice little ridge, maybe half a grade more open than Westrova path. So maybe if Westrova works, try this too (otherwise check pics - especially path over Setnica). Descend to Mačkov graben and if you have will, jump to Tošč too (optional).
Then many options. By the way, the previously mentioned ridge Zvoh-Koren is no bogeyman, but I don't recommend going up alone, and not right away (path is nice except one spot, but some depth already). Better try some of the paths vansims recommended before.
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| VanSims5. 10. 2011 14:36:34 |
Yes, that Zvoh-Koren belongs somewhere in the fourth group.
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| Enka5. 10. 2011 15:53:15 |
He he, it's really interesting how different we are. I have fears similar to what jax describes (on crumbly, loaded and unsecured parts, when not sure if step/hold will hold + if such spot is airy), while I never thought of Westrova and Polhograjska Grmada over Setnica as airy paths. Simply probably because despite the depth I felt completely safe. Probably these hiking paths everyone experiences differently.
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| Kozorog5. 10. 2011 17:03:14 |
My opinion is that "a little fear" is always good, because then a person becomes more cautious and the step also becomes "firmer"...
Well, I actually got rid of the fear of heights a long time ago.. but of course caution remained even more ingrained in the subconscious...
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| Enka5. 10. 2011 23:28:26 |
Puma, for Westrovo and Polh. Grmada there really is no obstacle to trying them this year too. Just pick a day not right after rain, because both are muddy when wet. There will be plenty of such days this autumn, I strongly hope .
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| Enka5. 10. 2011 23:43:30 |
Aha, I remembered two more paths that might fit here. Bornova to Planina Prevala and Okrešelj from Rinka waterfall. Neither difficult, both with quite deep views .
@ Van Sims, can you rank them on the ladder?
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| VanSims6. 10. 2011 08:54:18 |
I haven't gone along Bornova yet, Okrešelj hmm, I don't remember it being so extremely exposed. See, that's the thing when you maybe don't even notice the exposure if you're not afraid of heights. I'd put it somewhere in the second group, but maybe I'm wrong.
But I have to go on that steep one on Nanos sometime, now that Puma mentioned it I looked at the description and it looks quite cool. And then see where it is, if she dared it there.
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| ejas12346. 10. 2011 10:37:14 |
It's nice to hear something about fear of exposed paths, also about fear of depths. I can't go on beautiful hikes with my husband, precisely because of these fears. I don't know how to convince him to join me, so he'll realize it's nothing at all, you just have to trust yourself. It's a shame, because I can't share the beautiful views with him, so I mostly go alone (Kriški podi, Krn, Triglav,...).
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| mufko6. 10. 2011 11:05:25 |
Well, I'm another one with fear of depths 
And to describe my experiences too:
Okrešelj doesn't bother me, but I come to an immediate stop when I've already tried twice to Kamniško sedlo from this side, got to the bend above the stone stairs... I'd most gladly pay someone to get me up there (joke)
Hudičev graben to Celjsko is no problem for me because it's not deep down...
Also Peca and Raduha via climbing are too much for me, turned back even below Mala Mojstrovka on the south side because of that slippery scree in the gully.
Interesting topic, and hope we find some more ideas how to "get courage"
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| geppo6. 10. 2011 11:28:59 |
Take a via ferrata set, harness, helmet, gloves and go to Labod (Lawamünd) and climb that training ferrata a few times. Then you'll see it's different..
If you have no knowledge of climbing and using those mentioned tools, then ask someone more experienced to go with you.
You won't feel discomfort either, because they use that ferrata for learning.
http://www.hribi.net/trenutnerazmere.asp?aut=1&gorovjeid=10005&id=2661
LP
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| Enka6. 10. 2011 11:44:38 |
@mufko, what is it beyond that bend above the stone stairs (path Okrešelj - Kamniško sedlo) that stops you? I plan to go on that path myself a bit, so I'm curious.
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