Today I took advantage of the nice weather, the predicted stable snow conditions and the still operating cable car to Vogel to get a closer look at the Lower Bohinj Mountains, which are my first choice in summer.
Already at 8 it was incredibly warm at the ski area. On the ski pistes the snow was nicely compact, slightly frozen. Off the groomed pistes, however, one was already sinking to the knees in the morning.
From the upper station of the Šija chairlift I headed in the direction of Rodica. Without snowshoes it was not possible, as one was sinking too much. On the steep slopes, however, the snowshoes were sliding too much on the wet snow. So I changed several times from snowshoes to crampons and back. On the section of the ascent below Zah. Suho the snow was even slightly frozen, higher up it sank to the bushes again. After a good hour of walking I was already so tired as if I had walked at least three times as much. So I turned back below Čez Suho and descended to planina Suha.
There amid harmonious bird song I basked a little in the scorching sun rays and enjoyed the solitude until two skiers rode past.
They had skied down from the top of Rodica. According to their account, the snow towards the top was still firm upon their arrival.
They went down to the valley, I continued with snowshoes soon after them.
From the start the descent through the forest was quite pleasant, although the snowshoes were flying on the soaked snow. Crossing the steep gully with great caution was still somehow manageable, as the skiers' track was well packed. But the descent down the gully was a real ordeal. It was too steep and slippery for snowshoes, without them one was sinking to the knees. As soon as the steepness eased, I put them on again and walked with them to the end of the path. Above the gully another skier overtook me, who said that yesterday, when there was the traditional ski touring descent to Rodica, the snow conditions were significantly better than today, as the snow had frozen only in the middle of the day.
The skiers went by road to Laški Rovt, I took the usual hiking path towards Ribčev Laz. On this section of the path I saw only a few days old, already faded ski track. Without difficulty I snowshoed to the place where I should cross Suha, although in the lower part of the path I had to go a couple of meters on bare ground. In between I also tried without snowshoes, but it sank a lot, and there were also dangerous holes under the snow.
Crossing Suha was not possible due to the high water level, so I returned to the road and continued on it for a while. At the fairy-tale hut I turned left and followed the footprints on the snowy forest path all the way to the newly forming hamlet. From there on the macadam road I reached the first houses in Ribčev Laz in just a few minutes. After a few more minutes of walking between the houses I arrived at the center of the place and Bohinj Lake.