| stezosledka3. 04. 2011 22:16:00 |
Dear Juš, Matej and Borut and all Slovenian mountaineering community on the forum
After Juš said his piece about the so-called "rescue action" on Storžič on 30.3.2011, I reserve the right to describe the missing, other side of the truth. We know, every stick has two ends and nothing in this world is black and white.
To introduce myself, this is me, Nastja, the "inadequately" dressed lady from the top of Storžič, who allegedly behaved as if standing on uneven terrain for the first time and was stumbling around the Storžič ridge all day (!). Wrong: I was even overdressed, my NES shoes thank God weren't winter ones, since I didn't need them on the sun-exposed southern ridge Storžič path (Bašelj, Sv. Lovrenc - then unmarked path that crosses the Kališče path - Mala/Velika Polana and goes straight up). By the way: the path is very steep, with big steps (not suitable for children), but it was completely dry, only on very small sections there were bits of snow melting. Short sleeves didn't bother me either (!), besides I always had two extra upper garments in my backpack. What Juš can't forgive me is that I was without poles, they unfortunately broke just before that (happens even in the best families). And from that he of course concluded that the "lady" has no clue about hiking. By the way: I don't know how he concluded I'm a lady, I'm not made up, nor do I have long nails, anyway, thanks for the compliment.
Regarding the overly friendly greeting - by nature I'm friendly and communicative and I believe in non-violence and kindness and I'm totally proud of that. An overly friendly greeting is in my opinion completely appropriate on lonely mountain tops. Yes, I was glad there was someone else on top, even if just to descend together, wherever. Sin? I don't feel guilty.
One more correction, we started right from the valley (Bašelj, around 12h), meanwhile taking photos,
sunbathing, eating, almost an hour admiring rock ptarmigans (about twenty of them around 500 meters below the summit, beautiful, and they ate almost from hand). When hiking, we like to make stops and admire the world around us, unlike you guys who are timed, but we don't dawdle, we always meet the times. Long live the differences!
That day technology really wasn't on our side, my companion's camera batteries died, mine phone and even watch. Too many keys? Maybe. But it's pure truth that it happened.
By the way; one "lady" of us has 35 years of experience in high mountains and most marked two-thousanders in Slovenia conquered, some in Italy too, the other 60 years of experience. So we're not rookies and we've learned a bit about mountains. True, we always hike in summer when everything is in bloom and this year's feat was rather exceptional. Storžič was really almost dry on the south side. Why turn back if with one single exception we hiked on dry all the way?!
When going up the path, it was a bit slippery on steep wet (and dry) grasses. I think that's the main drawback of this path and reason it's relatively little visited. Probably that grass got to me somehow, that I already told my companion on the way up that I certainly won't go back down this path. Don't forget, slippery grass can be more dangerous than scree and even snow!
Anyway, our common story started unfolding right on top, when my companion (approaching her seventh cross) realized the path to Kališče is really very snowy and a bit of panic took her and she very gently asked our three heroes who had just climbed out of the gully (Kramarica), in full winter gear: crampons, winter clothes, ice axes.... And here I come - my fault is choosing Kališče. I don't know where that fixation came from, actually it was really the worst option, when I thought about it later. Given that the guys had all the necessary gear, it would be best to descend our ridge path, besides each would find their valley by their car. And very quickly. But sadly none of us thought of that.
We really descended slowly (we two met winter gear like ice axe for the first time), true also that the snow was so soft in places that we sank up to our waists (even the experienced three young men couldn't exactly run). When we were at Kališče, Matej took command, saying he knows the path from Kališče to Bašelj well, well, we still got lost (can happen to anyone, especially if dark, path steep, narrow, despite headlamps) For a while Juš led ... In short, knee-breaking followed on killer slope through beech woods, rocks, briars, and no end. And not because of the ladies...
And some truths need to be revealed, Juš. Who started shivering strongly early on, that I offered my "inadequate" extra wardrobe from the backpack?
Who happily dove into the Lindt chocolate and last but not least, who of us had more drinks and food with them? Who was more irresponsible in that regard???
Juš, first answer yourself in your heart, then, if you have the balls, on the forum too.
Sometimes you have to look into yourself and admit weaknesses. That's the hardest.
You're wrong about staying on top waiting for rescuers. Many times we've been in incomparably harder situations and always helped each other actively.
This doesn't diminish the weight of your actions, not at all. For me you were brave and big-hearted guys, nice people from the first moment I saw you.
This that you got only sandwiches and some drinks is barefaced. You know well; it was midnight and the only open was the gas station. We were all completely exhausted by then and when I looked at us, we were all like zombies. Well, I had enough strength left to deliver you to Dom pod Storžičem to your cars.
And the crate of beer you've been dreaming about all the time is waiting for you, I've told you that several times, but you don't send the address. You deserved it, if nothing else because you were great company! I never eat my words and I appreciate good deeds, and no one has accused me of narrow-mindedness yet. Even though I have Gorenje ancestors, or just because of that!
In all this I want to emphasize that from the moment we met on top (between 17 and 18) until parting at Dom pod Storžičem (0.30) there was a wonderful atmosphere among us. Even though complete strangers we clicked great, lots of laughter, constantly exchanging info, watching out for each other. The longer our hangout, the closer we got, communication flowed. At the end when I gave the car keys to Matej so he could bring it from the valley a bit higher and save us the walk, I felt like I knew you all my life.
I see there's again lots of spitting, judgments on the forum, in short a real outpour of negative emotions. Yes, that's the problem of our little country, all judgments, criticism, call for lynching... and the loudest are of course those who don't even know well what's going on. What they think, I care little. My writing is for those forumers who rise above the average profile of Slovenian internet user and don't see things black-and-white. If Slovenes could do that in other areas too, it would really be nice for all of us!
"Everyone who crosses your path,
has an important message for you (unknown author).
I believe our meeting wasn't random and that we could each (if we wanted) draw a lot from it.
Nothing is black-and-white, it's colorful, positive energy always cuts through. We soaked it up. Rainbow greetings to all together,
Nastja
|
|