24.4.2021 - A loop around Storžič
When packing for Storžič on Friday, I rather took a larger backpack and loaded everything - ropes, slings, harness, pitons, helmet, crampons, ice axe and the rest of the gear. In the morning we arrived at the hut below Storžič, divided the gear so I had the heavier backpack of course, and set off. I chose the most prominent gully - Žrelo. According to the ski touring guide Alpinistično smučanje Karavanke, the route description is quite clear and nicely drawn.
At the gully entrance we gear up properly, I put the camera on the helmet (that's why some pics are in a different ratio), and the climbing partner starts at a normal pace on the firm base to the first "jump". From there there's no excessive steepness again, the base becomes a bit softer. Approaching the second jump, I spot a nice belay right in the wall. The second jump is steeper and longer, iced over too. We struggle a bit and climb, ice axes and crampons grip well.
A few meters higher I look up, ridge in the sun. The first projectile arrives, which would've taken us in the second jump if we had been a couple of minutes slower. Higher by the big rock a short stop, quick chocolate, isotonic, check which exit option to choose. First attempt not the best choice, so we traverse further right, and the real path appears. Wall vertical but base firm too, we scramble to the ridge.
We continue on the ridge, which on the south side is mushy or has rotten snow, on the north side solid concrete. Crampons on rock and stones are annoying, but we don't want to change footwear every few meters. It went fine. Higher the path turns to the S side again, and the iced chimney secured with two cables is a nice climbing challenge (I clipped nicely with a sling and karabiner - better alive p.... than dead hero).
Further the ridge is narrower but the summit finally appears. Still some ridge ahead, from the S side we hear and see the police helicopter that arrived and circled for a few minutes. Ridge ahead is 1/2 concrete and 1/2 rotten or mushy. Beautifully exposed. Great. I quickly turned right, and we descended to the south side towards the prominent gully, and rather safely around the corner to the summit.
On the summit a bit of photos, selfies, chat with other hikers, then time for descent. We descended towards Bašeljski preval and then (quite long) walked to Javorški preval. This part of the path: snowfield, animal throws rocks at you because it flees from you, then bare trail, then fallen trees, then literally the Virgin Mary appears and you spot the sign Dom pod Storžičem - 45min, and from sheer luck you do it in 22.5 minutes. Then you drink everything you left in the car "because we won't need that much for drinking". (Why such path choice? Because...)