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Speechless and yet so much to write, share,…and where, how to even start?!

Years ago my friend Anka told me there used to be a passage for livestock from Dunja to Reklanica over Forca de la Puartate and just then we were hanging out above Dunja, so I thought, does she even know what she's talking about? Can't she see the wild slopes where grass is still clinging? But something moved anyway and I started searching, browsing, found rare descriptions by Igor and the Kibub family, which motivated curiosity even more. In 2020 we tasted the rawness, wildness, solitude of this world, which on the other hand gives so much if you know how to appreciate and see what's hidden. We already knew part of the path, so after nearly two years of waiting and the Predel closure last weekend, we finally pushed through to Reklanica and really early, praiseworthy for us, already leaving the always enchanting Patok. What does this little village have that enchanted me so?!
To the junction 620/621 the path already known, though in bad condition, especially uncleaned, even more overgrown than 2020, further on the traverses it's better, until we get under the slopes of Monte Jovet. Traversing the central part of the path, which is gone in places, either washed away or there are piles of stones, trees, branches, sand, all set for "to go", you can see there were steps, but still uncomfortable, feet fly into void underneath, stuff swishes overhead, especially if you surprise a pair of leaping chamois. When Jovet's walls ease off before Rio Fontanis, the path ahead is in good shape, but we two only go to Rio Livinal, where we dive into the overgrown streambed. Man, there was some bending over, gymnastics, fights with branches and we really breathe a sigh of relief when it's over and we step onto the clearing of Livinal cirque.

From here we step onto new terrain, turned on our "sniffers", me with my little worm, especially on such trips when the unknown awakens an unpleasant feeling of fear, good thing my partner is more on free and the adventure began. From the end of the cirque we head left under the wall, where the first sawn dwarf pines mislead us, but we quickly figured those paths aren't enjoyable for hiking, since the exit was way down in Dunja. We go one "chunk" higher, bicker a bit with the dwarf pines and yeah, we nailed Forca di Dogno, though my worm was still doubting a bit that we made it so quick, but sawn dwarf pines, bit of trickery and a modest little path that just led on, passages opened up and when we stood before Zlodejeva policka it was clear, well I was like 98%, haha, that this is it. Put on helmets and already the "Zlodej" took care of spiking the pulse, since part of the ledge is narrow, loaded, exposed and hints at what the continuation offers. After the traverse we reach easier terrain, and soon peer to the other side, well it was like I was still battling dwarf pines and I just hear my partner's shriek and yeah, justified. You spot the prominent wall of Strma peč, view on/towards Dunja, Montaž and peek at the continuation, vista that caresses and widens the pupils at the same time. We walk the ledges under Jof dei Miezdi, here and there startling skillful 4-leggers and the only permanent residents who greet us from afar with rocks, but I bet they're surprised by the "other breed". We advance without issues when suddenly from the left we spot a red dot, then another and here the path from Dunja joins and red dots are staple ahead. We continue over one gully to a lush airy ledge, then second gully and dizzy little paths aplenty, when finally we reach the notorious traverse and lo, rope strung across, hmm, but I still additionally belay myself, I'm pretty good at airy crosses, so better 2x for safety. But the real cherry of traverses waits around the corner, half the path eaten away, between crumbly rocks, sandy traverse, minimal foothold, no trees or solid rock for belay, just grass to grab. I wait on safe ground, roll eyes just from watching partner, whom I let go first so he can protect me after, more for the head than boot cuz no belay for that anyway and I grab grass not sure if any green left. Here the dizzy traverses and traversing in general end, end of any path too. Red dots vanish, before us steep grass-rock cirque which we tackled via greenery, not good choice, but once waded in you continue and seek best passages. We knew only to keep left and after arduous meadow we reach under the wall where the last ledge past the window, much more easily accessible than from the other side, brings us to Forca de la Puartate and... feeling confused, speechless, meanwhile boiling inside…did we really, did we find and traverse them, yessss, Semide dei Agnei let themselves be "caught" for a short time that just stopped...
This year we signed in as the first, then wordlessly lounged each on our grass patch soaking feelings...priceless.

After longer break time for descent which we knew but kinda underestimated. After the long approach already done, this descent over Il Rop (note where part of descent over exposed wall, rope strung this year, wasn't in 2020) really grueling, endless, steep gullies for already fatigued body where grabbing and bouquet-picking no longer funny but very tiring. But since all things end sometime, we two also reached path 621 and in silence chased steps to Patok, and surrendered to our thoughts...we made it.

Tour where you gotta start at the end to tackle the beginning. Gotta know the descent otherwise meadows won't release from their embrace. We two needed 14 hours, didn't rush, no major issues, dwarf pines sawn, red dots help but still traversing ruined gullies, protection, tricky terrain take time. Really unique experience and downright funny how civilization buzzes from valley while you're in raw wild world...so close and so far and yeah...I KNOW we'll come back!

And at the end...still wondering if truth or myth, stuff on the edge of unbelievable, unimaginable...

"Let's go" to Matevž; we drive, look, and park in beautiful Trenta, between Soča and Log. Our group "mom" joins, and we're already grinding knees, swinging per description, and sure we're walking more than needed. In the keys, along the gully, and yes, up to here all OK; then junction, go right to broken gully full of snow and fallen trees, but it doesn't fool us, so back left to first shoulder, direct as in description. We follow hmm paths, here and there sawn logs, and I'm besides all these tasks fighting myself and slippery leaves, task for whole backpack. We're always higher, and when we step out of the forest for a moment, there's a landslide on our right, our goal much more to the right, and we realize we're at the wrong gully and wrong shoulder, hmmm. I've already seen how nice sunbathing by Soča with beer for cooling would be, but my co-enjoyers didn't pay attention to my daydreams, and we firmly, of course uncompromisingly, crossed above the landslide, through narrow passage, then traverse right, and we're where we should be. First snack today, then we step into the world of Trent steeps and dizzying depths, and since we spiced the start our way, it was steep, but our guide has an excellent sense for passages; higher we caught a pathlet, and the walking was much more friendly. Soon under walls, past two climbing routes, then orange dots, and yaaaa, Velika vrata, we're here!!! Wow, what a crazy world, especially the view to the other side, left and right, where a bit of my eye wandered. We two gear up, "mama A." decides to guard the Gate, and we already cross scree into the gully. Up the gully OK, otherwise alone without protection I wouldn't continue, but for me troubles start when the gully ends; madonna, I thought "Srebernjakov Česen" was bad, but these Trent grasses really speed you up, or stop your heart. Up I grabbed all veggies, all flowers, on rare slabs jumped from joy, and finally on top of Zapotoški Peak. We look around, everything's in the palm of your hand, we photo my big eyes, and yes, descent followed, i.e., crying and moaning over absurd steepness; I didn't even know how to tackle the descent, with the rope you need to get on "friendly" terms. Somehow I get down, it took time, haha, and the gully is real balm, two more hops and I'm already hugging flower carpets on flat terrain. We then realized we could have gone along the ledge higher and avoided the hops, but we spiced the ascent as always, and we even saw the cairn on the right during ascent. Deserved snack, and we say goodbye to the wonderful world. Descent goes without problems, and soon we're in the forest where we find excellent passage, and since my "pilot" fell into meditative state, I just followed my co-enjoyers. The main "descent-word" was taken by "mama," who seriously took "along the shoulder," as we went straight down. Now about side left, right paths, pathlets, I won't, since there are quite a few. We hit orange cross and dot, and continued along the shoulder, and lower came to really pronounced path, and followed it right, and yes, it led to the initial morning variant where we turned left. Soon at the car and half-jump into icy Soča, directly above us Velika vrata and Zapotoški Peak.
Another great tour in Trent world, where solitude and steepness prevail, demanding hike since it's pure pathless, and those sawn branches mislead, as our left variant is also passable and sawn, and despite the description, we went our way, but it worked out. Ascent to Zapotoški Peak, or better, it's climbing, where the summit part is really exposed, and I definitely recommend a rope.
Another day has passed for us, full of reading swings, big eyes, fear (read: mine), but at the same time a feeling of gratitude that you can experience all this and share it with friends on the tour... priceless

Tadej... enjoy indulging

Zlatko, thanks...you know, without a partner, I'd still be yearningly staring at the Trentarske slopes

Tadej, when I saw your pic, I almost jumped into the screen...man it's too much, hahaha

Thanks. Little Babnca surprised me too, even though the little ridge is short, it's quite airy.

Jany, thanks...the world towards Bavšica is really special, wild and having the chance to traverse at least a bit of it is priceless for me

Well, we somehow ended up in Žaga and then while walking realized we'd chosen the longest approach.
Yes, the entire crossing of Little Baba is short but demanding. To Great Baba we went right from their saddle, well a bit further towards Dolina...on photo 18, where you reach the "edge" and spot Dolina, we turned left over grass to the wall. We descended towards saddle Med Baban.

I had to redeem myself for Oltarček, so the next day I "took" him, not to one, but to two Babas, haha
Well, those ridges, usually tough for me, strenuous for my head, but for body and soul, more than needed and attractive. We'd had this on our "to-do" list for a very looong time, and of course, let's do it big or not at all.
Started in the village of Žaga, past Globoški stream and took an unmarked approach, which is actually an old preserved mule track, but the ascent is long, elevation gains slowly as it zigzags almost to the top and gains height very slowly. No drive in the legs after the previous day, none at all. I barely dragged myself to Skutnik. Here we enjoy the view into the fairy-tale Resia Valley, and already eyeing the grassy, of course steep Little Baba. The continuation went on lighter legs and soon we were on Little Baba. The crossing along the ridge is airy and narrow, rare sidesteps of course mini grassy hanging patches in the air. We come across an old cable that helps with the descent into the notch, then step onto the continuation of the ridge, which really ends quickly. Followed by descent, of course I was roping up, well, my companion finds his way on such terrain like a chamois, but he also grabbed the rope, especially the last part is quite a vertical grassy wall, there's an old fixed rope, but you have to somehow reach it. Soon we were at the grassy saddle, continuing to the next saddle, where right over, yeah yeah, grass again, we head into the steepness of Great Baba. We even find cairns and while reading Prlet, he writes that the approach is easy from I to III. Of course, I take the lead and of course, I find myself in front of a hanging wall and why would it be easy if we have a rope, haha. After this jump we soon reach the summit of Great Baba, yippee and since we're late, we enjoy the summit alone, the views and occasional strong wind. When we fill our hungry mouths, we slowly set off, as the path to the valley is long and again one of those... it's a marked path, no problems here, hahahaaa, oh how we were wrong. We'd both been to the summit before, but long ago, and we just went too low of course, memory reminded me too late that the path goes along the wall. Well, we collected some more elevation and time. Then, hmmm, Dolina, long cirque, with very poorly visible or no trail at all, clumps of grass, holes and the step was anything but fast. How I sighed with relief when I saw Planina Baban. The descent decision was taken by the other half, I'm not thrilled about unmarked trails in late hours, but we went. After a couple hundred meters where the marked path goes straight, we turned left. We'd partially walked this trail before, in the upper part, when exploring near/above Boka waterfall. At this junction where the two paths meet, poorly visible, this time we continued straight towards Žaga. At first the trail is nice, soft leafy, very preserved mule track, but then suddenly it disappears or is poorly visible, overgrown, terrain also stands vertical downhill, lower we step onto a nicer trail again, which brings us to Žaga in zigzags, right before the end of the day

If I tackle the Little Baba ridge again, I'd definitely cross it in the opposite direction from Resia, as the saddle between the Babas allows a circular tour that is shorter. And yes, confirmed, Little is nastier than Great Baba, but you can nicely spice up the approach to the latter too. As for the "marked path" label from Planina Baban to G.B., I'd mark it as pathless, as there's practically no trail, just occasional old faded marks here and there, but you see it when you're on it.

It was another nice day up there, but soon we'll have to shorten the tours as the day doesn't last long enough anymore

He said he was missing only this ridge and we went, again not early, rather late and wondered at the full parking, read 3 cars, which for Bavšica is full😊, right. Strapped on too heavy backpack and already chasing altitude to planina Bukovec, where we sit a bit, then fly to Kanja saddle. Up to here we meet two hikers already. From saddle we descend a bit, over Luža and sun embraces us with its warm rays. Although after Prlet we skipped Šmihelovec, no problem, always leave something to have reason for more. Initial ascent to Zagorelec easy, but I already stare at the steep heights ahead?!! Descent from Zagorelec really juicy, well then, already two tricky spots right away, one narrow windy traverse and grass-rock mix in descent to mini saddle, where we ascend to Veliki Jelenk summit. Before we continued, voices came from Skutnik direction, then two figures. Quite surprised by today's visit and as it turned out later, the two guys chose counter direction. We two continue and start careful descent in grass luckily rich with tussocks. Soon at first "abseil", yay and already stand before upright Altar, around which bypass possible, but we two of course decide to "attack" it. Well, here really space for one crazy guy and on top, untying the rope which nicely knotted itself, we lingered a bit then...ufff, when I had grass under feet it went, then step into void, always squeezes me a bit, but on solid ground there was some shrieking and laughing😊. When co-enjoyer descends, says the peg moves a bit, hmmm, push thought aside and continue. Follows easy approach to Skutnik...if only I knew last year. At summit we sign and since I had debt, this time had pen, but it was too big for summit log jar, well third time I don't know if I'll crawl up here again. Descent from Skutnik, well, unique experience where trentarski grasses don't "spare". To Špičica summit quickly, then decide for descent to dark shady side, where we "roped", as grasses with hint of black slippery soil, more than ideal slide for deep landing.
Descend to Vrh Osojnik, where first real snack and still bask in sun slowly setting. We pondered which descent shorter and decide for over Dolič. As now habit, our mandatory gear headlamp, as darkness caught us again in last part of path, where we almost stepped on a girl meditating in middle of logging road.

Yesss, Prlet traverse Zagorelec-V.Jelenk-Oltar-Skutnik and Špičica, success…when last year I looked at this side, traverse was science fiction to me, realized this weekend. Wild trentarski ends, no escape option, if any exists it's anything but easy. Day was perfect, cloudless, everything per plan and yes, of course I'll come again, maybe steepness mellows till next time, hahhaaa

Jany, nice pics, BUT, you could have "climbed" it from Slemen, especially since you had time

Jany, quite right to turn back
Geppo, I'd say at least for two, hehe

note and of course congrats to both for the feat

One day when I'm big, maybe...congrats

Oh, classmate, thanks.
Above Bavšica but go sometime on recon

Thanks Drago
In the morning deer sounds accompanied us too, really the world above Bavšica is special.
Well, we two also toyed with the thought of Zagorelec for a moment, but it will wait, so I have good reason to return

Thanks miri
Yes, yes in silence, batteries were almost empty

​​She was in debt and nagging, got a bit lazy, but this weekend the time finally came for the feat on 2

In the fresh morning we put on heavy backpacks and already puffing from Bavšica towards Planina Bukovec and further, into the sun, into the steep world, seeking views.

Path cleared, well passable, nettles tolerable and soon we reach the "hunting" viewpoint, from where along the now familiar path, through Bukovska gorges, to the saddle Vrh Osojnika, where breath stops...sunshine, warmth, views, autumn, wauii, preeettyyy. We sit for a short time, I eat a nut and already the first lady heads into the depths of steep grasses. We seek the best passages, a bit right, a bit left, then steeply up, into slightly easier world and suddenly we stand on top of Špičica, jupiii...you can imagine what mess took hold of me and when I spotted the broken cross, I believed we were really at the top

Before the obligatory snack, I tackle and fix, glue the broken cross, wooden plaques with inscription we didn't find?!, then we sign as first this year and finally sitting, absorbing, enjoying. We stayed quite long at the top, how not, when the thought waited a year and nagged. Despite visit to neighboring Pelc and also Nizki vrh, we felt the sense of solitude and how time ticks differently here.

We finally persuade each other, thank and slowly leave Špičica, and continue along the ridge, secure ourselves over the jump and already at the saddle, where we start ascent to neighboring Skutnik. Well grass ledge, when you're there, looks completely different, a bit more tame, but anyway, as usual, we spiced the ascent this time too, turned left too early and for me suddenly no more tussocks, so my partner pulled me a bit and jaaa, we stood on Skutnik...pure debauchery for me, to stand on two such peaks, juhejjj...when in all that, yeah, yeah, confusion again, wanted to sign us, my mini, really mini pencil fell between rocks, wanted to rescue it, moved a couple rocks, but it fell so deep no solution anymore?! So plea to possible visitor, take some pen and leave it in the glass jar. I'll be grateful.

If we stayed long on Špičica, even longer on Skutnik...ah, how sometimes fine is ignorance of descent, "being in the moment" more present and relaxed. And even from the top, to Zapotok side, where we descended, the marked trail looked closer, but descent in insolently steep grasses really slowed that short distance. This part of the hike nicely took away part of our motivation, since nothing hints at even mini track, it's more grabbing grasses that sting mercilessly, seeking proper foothold for boot and end just doesn't come...when we finally crawled out of the steepness, two chamois who rushed after us along our "spur" and in a moment over Skutnik slope made us laugh well. Continued searching for marked path, then nice, otherwise unnecessary, ascent to Kanja saddle and followed looong descent to valley. Of course night embraced us at LK and the path seemed even longer. Descended in silence, replaying the day's film and grateful for the opportunity and incredibly beautiful, strenuous day, somewhere up there...

Wild, solitary, strenuous, untypical, but at the same time so typical for Trentarski end. On this hike steep grasses really have the main word, healthy black soil, where careful step and calm head is mandatory equipment, but despite all, I know we'll return. No lack of meaningful glances, hehee