gabi - Recent messages

Yesterday I wandered around Berchtesgaden and Schönau in Bavaria. Weather was excellent, views of surroundings beautiful, lots of people. From Kehlstein top, where we went to famous tourist spot Eagle's Nest, excellent view of prominent mountains: Watzmann, Hundstod, Schönfeldspitze, Jenner, Unterberg range, and many other peaks.
For observing peaks "up close" valley has telescope stands (price 1€).
Catering offer: more or less typical Bavarian.
This trip wasn't a hike, but recommend to hikers interested in foreign mountains who can go there just for "scouting".

With a buddy, both of us doing the Vezist's transversal, we went today on a shorter trip to two points of that trail - Mrzlica and Šmohor above Laško.

We started in Podmeja and in the fresh morning a bit before 9am reached Mrzlica. In the hut there was a larger number of quite noisy hikers (though it seemed to me some were already a bit tipsy - at 9am in the morning, hello?). The lady working there was fully devoted to serving them beer and didn't bother with us. Then the loud talking all over and laughing started to get on our nerves, so we headed on towards Šmohor.

The trail dragged on a bit, we walked a little over two hours, and it was getting muggy. Well, the walkers sitting around the hut at Šmohor were more calm. Service in the hut was a bit weird again. My buddy and I sat outside and waited and waited. Buddy went to the hut to order drinks. He entered through the wrong door and the guy working inside yelled at him that that's the kitchen and they'll come out. Sure enough, a lady came out, but went to take the order first from the next table where obviously some of her acquaintances were sitting, though they arrived at the hut much later than us. Real nice, we think, we drink up and head back to the starting point.

You go to the mountains to enjoy the silence and nature, and then rest a bit in some hut where you refresh; but you get a real little shock when you run into a racket or unfriendly service in a mountain hut. Good thing it's not like that everywhere...

I hope no one minds but I think the most time for the mountains is found while you're single and/or student or pensioner.

Exactly those who enroll in alpine school as students are deciding right (Aljažek, don't worry about your schedule, I'm sure you'll manage both).

I adapt time for mountains to my closest ones (who are not exactly mountaineers) and "European" three-shift job.

I join pikec1, I also keep a special "mountaineering photo diary". On most trips, even where I have been, I always take photos and so I have collected a nice number of albums so far. I sort photos by date. At the beginning of the album I add a note with remarks, or I write them directly on the back of the photos.

Hey, nice pics!
A bit earlier I just returned from a walk on the Mengeš field - sky over the Kamniški (almost) cloudless, you really caught phenomenal weather.

Why to the mountains?
Because of beautiful views, for sports, because of company or enjoying solitude (wherever ), because of observing nature, because you go somewhere and know you've been somewhere...
Reasons aplenty.

Since we're talking about winter gear anyway, does anyone know a solid model of mountaineering boots for winter conditions that are a bit wider at the toes, price up to 200 €, and where to buy them?

If heading there soon, I'd add that on part of road between Železniki and Zali Log they're renovating the road (near Jesenovec); half closure, but every now and then temporarily (for half or three quarters of an hour) close all traffic. If coming to Škofja Loka from Kamnik side, need detour via Medvode or Kranj, Zbiljski most closed for renovation.

Maybe these two routes would also be good for "testing": through Žrelo to Storžič (starting point at Dom pod Storžičem) or Veliki vrh (Košuta) from Hajneževo sedlo (starting point pl. Korošica). In the Kamnik area perhaps also a shorter route from Presedljaj to Konj (starting point by Kamniška Bila).

Today I was on this tour, sunny weather, a bit of wind too. On the path I met two classes of kids, other hikers just a handful. View of Krn Lake is really phenomenal.

The trail along the ridge (in the 1st pic from "volk") is really quite steep. I go up there often myself because that end is close to me and I go approximately the same path as "klavdipo" describes. Normally though I don't go there in hot and humid (summer) months as then there are three big pests: horseflies, ticks and snakes. For the trail up there recommend don't forget proper protection.

Maybe it was really just bad luck, who knows??

There are quite a few snakes also on the path to Kamniški vrh, from the hamlet Vaseno (from the monument onwards) all the way to the branch for pl. Osredek/Kamniški vrh. They sunbathe right on the path and can easily be mistaken for roots.

Yesterday my path led from the hut at Savica via Komna to Triglav Lakes. There weren't many hikers on the way, mostly going down. At the hut at Triglav Lakes it was really cheerful - at one table a guy was playing trumpet, others joined with singing.
Unfortunately not much views due to low clouds, so sun showed only when I was back at Komna. No problem! I just looked more at the flowers around in abundance.

Nice pics on your page, best those with flora and fauna!

Yeah slobs are in the mountains too. Seen bathers in the spring of Kamniška Bistrica. Looks like no water at home.

This doesn't seem like a smart idea to me. Better first gather some hiking experience on easier peaks. Triglav is eternal, we are not.