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Slovenia

Roadtrip around the Julian Alps, Part I.

By Javi Lorbada

June 29^th, 2020

This trip was thoroughly planned, then the late winter came and had us changing our schedule, almost on a daily basis.

Big plans we had, or big summits I should say, our goal was to sleep on mountain huts, summit some of the highest peaks, and the highest, Mt Triglav, as well. None of that was possible due to our lack of gear preparation as we had planned for much milder weather, instead, we had a few snowfalls, days of endless rain, and almost no mountains hut opened for us.

Anyway we enjoyed it a lot during this trip because this country is truly outstanding and relativity small for the 10 days we stayed there.

Should you have any questions about what to visit?

Check the map and join me through the images I shared below

Madrid - Venice - Skocjan - Ljubljana

It's was one of the most exhausting days I remembered in a long time. Woke up at 4:40 am, had a quick shower, finished backpacks, and took an Uber to the airport, there I met with friends and went to check-in.

Our flight went smooth, 2h 30min approx we landed in Venice. From there nothing went as smooth, first, we didn't find the car rental office, they picked us up and took to do all bureaucracy and that took at least an hour since the stuff was totally overworked, and we started driving around noon.

From here on, we found a restaurant where we could eat, we were starving, and of course, in Italy we went for pizza, quite delicious.

After lunch drove to the first sight, Skocjan Caves, luck wasn't with us and arrive 10 min after they closed. Well, instead we walked around and enjoy a sunbathing with a refreshing beer.

Then, onto Ljubljana. I had been there before, they hadn't, and it was great. A bit crowded yet beautiful city as I remembered. Walked up to the castle for sunset and that was the highlight, the view couldn't get any better, specially Triglav National Park, jagged peaks in the horizon, lighted by the sun, such a wonderful postcard.

Sun had gone, we had dinner, although we walked around in the night lights we pretty much rushed a bit to get to the hostel, after a long day out we all seemed tired.

Kokra - Planšarsko jezero - Kamniška Bistrica

As expected, the day was a rainy day, nonstop in fact.

We predicted bad weather and therefore planned a bit more of road time, however, the weather was even worse, snow started falling, and lack of vehicle chains made us turned around our original route and headed to where we had planned for day 3.

Once we arrived the weather hadn't got any better, nevertheless we had a 5km walk around the valley.

On one side I really liked the mood, foggy forests, cloudy skies, dramatic mountains. On the other, I hated being wet, having to wipe the camera every other shot, and not having a clear view to the mountains. Nothing we could do.

In the end, we ended up at a hostel, enjoying firewood, a beer, and, in my case, a deer goulash.

In hopes of a better forecast the day after we went to sleep.

Kamniška Bistrica - Velika Planina - Bled

Earlier than the day before we started driving. At 9 am, having had a very simple breakfast, we took the cable car up to these amazing pastures and villages in the area.

Once on top, we walked and walked and walked. It was great, in fact, we got to see the three different groups of villages around. Those were stunning, but the mountains behind marvelous too.

Weather respected us, yet in the mountains looked like a shit storm, strong winds causing snow to blow up ridges, clouds passing by quite fast adding fantastic shadows.

If only wouldn't have snowed so much in Slovenia we would be up there, however it was unsafe and we were not prepared.

Continuing the hike we arrived at the village down where we started. That was 3h and 1300 meters descent, quite a pain for the knees, wonderful in the forest trail, gnarly in some parts.

In the afternoon we headed to Bled, and once settled at the camping, we simply went to a viewpoint, honestly, I could have stayed there the whole day and night, the view couldn't get any better and I pretty much enjoyed it peacefully.

It was my second time in the lake, and even though it's a tourist attraction, the island, the church, the castle, and the background of the mountains are a fairy tale. So, so wonderful.

At dark, headed back down for dinner and sleep, it had been a long day and we felt tired.

Bled - Vintgar Gorge - Savica Waterfall - Lake Bohinj

After having had the first night in the tent, I woke up for sunrise, 5:40 am.

I walked to the lake Bled and took the drone in the air, that was an epic flight.

Wonderful to see the lake, the mountains, and, of course, the island with the church. One battery was drained and I went for a second one. The light was awesome, beautiful clouds, great sunrise behind the mountains, it looked like a dream.

An hour later headed to the van, woke up everyone, and had breakfast. Once we finished, the weather rain came by and didn't stop until the late afternoon.

It didn't matter, we visited the Vingtar gorge which is what we planned. And that was a fabulous, not long walk through wooden bridges and amazing canyon, so powerful.

Then we drove to Bohinj lake. This one was for the books too. On top of that, we visited the Savica fall which as well was terrific.

Sunset didn't seem to work, however, last minute, some clouds unveiled leaving the sun rays to give a nice touch.

Lake Bohinj - Dom na Komni Mountain Hut - Črno Jezero - Dom na Komni

Once again I woke for sunrise and headed to Lake Bohinj, as I saw through the room window, fog covered the whole valley leaving me with no expectation / whatsoever to capture the image I had in mind. The outstanding Triglav Mountain Range reflection over the lake. We waited a 30 min nothing changed, drove to the end of the lake, same same.

Well, nature it's always in charge, so we went back to the hostel and got ready for the day.

The hike to the hut was quite ok, we were expecting worse since the past days have been snowing a lot. The last couple km we actually saw how it really was, knee-deep in the snow, the hut staff told us the past days more than 40 cm snow have been accumulated, there were no footprints anywhere around so anything we had in mind could be very difficult.

After lunch we went for a little lake, 4h return hike, soon we saw there were no footprints, which was quite challenging and tiring but we liked it. A few mins later a guy is coming from the other side and he told us he opened the path, so thanks to him it was easier for us, yet we were walking most of the time knee-deep which made us go even slower. With some struggle, we arrived at the lake and enjoy a 20 min rest, no more because we needed to head back to the hut for dinner.

On the way back I felt exhausted, my body complained, probably from the lack of sleep, the past three nights it had been around 4h max due to sunrise time and sleeping problems, I finally arrived at the hut I needed food, I was close to collapse, really really tired, thank I had dinner.

Before that I shot some sunset mountains, and check the area around, I was cold and soon entered the hut, not later I felt totally falling asleep.

As usual, every trip brings spectacular places around the globe and these mountain cabins were incredible. Who wouldn't want to spend some days in there?