We started the hike in the Vrata valley at 5 a.m.
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Triglav's famous north face from below.
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First sun rays on Mt. Bovski Gamsovec.
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We scrambled on scree below the north face.
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Luknja col in front of us.
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On the other side of the col the Zadnjica valley opened up.
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There were too many people on this trail. Everybody prepared for the climbing part - we put away hiking poles and put on helmets.
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The beginning of the Plemenice route.
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One more look toward the west and the Zadnjica valley.
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The large group in front of us caused a lot of waiting ...
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... so we overtook them at the first opportunity. We were gaining altitude fast. That is Luknja col right below us.
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There was a lot of steel rope and pegs.
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A helmet has become a necessary part of equipment on the exposed trails.
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The views from the climbing trail were spectacular all the time.
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My brother with Mt. Skrlatica in the background.
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Vrata valley far below.
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More climbing.
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We were never alone - even though this is the most difficult marked trail, it's still very popular with many hikers.
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Looking down can be dangerous for those with vertigo. :)
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Scrambling up on all four.
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Sfinga.
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Me thrilled with the climb.
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Another look down the Vrata valley.
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Triglav.
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After breakfast we had to cross a snow-covered slope, but as the snow was soft, we didn't need crampons or an ice axe.
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Mt. Jalovec and Mangart in the background.
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We soon reached another rock face.
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Red rock.
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Going towards Triglavska skrbina.
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Clouds started to roll in from the south.
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My brother and his long legs.
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A blaze with a view.
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More steel ropes.
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Looking back to where we came from. Mt. Razor in the background.
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First glimpse of the Aljaz tower at the top.
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Kredarica on the other side.
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Again, many people at the top.
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Kredarica hut from above.
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Stanic hut and Mt. Rjavina.
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It's a tradition to be "baptized" with a length of rope when climbing Triglav for the first time. :)
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Fog in the Vrata valley almost 2 kms lower.
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More clouds rolled in from the south.
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We spent an hour at the summit, eating and taking photos. Of ourselves, too.
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Aljaz tower and the Vrata valley.
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Proof I was there. :)
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The descent is steep but the steel rail makes it a lot easier.
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Peter going backwards.
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On the way to Kredarica.
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The fog on the right hand side prevented us from seeing down the precipice.
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There was quite a bit of snow left. Still not a lot compared to a glacier that used to be here decades ago.
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Already halfway down Mt. Mali Triglav.
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My and my blue helmet.
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"Marked climbing trail"
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After some hearty "jota" we looked towards Mt. Tosc and Veliki draski vrh before heading for the valley.
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Kredarica hut.
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There were still 3.5 hours of descent ahead of us.
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Triglavski podi.
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The blue sky and puffy white clouds and steel rope.
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Patterns in the remains of the Triglav glacier.
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Mt. Triglav.
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We had to cross quite a few snow patches.
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Stanic hut. Mt. Rjavina was already in the clouds.
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Me in front of Mt. Begunjski vrh.
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Triglav is home to many chamois. They are quite used to people and don't run away until you get really close.
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The red rock face of Mt. Begunjski vrh.
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Another chamois.
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It was a long way down and my knees were already feeling shaky.
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The trail to Luknja col that we had climbed early in the morning.
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Looking up.
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A group of hikers going up and we cornered a chamois, which didn't seem to be bothered at all.
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One of the few sections of the trail that didn't involve climbing.
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Last look of the Triglav north face before we reached the valley floor about 14 hours after we had set off.
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