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Two days in the Julian Alps - Krnica, Kriski podi, Vrsic
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Pinkish light in the pre-dawn Krnica valley.
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First touches of orange sunlight on the mountain peaks.
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Going up on loose scree was strenuous.
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Light was quickly changing from orange to yellow and finally white.
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At the end of the valley we were faced by the Kriska stena rockface.
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Fisheye view of the sky and surrounding mountains.
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After breakfast in merciless wind we began the ascent.
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At the very end of the valley there was still quite a bit of snow.
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Climbing - yay!
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We were gaining altitude fast while the Krnica valley behind us was already bathing in the sun.
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More climbing.
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We had gorgeous views of the Razor range across the valley.
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In the rockface.
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An iron peg and a blaze.
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Jaka and his blue helmet.
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We stopped every few minutes to take photos.
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Steel rope helped with the climbing.
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At the top of the rockface.
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Jaka and Mt. Razor.
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We were headed for the Pogacnik hut.
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After reaching the trail to the top of Mt. Kriz the view of the Pogacnik hut opened up.
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Me on top of Mt. Kriz pointing to Mt. Triglav with its famous north face.
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Mt. Kriz, and Mt. Razor and Mt. Prisojnik in the background.
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A quick descent to the Pogacnikov dom proved to be long and hot. But the views were great. This is the upper lake of the three (Zgornje Krisko jezero).
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We spent a glorious afternoon at the Pogacnik hut enjoying the views.
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Benches with the view of the Trenta valley.
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Reflection in the middle lake (Srednje Krisko jezero).
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We were surrounded by mountains.
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Cheeky young ibex.
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Karst landscape below Mt. Bovški Gamsovec and Mt. Pihavec.
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Mt. Planja and Mt. Razor in sweet light with the Pogacnik hut.
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Another ibex.
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Then a bigger ibex came and chased the poor youngster away.
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Everybody at the hut enjoyed the wonderful late afternoon light.
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A detail.
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Last sun rays.
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Orange horizon over the Trenta valley.
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End of day.
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Prehodavci and Mt. Zelnarica in golden light. Put the cursor over the photo to see the same scene 30 minutes later.
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Mt. Bovski Gamsovec was on fire.
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Quarter to eight the sun was gone.
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Trenta.
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Trenta.
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Silhouette.
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The beautiful Lepo spicje face and Mt. Zadnjiski ozebnik in the foreground.
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Last traces of orange in the sky.
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Prehodavci.
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It was getting dark fast.
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It was dark - this is a 15s exposure.
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The Pogacnik hut before we called it a night and packed our photo gear.
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Early morning - Mt. Planja and Mt. Razor in pink.
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Looking back towards the hut and Mt. Pihavec.
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More scree.
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Smooth rocks.
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An ibex at breakfast.
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Climbing.
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Heading towards the Planja saddle.
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Just before the saddle.
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Looking back we could see Mt. Triglav.
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Our hut down below and the nasty scree trail that we had already covered.
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First sun rays from behind Mt. Razor.
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At the Planja saddle views of the other side opened up: Mt. Jalovec, Mangart and Prisojnik.
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At the saddle we had to make a sad, but reasonable decision: due to Jaka's injured knee we would have to skip Razor and head straight down towards Vrsic.
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Last look of Mt. Triglav before descening to the other side.
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The trail goes below the summit and offers great views of Mt. Prisojnik.
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Jaka was in pain and had to walk slowly.
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More great views.
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Finally Jaka caved in and took a bandage for his knee.
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But there was more climbing ahead of us - going down.
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Mt. Prisojnik with the Mlinarica saddle.
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Thus far we had only seen one other hiker - at the Planja saddle. It's great to have the trail all to yourself. :)
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We had lunch below the Razor rockface. Yes, we came down this way. :)
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Another summit we had to leave out - Mt. Prisojnik. But there will always be other opportunities, so no worries. :)
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The trail to Vrsic on the southern flanks of Prisojnik. Mt. Bavski Grintavec and Jalovec in the background.
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Mt. Prisojnik from below.
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Down the grassy slopes.
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It was scorching hot.
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Mt. Razor looks very imposing from this stand point.
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The shady woods didn't offer much relief from the heat because the air was so sultry.
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More and more puffy clouds above Mt. Bavski Grintavec.
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Jaka braving his pain.
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A short ascent before reaching the Gladki rob ridge.
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Detail of Mt. Razor's face with the route we took.
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Suddenly the summit was shrouded in clouds.
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"Tired tower" (Utrujeni stolp) of Mt. Planja.
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Jaka and I just before the end of the hike.
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A chunk of the mountain crashed down a couple of years ago.
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The ideal conclusion of every hike: jota with sausage! :)
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