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Climbing Triglav, the highest Slovenian mountain
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The hike began before dawn. It was 6.30 when we set off from the valley. The first sun rays just hit Triglav.
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Our goal - Triglav - at sunrise.
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Nearby mountains were glowing red.
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Soon the climb through the woods began.
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Light changed from red to more yellowish ...
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... and finally to bright white. This is Triglav's infamous north face.
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At the foot of the north face, scree leads towards the bottom of the valley.
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Arduous climbing in the scorching sun.
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Just before reaching Kredarica hut, we stopped to admire the views. There is Stanic hut in the background.
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Our first stop, Kredarica hut. We had lunch, left our rucksacks here and set off for the final hour of climbing to the top.
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The whole ascend consists of steep trails and there is a steel rope to help climbers.
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Views back to Kredarica and the ridge of Mali Triglav.
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Did I mention there were many many people trying to do the same as we did? :)
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At the top of Triglav, there is a peculiar steel construction called Aljaž tower.
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Views were partially obscured by mist and smog.
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Looking back towards Kredarica and Mt. Rjavina.
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There's a tradition for those who climb Triglav for the first time that they have to be flogged with a rope. Since this was Nataša's first ascend, an unknown mountaineer volunteered to take on the task - and gladly so. :)
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We took in the views one more time before returning to Kredarica.
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The views on the way down were equally stunning as on the way up. Mali Triglav and the ridge of Debela peč and Mrežce in the background.
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Precipices on both sides make for lovely views - and vertigo for the faint-hearted.
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The trails evens out for a while ...
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... before plunging towards Kredarica again.
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A couple of climbers and Triglav in the background.
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It was so peaceful at sunset.
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Even ghosts felt it was safe to make an appearance. :)
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Seeing the sunrise is something you don't want to miss when you're so high up in the mountains.
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Quite a few people gathered in front of the hut to observe the morning colors.
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I wonder what that man is pointing to?
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More and more people came, but the sun was still not up.
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And there it is - the first glimpse of the sun.
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Some were watching, some were taking photos, some were recording the whole thing.
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Kredarica hut before sunrise.
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Kredarica hut at sunrise.
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Kredarica hut more than an hour after sunrise.
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It's amazing how the colors change in such short time.
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Then it was time to head back to the valley, but not where we came from. For the B&W version place the cursor over the photo.
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We went toward Pokljuka to the south.
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There were plants with red leaves growing next to the trail.
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Careful!
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Fall colors were starting to show.
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One of the mountain pastures close to Pokljuka.
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On the final stretch of our hike - walking the last meters towards the parking lot on Pokljuka where Aco was waiting for us with the car.
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