Jasna to Gozd Martuljek via Spodnji Martuljkov slap - Kranjska Gora - Slovenia 25 Aug 2015.

Jasna to Gozd Martuljek via Spodnji Martuljkov slap and Return
Kranjska Gora
Slovenia
Distance 13km Climb 340m
Tuesday 25 August 2015

Today started damp and then turned wet, but that was not going to keep us in.  Originally we had no plans on where we were going to go and someone suggested the waterfall or slap as they are called in Slovenia.  So with our heavy waterproof coats we set off.  Leaving the Pension Milka after a well delivered breakfast, we walked passed Zlatorog and back up route 1 the path we had walked down on an earlier walk.

As we walked up, east, the rain was getting heavier and the debate was should we put our waterproof trousers on or not.  We walked up the twisty gravel path, climbing as we went until we reached the narrow forest path that dropped down to a fast flowing stream, and had the posts and steps built into the path, climbing once again out of the re-entrant.

We continued along the narrow path over slippery roots and boulders until we came out the other side onto the wide gravel track.  The rain was constant and there was no let up, although wet we decided to put our waterproof trousers on as it had turned a lot cooler.  Although any view was restricted due to the trees, today any glimpse we may have had was gone.  We continued along the road that followed the 980m 1000m contour line until we reached the top of a major hairpin bend. From here we would follow a path south until it joined route 6.

Walking along we saw a sign pointing down hill to the Spodnji Martuljkov slap but we continued up hill towards Brunarica Pri Ingotu an Alpine hut.

At the hut it was still very misty and the clouds only lifted briefly before covering the view, so again after a beer and a piece of cake we set off down hill back to the junction for the slap. On our way down the rain started easing.

The path down towards the slap started easy enough but soon became very steep and loose stones covered parts of the path.  Anyway we soon reached a very good vantage point of the slap, all the rain would help make this an impressive sight.

The path leveled off a little and took us down to a new footbridge, you could see what was left of the old bridge at the bottom of the steep gorge.

Steps had been placed in places and we soon reached the bottom of the gorge, it was fantastic.

A shot stop to remove our waterproof trousers and we were on the valley bottom walking towards Gozd Martuljek.

We crossed the road and walked by the Sava for a short while before crossing the bridge onto another part of the Alpe Aldria Trail.  On our way we passed a house that had orange coloured growths on the fence posts. Earlier in the week we had a guide on a trip we did who explained these were a natural thing usually placed on posts near the road to keep deer away from the traffic.

Once over onto the north side of the Sava there was very little climb as we followed the river back up its route to Kranjska Gora.

Once in the town we continued through returning back to the Pension Milka for a short rest before a lovely evening meal. We had covered approx 13km with over 340m climb.

Earlier in the week we did a different walk from Jasna to Gozd Martuljek.

Excellent but a very wet day.
More to follow


Boz North

Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in Slovenia or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to previous walk in Slovenia Jasna up towards Vitranc
Follow link to next walk in Slovenia Jasna to Pec

Jasna up towards Vitranc - Kranjska Gora - Slovenia 24 Aug 2015.

Jasna up towards Vitranc and Return
Kranjska Gora
Slovenia
Distance 7km Climb 300m
Monday 24 August 2015

Today it was damp when we walked passed Zlatorog.  Just down from Zlatorog is a path that takes you up the side of a mountain, so we thought we would go and see how far up we would get. No pressure just a gentle walk, if it was too rough or Anne's foot hurt we would turn back, the mountain would still be there for another day.

The path starts climbing gently then starts twisting and turning the higher we climbed. We could see Frank and Maggie's Pension Milka through the trees. Although it was raining it was too warm to walk in our waterproof coats.

Every now and again outcrops of rock allowed us to look down into the Mala Pisnica and see the height we had gained.

As the trail turned north we could see over Kranjska Gora despite the rain and lowering of the cloud.

We had reached a junction where we could climb and cross a scree slope or turn left for a steeper climb, today this was far enough so we turned back and headed down hill.  In parts the path was made slippery due to the wet, we were tripping over tree roots so it was sensible.

On our return to the bottom we walked into town and had a beer and cake, before returning to the Pension Milka. In all we had covered approx 7km with a 300m climb.

Later in the week I did get to the top of Vitranic you can see my walk there by following the link.

More to follow


Boz North

Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in Slovenia or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to previous walk in Slovenia Jasna to Gozd Martuljek
Follow link to next walk in Slovenia Jasna to Gozd Martuljek via Spodnji Martuljkov Slap

Jasna to Gozd Martuljek - Kranjska Gora - Slovenia 22 Aug 2015.

Jasna to Gozd Martuljek and return
Kranjska Gora
Slovenia
Distance 17.5km Climb 600m
Saturday 22 August 2015

What a lovely sunny day, it was going to be another warm day. Leaving the Pension Milka following a great breakfast that set us up for the day, we walked passed Zlatorog the mythical mountain goat with the golden horns and walked straight into town.

Today we were going to walk north through the town Kranjska Gora (810m) and find a woodland walk route 2.  So after a short stop at the Tourist Information and another at the Skipass Hotel where we asked about trips to Lake Bled we crossed the bypass and the Sava and joined route 2.

It soon starts to climb and is a gravel road as it twists and turns up the side of the valley.

We had a short stop at a viewpoint shown on the map, unfortunately most of the views are hidden behind trees and bushes that have grown in the way. Never mind we continued up to Srnjak (940m) a place we could get a beer and it was good, It was served in frozen glasses and very welcome.

From Srnjak the road continues to climb a little before levelling off and the views across the valley were amazing.

Route 2 now takes us up a forest path that starts to climb again for 40m before again levelling off. Walking through the forest was good, although care had to be taken steeping over trees roots and boulders.

In parts trees had been felled so we could see across the vista.

There was another steep climb up the side of a re-entrant for 80m before the narrow track took a drop down to cross the stream.

Again the water is so clear it does not show on all my photos. After crossing the stream we had a short rest before moving on.

Our route dropped a little before climbing again to join a farm track that took us into a farm complex. Out the other side we were once again on gravel road heading down hill.

So far down the road we passed the local fire service, they must have been on an exercise or checking something as we had not heard any sirens, and we would have it they had rang. Anyway we continued down the road which is places had been cut out of the rock.In some places you could see that a lot of rock had been cut away for the road.

At the bottom the road levelled out across the valley floor and we followed the path over the road bridge crossing the Sava into Gozd Martuljek (750m).

This was the busy road that was the bypass at Kranjska Gora. Here we stopped at the Italian restaurant for a rest and had to have a beer and some pizza, why not after all we are on holiday. While resting we discussed which route we would take back, as a number of options were open to us.

We decided and did this. From Gozd Martuljek we would take route 6 south until it joined the disused railway line. This line was another part of the line we had walked yesterday, today we were further east. This line travelled the length of the valley.

We would only walk the disused line approx 500m before turning south onto route 1.  Route 1 we started climbing again up to 980m. Where it turned west and continued climbing over the 1000m contour.  It then turned into another narrow forest trail. After a few hundred meters the path suddenly dropped to a stream where posts and steps had been placed to help. Once over the stream the narrow path turned steep and twisted and turned up hill until it reached another wide forest track.

This path was mainly down hill and took us to above Jasna, where we turned off route 1 and made our way back to the lake, passed Zlatorogt and up into the Pension Milka, for a short rest before a great dinner.

This had been a good day, we had covered 17.5km with a 600m climb. It had been good walking in the shade of the trees but a shame we could not see the views.

We did another walk later in the week to Gozd Martuljek via Spodnji Martuljkov Slap

More to follow


Boz North

Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in Slovenia or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to previous walk in Slovenia Jasna to Lago di Fusine (Italy)
Follow link to next walk in Slovenia Jasna up towards Vitranc

Jasna to Lago di Fusine - Kranjska Gora - Slovinia 21 Aug 2015.

Jasna to Lago di Fusine and return
Kranjska Gora
Slovinia
Distance 23km Climb 215m
Friday 21 August 2015

Following a great breakfast, today as we left the Pension Milka and passed Zlatorog the mythical mountain goat we saw a group of people who were doing some filming, and had security guards.  Maggie at the hotel told us later they were making an advert for a Ford car.  Frank told us they had made a number of films, adverts and videos around the lake, sometimes saying it is other places, Canada for one and other mountain areas.  Apparently a few years ago they were filming elephants near the lake as part of a film on Hannibal crossing the Alps.

We walked into town and stopped at the Tourist Information before walking west to the edge of town. On our way we passed the old railway station that is now a nursery school.

Continuing west we passed the chair lift stations and toboggan slide onto route 12. Route 12 was the old railway line that has been closed and the line turned into a cycle and walking route.  From Kranjska Gora it is a gentle climb, passed Podkoren and Ratece. This was part of the Slovene alpine transversal (Alpe Adria Trail). The views are stunning.

At Zelenci we moved off the path for a while to try and find the nature reserve, unfortunately we could not but saw one of the local black squirrels. We saw Zelenci on another trip and it was beautiful.

The path is smooth and was full of cyclists, at the Slovenian / Italian boarder the track reaches its top and starts to head down hill gently.

Approx 2 km along the track we turned left following a sign for the lake. As we moved off the disused train line the path started to climb south then west.

After moving through small woods and houses it brought us to a main road. Crossing the road we were on a gravel path that took us by a small stream, this was shaded by trees and quite a steep climb.

As the ground levelled we came out to see the stunning views of the lake.

At the lake being in Italy there is a rifugio, a mountain hut, so after a rest for cake and a beer we returned to Kranjska Gora and then to the Pension Milka by the same route for an excellent evening meal.

We had covered 23km with approx 215m climb.

More to follow.


Boz North

Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in Slovenia or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to previous walk in Slovenia Jasna to Ruska Kapelica
Follow link to next walk in Slovenia Jasna to Gozd Martuljek

Jasna to Ruska Kapelica - Kranjska Gora - Slovinia 20 Aug 2015.

Jasna to Ruska Kapelica and return
Kranjska Gora
Slovinia
Distance 9km Climb 333m
Thursday 20 August 2015

This was the first walk of our holiday and the first opportunity Anne had to walk wearing her walking boots following a foot operation earlier this year, therefore we would take things easy and take our time.  Outside our hotel, the Pension Milka, where we were staying is a statue of Zlatorog a mythical mountain goat, all our walks started walking passed this goat.

We walked south down the road by the lake, approx. a km from the hotel we took the path route no 8, which travels on the east of the Velika Pisnica. Where the road turns right to cross the bridge we walked straight ahead and took the footpath.

The path gradually starts to climb gently and changes to a gravel track.

As we moved up the valley parts of the river bed were wide gravel areas, I expect this will be to take the mass of water that must flow down the valley when the snow melts in early spring.

At the junction where we turned west onto path 7 we passed a small shrine which is dedicated to climbers who had lost their lives in the mountains.

The path continues gently climbing up the valley westerly. The water in the streams is so clear, in places it is only the movement and flow that lets you see it is there.

Once over the river the path passes through an area of car park, following the signs the path starts climbing steeply and moves into a narrow path that runs out of sight below the road.

A little way along we took another path up to the road and had a stop at the Mihov Dom for a beer and a piece of strudel, very nice. After our rest we walked up the road to re-joined the path a little further up the road. The road is steep and has a number of hairpin bends, we could see some cars struggling, the footpath headed straight up and cut across most of the corners. The history behind the road is that it had been built by Russian prisoners during WW1, linking the valley with a town called Trenta. A sign showed that a 100 Russian prisoners and two of their Austrian guards were killed in an avalanche in the area building the road and this chapel had been built for them. Other information says that many more were also killed due to other avalanches in the area.

It was an interesting and sombre place.

I had a little walk further up the path, but decided with the time we had taken to get here and the time at the Dom, resting, it would probably be best to head back to the excellent Pension Milka.  After all it was only our first day and we were taking our time. We took the same route back as our route up.

All in all a very pleasant start, we had covered approx. 9km with 333m climb, a good start.

More to follow


Boz North

Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in Slovenia or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to next walk in Slovenia Jasna to Lago di Fusine (Italy)