Julian Alps

Above the clouds in Triglav National Park

Last couple of days I have been hiking in the Julian Alps. This is the part of the Alps situated in Slovenia and probably the last big mountain range I will see for a while. I started at the lake of Bohinj and walked around the Triglav mountain. Unfortunately there was too much snow for me to climb the mountian but the way around it is beautiful too. It is not allowed to camp in the national park here but there are huts in the park. The huts have winter rooms that can be used for free but do not have any facilities exept for a bed, sometimes a chair and sometimes a window. The winter rooms are extremely basic. At this time of year there is hardly anyone in the mountains so I was the only one at the huts for five nights. The first three days of this hike I did not meet another person. In short I had a great time :P

Map of route and nights

Pictures in reverse order:

Coming down back to the lake through the clouds

Last morning, walking in the snow

When I woke up in the morning

Just before I went to bed in the evening (same view as above).

It is still freezing at the higher passes

That is a lunch

Some sun on the slopes (1500 m ascent this day)

Morning 13 november, the mountian is on fire.

12 november in the evening, the valley is in the sun. View from the hut.

A little light in the snow, 11 november night.

View from the winter cabin, 11 november afternoon.

Arrival at the winter hut 11 november,  ~2300m (little door on the right of the big building).

Above the clouds! Smiles at the pass.

Dramatic skies at the pass.

Just after sunset, 10 november.

The sun is setting over Italy in the distance, 10 november.

Catching the last sunlight, 10 november.

Arrival at the hut after a day of rain, rising above the clouds, 10 november.

Happy to emerge from the clouds on the second day of hiking, 10 november.

Trieste and Slovenia

Hi all!

Last time I was writing you from Italy, now I have arrived in Slovenia. Currently I am in Kranj. If you look it up on the map you might think that I have moved completely in the wrong direction and you would be kind of right. It turns out I could not say goodbye to the Alps just yet. Now I am on my way to redo a hike that I did a couple of years ago with my friends Michel and Hidde! I am really looking forward to get into the mountains again, hopefully I can make it tomorrow.  

Just when I was ready to leave Italy

Last time I was getting ready to leave Italy and then I arrived at one of the nicest areas I had been. There are some towns here that if you go trough them you just want to stay and become part of the daily life. The center squares, the cafes, the atmosphere, it feels like something worth while is happening there. I had this feeling in Vittoria Veneto and, my last day in Italy, in Cividale del Friuli. But I just peddled on. 

And I made it!

Slovenia is a really pleasant surprise. I did not have much expectations, last time I had only seen the mountains, and the mountains are always great. Now I had a chance to see another part of the country and it was very nice to be here on the bike. Apart from one busy road I found quiet roads and lots of forests. I camped next to an old castle town and on top of a hill where I could see the Adriatic see on one side and the Triglav mountain on the other. It was the most beautiful sunsets I had seen in a long time. I visited a castle build into a cave and because it is a bit out of season I was the only one there. 

Here some pictures of the last days:

Camp site next to the Ferrari gardens, near the town of Štanjel

 Back in Italy! The view of the Alps from Trieste

An "Into the Wild" moment, camping above Trieste

During the daytime.

A view of the Adriatic sea from a Slovenian hill.

And the Triglav on the other side.

Some other things in Slovenia:

Watch out for horse wagon!

Church on hill

Castle in cave

Man in chair

Kus kus

See you later!