Recharging is essential for batteries and for humans. In absence of sea one heads to the mountains. The steeper the better. Watch a photo essay about climbing Zupanciceva Smer route to Mala Mojstrovka peak (2.332m) in Slovenia.
On winters like this, with no snow it is very easy to get to Vršić pass - a road that is normally snow covered until early Spring. This brings a lot of visitors and mountaineering schools that dig their ice crampons on one of the numerous couloirs on Mala Mojstrovka.
We came hoping to ski Župančičeva route.
Župančičeva smer is a 700m long climb, grade IV/III first climbed in 1934. Already in the base of the climb our reservations about skiing down were justified. Not enough snow to get down to the base of the climb. Scree was swalloing all the newly fallen snow so that we walked on rock, not snow.
Going up, the vistas to the Vršić pass opened up with the road curving out sight like a lizzard looking for it's place under the sun.
Snow was plentiful. Spirits were high.
The snowpack was perfect for climbing.
In the crux of the route, rocks were sticking out everywhere. Going down here with skis would be less of skiing and more dodging rocks. We'll keep that for another day.
Before the exit on the plateau, epic views of Špik and Škrlatica peaks.
Our skiing route was same as standard summer hiking trail. Neven chilling on Vratca saddle.
Sometimes things don't go as planned. That's what adventure is all about. Using lemons to make a lemonade. A supply of fresh powder in winter with no snow is an epic way to end a weekend. Batteries recharged.
Complement this piece with a photo essay and video about ski touring in supposedly one of the longest couloirs in the Julian Alps, which nicely connects to a ski mountaineering trip on Begunjšćica in Slovenia.
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Marko
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‘Moving your limits’ isn’t necessarily about the highest mountains, biggest caves, deepest canyons or oldest ruins. But it is about great adventures. It’s about that constant pursuit of the world’s secrets – cultural as well as natural. It’s about how we move in nature and raise our expectations about each and every place in the world, moving our mental and physical limits on the way.
