Trekking across the Julijan Alps – OLD

If you want a real adventures and getting to know the Julian Alps, the majority of which is located in the Triglav National Park, the only park of its kind in Slovenia, a multi-day trekking will be the right choice for you. The ascent is recommended between early July and mid-September, when all mountain huts are open. The main goal of the trekking is to cross the Julian Alps and ascend to Triglav.

This kind of trekking carries a historical touch of the First World War, as it takes place in the mountains that bordered the former Isonzo Front. The touch of war dissipates when the trekking reaches its peak in the fascinating valley of the seven Triglav lakes, which brings you into the arms of Triglav. The trekking takes four days, starting in the Soča Valley, more specifically in the Lepena Valley, and ending in Bohinj.

We start in the Soča Valley with an ascent to Lake Krn and end at the end of Bohinj on Planina Blato above Lake Bohinj. In the meantime, we cross quite a few meters of altitude, even on less populated paths, and climb Triglav or just walk below it. Depends on what you choose. We sleep at Dom na Komni, Zasavska koča na Prehodavci and Vodnikov dom. On the last day we will descend from Vodnikov dom to the Planina Blato.

DURATION

DAY 1: ON THE PATHS OF SOČA FRONT

Lepena (700 m) –  Krn lake (1385 m) – behind Lepočami – Bogatinska Vratca (1804 m) – Lanževica (2003) m – Komna hut (1520 m).

Path leads us from Lepena on to Krn Lake. Views will remind us of the slaughter times during the Isonzo Front. Batognica, for example, was mined underground by the Austro-Hungarian army, and an Italian tunnel was found because the Italians also wanted to mine Austro-Hungarian positions, but were overtaken by Austro-Hungarian soldiers and mined half the mountain. Even today, many craters are visible on this account. From Lake Krn we will head to the old abandoned Italian caravels in the place behind Lepoče (1620 m), which served to control the border between the two world wars. The ascent to Bogatinski sedlo (1804 m) follows, where the border between Italy and the then Kingdom of Yugoslavia ran between 1920 and 1945. From the saddle we continue to the highest point of the day on Lanževica (2003 m). At the end there is a folded descent to Komna hut (1520 m).

• Starting altitude: 700 m
• Highest point: 2003 m
• Target altitude: 1520 m
• Height difference: 1300 m
• Length: 13 km
• Duration: 7 - 9 h

DAY 2:  THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL SEVEN LAKE VALLEU TO PREHODAVCI

Komna hut (1520 m) – Triglav 7 lakes hut (1685 m) -  7 lakes valley - Prehodavci hut  (1685 m)

This day will surprise us with the beauties of the longest high-mountain valley of the Julian Alps, the valley where the Triglav National Park was declared in 1961. Due to its geological and biodiversity, the Alpine Protection Park was declared here in 1934, which was the basis for today's TNP. The trail from Komna hut (1520 m) gradually climbs along the route of the Triglav traverse to the mountain on Kal, and from there slowly descends into the Lopučnica valley (1550 m). Followed by the ascent to the 7 lakes hut.  Even before we reach the hut, the first view of the 5th and 6th - Double Triglav lake awaits us.

We continue along the 7 lakes valley, where in the middle of the valley is the 4th lake - Kidney lake, which is also the largest. Before the ascent to Prehodavci hut (2071 m), we look at the 3rd lake - Green lake and the 2nd lake - Brown lake.

• Starting altitude: 1520 m
• Highest point: 2071 m
• Target altitude: 2071 m
• Height difference: 850 m
• Length: 16 km
• Duration: 6 - 7 h

DAY 3:  ACROSS MULE TRACK, PASSING DESTROYED ITALIAN CARAVLA TO TOP OF TRIGLAV

Prehodavci hut (2071 m) - Kanjavec (2568 m) – Dolič (2151 m) – Velska valley – Vodnik hut (1817 m).

With Triglav: over Hribarice (2358 m) – Dolič (2150 m) – Triglav (2864 m) – (Planika hut 2401 m) – Horse saddle (2020 m) – Vodnik hut (1817 m)

We are all heading towards Hribarice. The first group continues to Kanjavec (2568 m), which is admired in winter as the longest Slovenian ski touring route. The route is not technically demanding and the top is conquered by a fairly comfortable route. We descend to Dolič (2150 m) and then on to the Velska valley to Vodnik hut (1817 m). Those who choose the variant with the ascent to Triglav go to the top of Hribarice (2358 m) to Dolič. The path from the hut winds along the former Italian mule track, which led to the ex Caserma Vitorria Emanuelle, which began operations after the First World War. Today, unfortunately, only the foundations are visible. The path to Triglav branches off to the right and leads us to a height of 2550 m, where the protected climbing path begins. Only this one brings us to the Triglav gorge, from which the path continues to the top of Triglav (2864 m) along the right side of the southern ridge. At the top, with a clear and clean atmosphere, the view opens all the way to the Slovenian sea. The descent follows the classic path, which descends along the ridge to Small Triglav (2725 m), where the fork in the path is home to Planika (2401 m). From Planika there is an even easier descent to Vodnik hut (1817 m). This is where both groups meet. (Triglav is carried out in the case of at least three people who would choose the summit).

First group - no Triglav climb:

• Starting altitude: 2071 m
• Highest point: 2568 m
• Target altitude: 1817 m
• Height difference: 1500 m
• Length: 10 km
• Duration: 6 - 8 h

Variant with the ascent on Triglav:

• Starting altitude: 2071 m
• Highest point: 2864 m
• Target altitude: 1817 m
• Height difference: 1650 m
• Length: 8 km
• Duration: 8 - 9 h

DAY 4: ACROSS THE BOHINJ MOUNTAIN PASTURES TO LAKE BOHINJ

Vodnik hut (1817 m) – Velska valley (1680 m) – Jezersko saddle (1980 m) – Krstenica pasture(1645 m) – Blato pasture (1150 m)

From the hut we descend to Velo polje (1680 m), which is known for grazing livestock and where cheese and dairy products are produced from the beginning of July to the end of August. From there, the path leads us to Jezersko saddle (1980 m), where on the right side of the pass there are peaks with interesting names Adam and Eva, both higher than 2000 m. This is followed by a descent to the Pasture Krstenica (1645 m), which also operates from the beginning of July to the end of August. From the mountain there is another descent to the mountain Blato pasture (1150 m), where transport awaits us.

• Starting altitude: 1817 m
• Highest point: 1945 m
• Target altitude: 1150 m
• Height difference: 265 m
• Length: 9 km
• Duration: 4 - 5 h