Last update 20.06.2010

Introduction

The Triglav national park lies in the Julian Alps, the nort west corner of Slovenia, between the italian and austrian border. Th park covers 84'000 hectares and is visited by an average of 1.6 million visitors per year. Although these mountains are not very high in comparison with the Alps, the difficulty must not be underestimated as the paths are sometime difficult and equipped with ropes and pegs. When shown in dotted lines on maps, the path is likely to be similar, or even to be a true via ferrata. Suitable equipment such as helmet (at least) is recommended if not necessary.

Like in most mountain ares, accomodation can be found about everywhere within a few hours walk, booking is strongly advised especially during the week-end.

Water resources are scarce due to the karst structure of the mountains, we have had a shower the first day and another one the 8th day; nothing in between.

Unlike other described elsewhere, the trek described here crosses the park entirely from NW to SE in 10 days.

Useful slovenian words

Dom / Koca = hut, dom is more like an inn while koca is a real mountain hut

Sedlo = saddle = pass

Dolina = valley

Jezero = lake

mala/malika = small (sometimes abbreviated M. like in M. Triglav)

Trek Description

1. Kranjska Gora 809m- Tamar dom 1109m (Route 9)

Kranjska Gora is eaily reachable by Bus from Jesenice railway station (bus stop is in front of station). In about 3.5 hours on route 9 we reached the charming hut of Tamar, located at the most northern and wester part of the park.

2.Tamar Dom - Kotovo Sedlo (2134m) [top of page]

This was a training to test our conditions and the path. At Kotovo Sedlo, a beautiful and "romantic" bivouac can accomodate a few people in case of bad weather.

Bivak Kotovo sedlo

From Tamar there is a beautiful view over the impressive Jalovec (2645m).

Dom Tamar

3.Tamar Dom - Vrsic pass (1611m) and Ticarjev Dom [top of page]

Easy path to the Vrsic pass, worth to stop at Slemenova Spica to have a look over the Tamar valley.

4.Ticarjev Dom - Zadjni Prisojnik (2392m) [top of page]

Attempt to reach the Prisojnik (Prisank) failed (missed path) but beautilful day with a look south over northern part of Trenta Valley. Path was narrow, not easy, steep, but finally pretty like most others in this park.

Climbing to Sledno planja

When climbing to Zadjni Prisojnik, we could see what was next days route. The path goes in an impressive cliff following a zigzag crack. The upper part is a lose screes but almost horizontal to reach the pass of Sedlo Planja.

In the picture left, the way can be seen in the green pastures, it climbs through loose scree and turn right into the ledge in > shape. The latter is finally wide enough but steep and equipped with pegs, cables and ladders.

At first sight, it's hard to believe there is a path there.

Climbing to Zadjni Prisojnik, extremely steep part just before the pass.

The most secure and beautful part of the Path to Zadjni Prisojnik. On the left, about 400 m cliff .

5. Ticarjev Dom Pogacnikov Dom (2050m) vis Planja Sedlo [top of page]

Beside, picture of the ledge in the 800m cliff. Finally not so difficult but quite impressive.

Below the planja Sedlo (2349m), the Razor (2161m) is behind the photographer, 1h walk).
After the pass, the path goes down in loose screes (again) to small cliffs equipped with cables (again).

Descending to Pogacnikov Dom

Arriving at Pogacnikov.

6. Pogacnikov Dom (2050m) - Trzaska Koca (Dolic hut 2151m) [top of page]

The picture shows the Pogacnikov Dom as well as the pass done the day before with the Razor summit (2161m). The path goes down to Lukna pass and climbs again following an old military road. The alternative route is the Bamberg route, which is purely a via ferrata.

On the way to Lukna, the white color of lime stone turns to gray when exposed to sun and rain. The lanscape is therefore almost totally in black and white , in absence of sun it becomes somwhat frightening.

Military road to Dolic hut

The old military road climbing to Dolic hut, the best way we ever had.

7.Dolic Hut - Dom Planinka (2401m) [top of page]

Dom Planinka is an easy starting point to Triglav and is therefore quite crowded. Triglav has 2 summits, M. Triglav (small Triglav) 2725m and the real Triglav 2894m. In the picture below, one can see the ridge linking both Triglav, although not difficult it's quite impressive; Triglav is on the left M. Triglav on the right.

Triglav as seen from M. Triglav.

The Triglav stolp (summit) at 2894m. The rocketlike shelter was build in 1895.

Descending to M. Triglav on the ridge, it is equipped with a cable but needs some experience anyway.

8. Dom Planinka (2401m) - Koca pri Triglaskih jezerih (1685m) [top of page]

This morning was the begining of a long descent to valleys back to the bottom of the Triglav park.

Strange and scary landscape at Cez Hibarice pass (2358m), the feeling to be on the moon due black and white colors only and the absence of vegetation.

Back to landscape typical of limestone midle mountain. The path follows the Valley of 7 lakes.

8. Koca pri Triglaskih jezerih (1685m) - Kosijev Dom na Vogarju (1054m) [top of page]

Leaving the Koca that can be seen in the middle of the picture, we went down through pastures to the Kosijev Dome located above the Bohinj lake.

Beautiful landscapes looking somewhtat like US national park (grand Teton or Yosemite), no human presence over kilometers, no electric lines, no poles, only forest and silence (+ trekkers of course).