Climbing within the Julian Alps amongst flowers, a lake and beautiful views: Jerebica – Exploring Slovenia

To be fairly sincere, I had been eyeing this peak for years. A reasonably demanding day hike within the Julian Alps, whose peak opens as much as completely beautiful views of a lake. Mt. Jerebica is a fantastic hike all through, however its prime will actually blow your thoughts away because it faces the 1,400-m lengthy and 400-m large glacial Rabeljsko Jezero (Eng. Lake of Predil) from a thousand meters above. But, as a lot as I dedicate my life to the mountains, Jerebica has at all times managed to slide by one way or the other. A few years in the past I even tried to hike it however failed badly as a result of lack of preparation. Sure, one mistaken flip proper at first of the path can finally lead you right into a maze of large and deep Karst holes and cracks as an alternative of taking you to the comfy grass-covered peak with a view of a turquoise lake. Nonetheless, as soon as I did handle to climb Jerebica – I used to be not dissatisfied! 

Right here’s what it’s good to know concerning the hike above a fantastic lake.

Jerebica

Driving by way of the seemingly abandoned villages to the Lake of Predil by way of a forested and mountainous land I made a decision to do the quicker route of two climbing routes to Jerebica. The two,126-meter peak proper on the border between Slovenia and Italy is definitely accessible from each international locations. Each routes are extremely stunning with jaw-dropping views however there’s a appreciable distinction within the size of the excursions beginning both from Slovenia or Italy. 

If you happen to begin your journey from Ljubljana like me, the drive to the Italian begin of the climbing route takes about an hour and a half (an hour from Bled). As a substitute, when you insist on climbing Jerebica from the Slovenian facet of the mountain, that will add additional 40 minutes to the drive (20 minutes every method) and three+ hours complete to the hike. Altogether, the Slovenian route provides one other 4 – 4.5 hours to the tour. Not one thing that I might consciously do. Alternatively, when you already are someplace within the Soča Valley, don’t miss the chance to hike Jerebica from the Slovenian facet. It’s imagined to be attractive!

On prime of that, the Italian path was marked as simpler in comparison with the extra uncovered Slovenian path, which meant that I might additionally convey my canine alongside. Yay!

A fast cease on the Lake of Predil unveiled the formidable and precipitous north-eastern facet of Mt. Jerebica dominating the horizon. It got here as no shock that solely two routes have been carved into this wild-looking rock formation hovering one thousand meters above the valley. As I drove additional alongside the lake in the direction of the trailhead, eyeing the tall mountain on the left, it luckily began to indicate a way more pleasant and inexperienced face.

Climbing to Jerebica, the lake peak (Cima del Lago) 

The path, which began a few hundred meters after Lake of Predil, virtually instantly started to climb at a relentless tempo up a steep beech and fir forest, which was quickly changed by stunning meadows accompanied by spectacular views of even larger mountains throughout the valley. A pair, who occurred to be on the identical path as me and had been hurrying up simply a few minutes behind, began to meet up with me. In one other scenario I might’ve been too aggressive to allow them to cross however right here it was completely different. The wonder overwhelmed me. The golden solar filtered by way of the tall bushes glistening on the graceful lengthy beech trunks, the 2 beautiful mountain teams with the dominating 2,753-m Montaž and a pair of,666-m Viš proper throughout the Jezerska Dolina (Ita. Val Rio del Lago), the colossal 2K wall with the two,208-m Rombon on its left all rising above the Možnica Valley, and the wildflower-strewn meadows. 

I sat down among the many flowers, sighing on the sight of the mountains, and let the couple cross. Reclined in opposition to the tender grass within the heat morning solar, the silence was hypnotic, and my thoughts gave the impression to be settled in excellent equilibrium. I sat quietly within the empty meadow for a very long time. I considered the couple that ran to the highest of Jerebica with out blinking a watch. It’s factor that they raced by quick.

On the way in which to the highest I made a brief detour to 2,008-m Gorenji Rob, one more charming grassy peak with stupendous 360 views of the mountainous world of the Julian Alps. Nonetheless, it didn’t supply a sneak preview of Lake Predil. That was reserved solely for many who reached the highest of Jerebica. 

The path to Jerebica wasn’t technical however there have been a few spots the place I had to make use of my fingers to cross safely. My doggie, nevertheless, danced throughout all of the troublesome spots with out a single grievance, and I swear I might even see a delicate smile on her glad face. 

As soon as on the prime, my jaw actually dropped on the sight. The glacial lake glittered a thousand meters beneath, wanting a lot smaller from a distance, however no much less spectacular. Idyllically surrounded by steep inexperienced mountains that stretched without end in each course, each to Slovenia and Italy whereas additionally to Austria within the distance, the turquoise-colored Lake of Predil seemed so surreal that it was arduous to think about it existed outdoors of a fairytale. Perfection in its broadest sense.

By the point I sat down on the prime of Jerebica, everybody else had already disappeared again down an undulating path throughout grass and rocks. The distant setting evoked a startling sense of isolation and awe, and I couldn’t assist feeling I’d entered a back-of-the-wardrobe secret land that had one way or the other evaded the eye of the surface world. Candy and empty. Simply the way in which I prefer it.

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