Holiday in Slovenia...continued...

As promised, the short story of our holiday in Slovenia, continued...now for the wet part.
Soca river, Thursday, August the 7th. It was a typical summer day, but not because of the high temperatures, but because of the summer storms. After putting on the neoprene suits, it started raining. And as if it was not enough we had to wait for our instructors to get the permission for rafting on the Soca river. After an hour or so, we picked up our rafts and moved from the camp to the river to get first instructions. Then, for more fun, hail-stones started to fall on our helmets. Just imagine standing in 6-8 degrees centigrade water and golf ball size pieces of ice falling on your head. Lovely.

But after a few minutes the weather seemed to become reasonable. Some minor rainfall and light fog was accompaniing us for the rest of the trip. After warming up a bit thanks to some light paddling excercises, our instructors came up with some more funny news - we had to train the rescue from the flow of the river. This meant to lay into the main stream of river (still around 6-8 degrees cold), go with it for a few meters than grab the rescue rope and swim to the shore. Well the neoprene suit was unnecessary, it maybe prevented to get the initial shock, but that's where it's function ended.

As we were part of a larger "masochist" group of rafters, we had to wait for our call, it was a good preparation, believe me.
After this freezing experience we continued our journey down the river. For a few kilometers there were only some smaller waves, nothing worth of mentioning, except the beautiful landscape with its mountains, woods, we even saw the Boka Waterfall. Then, finally, some bigger waves and some slalom around some larger rocks. It was really fun.

We stopped at a large, approximately 8 meters high rock in the middle of the river. It wasn't a stop only to rest and climb onto that rock, but to jump from it into the stream. It was a good test of faith, and a real adrenalin kick, at least for those, who have never tried anything like it before.

It was also the starting point of the last (and most difficult) section of our tour, with some special advisory from our guides on how to master the larger waves and rocks. And we did it, all of us.

On the second day, friday (with baking sun - finally), our guides planned only the more interesting second half of the same route, with some additional activities, like an off hand waterslide, created by putting one of the larger rafts onto a rock.

Also "surfing" (paddling aginst the stream with full power), which went wrong for some of the group members. they had to be fished out from the river as they turned their raft over.

In the end even I got to swim (I modestly admit, that till than I was the only one not falling out of the rafts), thanks to Vaso, who probably didn't like the idea of me not to test the quality of the water (with my lungs:)).

But I really enjoyed it, it was not the typical "lying on the beach for a whole week" holiday, it was a lot of fun. Again, for more pictures, please visit my album on Picasa.

Triglav - Slovenia

This is my first attempt of creating a blog and I have decided to describe my most recent vacation, which I have spent in Slovenia, exploring mountains, riding on rushing rivers and jumping from rocks into the deep blue.
It was my friend and former boss, Vaso Linda, who offered me to join this trip, to fill the numbers.
The holiday was planned for 4 days, that included rafting and canyoning with our guides. But we have decided to go ahead, and planned additional 2 days, for climbing the highest peak of the Julian Alps in Slovenia, the Triglav.
The route from Bratislava to our destination, Trenta, took about 6 hours and we have arrived at the camp at 22:00. After approximately 6 hours of sleep in a tent we woke into a chilly morning, packed our stuff and left for the valley of Zadnjica, our starting point to conquering the Triglav.
Zjadnica Valley
The first sign showed 900 m.o.s.l, so we had an elevation of 1964 meters ahead. Our original plan was to complete the first part of the route and sleep over at Trzacka Koca Na Dolicu at 2120 m.o.s.l., and on continue on the second day to the peak and than back to the car. But as we had a quite good start (not to mention the clear weather), we have arrived at the cottage of Trzacka Koca at around 10:30.
Trzaska Koca na Dolicu
After a quick brunch, we have decided to continue to the peak. It was an exhausting trip to the peak itself (at least for me, Vaso has conquered some higher ones before), and than started the fun part. With approximately 15kg on the back, burning sun overhead, we had to climb via the so-called "ferratas"(iron rods slashed into bare rock) and iron chains in some places. There were several moments when I was a pinch away from turning around, but once you are there you have to finish it. "Not to mention the most important reason for clibimg a mountain...because it's there".
First sight of the Triglav
After approximately 7 hours we have finally reached the top, our reward was an awesome view on the surrounding peaks and valleys covered in clouds in some places.

We have rested for maybe half an hour, I have bought 2 cans of Coke (funny, there was this guy with a box full of sweet soft drinks, but no water), at least some energy. We have decided to take the same way down, and I think it is worse than going up, as one can see what is beneath and in some places it is 20-30 meters of nothing.
Arriving back at Trzaska Koca, the temperature rose to the typical mediterran level of above 30 degrees celsius (and there are no trees at those heights). Burning on our heads, it was our salvation when we found some snow left on the slopes to cool down.
The most critical part for me were the last 2 hours. I have had to rest every 10 minutes, my feet were burning (not only from the heat, but also from the constant braking on the gravel path).

When I have arrived at the small creek in Zadnjica, Vaso was already standing in the water cooling his feet, there was no need to force me to join him.

It took us more or less 12 hours to master the Triglav trip. How exhausting it was showed the next day, which we have spent relaxing in the shadow of the trees at the Soca River. We had to gather some strength for the next challenge, rafting on the Soca River, which I will cover in my next topic.
Hope you enjoyed this brief tour guide, If you would like to see more pictures, please visit my album on Picasa.