Izvir Soce

At Switchback #49, a road to the right leads to the Izvir Soce or source of the Soca River. 

From the Koca pro Izviru Soce, a hut where food is sold, it's a 15 minute hike to the source of the Soca River. The last bit is pretty steep and even includes a narrow ledge over the river. There are cables to help.

The source of the Soca comes from a cave. The water is a gorgeous blue.

After getting back to the hut, we had Cocktas. It's a Slovenian drink that was invented in the 1950s because Coca Cola was not available in Yugoslavia. The Cockta is not as sweet as Coke and has a citrusy flavor. There is no caffeine. I liked it.

2016 09 09

Kugy Monument & Mlinarica Gorge

We spent only 1 night at the Postarski Dom. I wanted to do Hike #8 to Sleme the next morning but my husband decided against it. It was described as one of the most beautiful hikes in the pass.

Instead, we drove down the Vrsic Pass, stopping at the Kugy Monument at Switchback #48. He's looking up to Jalovec, his favorite mountain.

 Dr. Julius Kugy was a mountaineer and botanist who was born in Italy but wrote books in German about alpine flora.

From the monument, we hiked down to the river and followed it to the Mlinarica Gorge.

It was a beautiful hike and not too strenuous.

2016 09 09

Walk #10--Mala & Velika Mojstrovka

After we checked into the Postarski Dom, we took a hike. We walked back to the main road and crossed it to start Walk #10 to Mala & Velika Mojstrovka.

After a very steep climb, we got a great view of the valley.

Looking at the next section of the hike, all I could see was scree. It was getting late in the day and I was too tired to continue.

After we got back across the road, we looked back at the hike. I was glad I didn't continue.

2016 09 08

Flavor Bistro CLOSED

I went out of town and returned to find Flavor Bistro had CLOSED on Wednesday, 11/16/2016. I am devastated! No more Thursday Night dinners and no more communal tables sharing a delicious meal with friends. I will miss all the people at Flavor and all the friends I see there. So sad!

Postarski Dom na Vrsicu

At the summit of Vrsic Pass, there is a parking area. A 20-minute hike up the hill on the left takes you to Postarski Dom na Vrsicu. It's a mountain hut that is part of the Alpine Club.

Postarski Dom is located at 1688 m. It's reported to have the best view of the Vrsic mountain huts. There is an up-close view of the Pagan Girl on the hike up to the dom.

The hut is open from the middle of June to Sep 30.

There are 36 beds and 11 rooms. You can get a private room for 2--€27/person or get a dorm bed. If you're a member of the Alpine Club, you get a discount. Bedding is included.

Showers are €3 each. Towels are an additional €0.50. No hiking boots are allowed inside the hut. Bring a pair of sandals to walk around inside.

View of Triglav from the dining room.

Half board included dinner & breakfast--€15/person. Dinner was 3 courses with Chicken Egg Soup for the first course. This was perfect for a chilly night.

Goulash with noodles. Big portion and filling but definitely not gourmet. The noodles were overcooked and the meat was tough.

Apple Streudel. This was quite good. Apples were cooked through but not mushy.

The next morning, breakfast included 2 eggs, ham, toast and coffee/tea.

If you're not a member of the Alpine Club, a better option might be Ticarjev Dom. It's situated right next to the road. 

2016 09 08

Vrsic Pass

Vrsic Pass is a high mountain pass through the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia. It's the highest pass in Slovenia. Except for the constant roar of motorcycles, it's a beautiful journey.

The Vrsic Pass takes you through Triglav National Park. There are 24 switchbacks up the pass and 26 switchbacks down the pass. Each switchback is numbered.

After Switchback #8, you'll see a Russian chapel. Vrsic Pass was built by over 10,000 Russian POWs during WWI. In 1916, an avalanche killed hundreds of the workers and this chapel was built where the final casualty was found.

Driving through the center of Triglav National Park

After Switchback #22, you'll see the Pagan Girl. It's just a little further from here to the summit of Vrsic Pass at 5285 feet.

2016 09 08

Slap Martuljek

We left Lake Bled and headed for Vrsic Pass. Along the way, we stopped at Gozd Martuljek, 37 km and 40 minutes from Lake Bled. Park at an old abandoned pension, near the bridge over the Sava Dolinka. Turn right on the bicycle path and follow the signs for Slap Martuljek. The hike was 8 km with a gain of 400 m and took 3 hours.

About 300 m from where we parked, we reached the Charcoal Burning Site, a demonstration area to show the importance of charcoal burning in the past.

The path followed a gorge then climbed to reach a view of the lower falls.

Along the route, Brunarica pri Ingotu provides home-cooked meals and drinks.

An impressive tree named Mama Lipa and her seven daughters.

Small chapel and a memorial with the names of those who died in these mountains.

After a hard climb, a steep descent and another steep climb, you'll reach the upper falls.

Close up of the upper falls.

2016 09 08