|
|
| Day 7: July 16,
2007 - Soca River Valley |
|
|
| |
Krnska jezera
We'll take a trip through the Upper Soca Valley
(the western part of Triglav National Park),
an area of exquisite alpine scenery. It is
here that the World War I battles so vividly
described in Hemingway's A Farewell
to Arms took place. An old Italian
trail takes us to Krnska lakes(4,544'), where
we'll be rewarded with views of the towering
limestone peaks. (4 hours hiking; 2,333' elevation
gain/loss.)
|
Change
in plans! Our original tack was a steep 3
1/2 hour vertical ascent on a peak with a
high mountain hut. When we woke up, a heat
wave had settled in and we were looking at
temperatures approaching 100F. Since the trail
was not protected, our guides made the right
choice and altered our plans.
We lingered over breakfast and then piled
into the van for a walk along the Soca River.
We parked the car near some fabulous views
of the Julian Alps and worked our way down
river. Along the trail we alternated stories
of WWI and the battles fought in the high
alps with discussions of the history of the
Slavic Republics and Slovenia. Ah yes, there
were great views of the light emerald Soca
River too.
|
We stopped for lunch
at Pri Plajerju which was a picnic site next
to the river. Everyone dipped their toes in
was that was painfully cold but magnificently
clear. After lunch we frolicked in the river
while Luka and Ursula hitch-hiked back to
our parking area to get the van.
Then it was off to a swimming lake on the
other side of some rapids. The water was in
the high 40s F and Luka showed us how to jump
in and swim with the current to shore. Naturally
Robin joined him, Mary Anne and Lenny in this
crazy stunt. Then they all jumped in again
from a cave on the other side.
|
 |
 |
 |
| The Soca River |
Rapids along the Soca River |
Howard along the Soca River |
 |
| Soca River Panoramic |
| |
|
With the heat of
the day really cranking up, we headed past
the hotel to do some swimming in a "warmer"
river. Everyone threaded their way down the
path and found rocks or relatives to change
behind. The river formed a few natural pools
and we waded into the first one we got to.
Initially, there was a huge shock that took
your breath away. We were all overheated and
the water was only about 60F.
We cooled off for about an hour in the pools.
We floated, we swam below bridges and generally
had a superb time. Then it was back to the
van and the hotel for dinner. |
| | |
|
|
|
|