Ski Touring Holidays in Slovenia, March 2023

125 Years of the Grindelwald Mountain Guide Association

People with skis and backpacks are hiking in snowy mountains.

Day 1

Summit: Jalovec 2645m
Route: Jalovcev Ozebnik
Mountain Range: Julian Alps
Participants: Hansruedi, Tina, Ueli, Monika, Mäne, Mägi, Nejc (our local mountain guide)
Start: Planica near the ski flying hill
Descent: via the ascent route
Stats: 1800m ascent, 1800m descent, 20.5km
Weather: overcast but dry, 1°C at the start

Our first ski tour in Slovenia took us to the Planica valley. We were awestruck by the ski flying hill before setting off on our tour to Jalovec, naturally with our ice axe in tow. We started with a leisurely trek along the cross-country ski trail to the last mountain hut in the valley, the Pianiski dom Tamar. We then battled through the forest, and soon the slopes became steeper, prompting us to switch to zigzag mode. We ascended in switchbacks until reaching a dark couloir. Here, we strapped our skis to our backpacks and continued with crampons. Emerging from the couloir, we entered the cloud cover and trudged on to a saddle. We left our skis there and climbed the last 250 meters in three rope teams, mostly on a short rope. Though technically not very difficult, it was extremely exposed, and after a total of 4.5 hours, we reached the summit. The ice axe was put to use but lamented the lack of a view from the top. We then descended back to the ski depot and skied down the dark, approximately 38-degree steep couloir. With the hardest parts behind us, we cruised down the slopes and enjoyed a coffee at the mountain hut. Despite the mediocre weather, it was a sensational first ski tour in Slovenia, and the ice axe enjoyed it too.

Two people in climbing gear with helmets and ropes in a snow-covered mountain landscape.

People with skis and poles are ascending in snow-covered mountain terrain.

Group of six people with helmets and climbing equipment in a foggy mountain landscape.

A group of five people with skis and ski equipment is standing in a parking lot in the mountains.

Day 1

Day 2

Summit: Triglav 2864m (highest mountain in Slovenia)
Route: Za Cmirom - ascent from the Vrata Valley
Mountain Range: Julian Alps
Participants: Hansruedi, Tina, Ueli, Monika, Mäne, Mägi, Nejc (our local mountain guide)
Start: in the Vrata Valley at 940m
Descent: via the ascent route
Stats: 2230m ascent, 2230m descent, 19.0km
Weather: clear and beautiful, 2°C at the start

After a great warm-up tour yesterday, we had big plans today - we wanted to show the ice axe Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. We started at 6:30 AM down in the valley. Initially, we carried our skis for 25 minutes up a steep forest path. Then we switched to skins - and it got steeper. Crampons were definitely not a luxury here. We quickly got back into switchback mode and climbed meter by meter. Upon reaching the Begunjska Vratca saddle at 2345m, we saw Triglav up close for the first time - and the ice axe was visibly impressed. A short descent and a counter-ascent led us to the Triglav Hut (Triglavski dom na Kredarici) at 2500m. We left our skis and switched to crampons. In three rope teams, we set off. Steep snow passages alternated with short rock sections - the ice axe stayed on the backpack and enjoyed the view. We crossed the first peak and soon stood on the second - the summit at 2864m. Triglav means three heads. We enjoyed the fantastic summit panorama - and what did the ice axe spot on the horizon? - the Mediterranean Sea.
We descended to the skis, enjoyed a coffee at the Triglav Hut, and began the descent. After a brief skiing pleasure, we had to put the skins back on and tackle the counter-ascent. As we continued down, the slopes got steeper and the snow wetter, until we took off the skis and walked down through the forest.
What a great day and an impressive tour - the ice axe was thrilled too. After two days in Slovenia, we've learned - while they may not have mountains as high as in Switzerland, they are certainly steeper. True to the motto - steep is great!
Back at the hotel, we enjoyed a relaxing bubble bath with the ice axe.

People with skis and helmets are hiking through a wooded slope.

Two people with helmets and climbing gear on a snow-covered mountain ridge in an alpine environment.

Group of people with helmets and climbing equipment on a snow-covered mountain peak.

Three people with helmets and climbing gear are standing on a snow-covered mountain peak.

Four people in a hot tub, one holding an ice pick. All are giving a thumbs up.

Three people with helmets and climbing equipment are standing on a snow-covered mountain peak.

Mountaineers with helmets and ropes on a snow-covered ridge in an alpine mountain landscape.

Group of people with skis and poles on a snowy mountain under a blue sky.

People with skis and poles are walking in snowy mountains. Clear sky in the background.

Person with helmet and ski poles on a snow-covered mountain against a rocky backdrop.

A person with a helmet and backpack on a snow-covered mountain ridge under a blue sky.

Person with helmet and backpack is climbing in the snow in the mountains. Ice pick attached to the backpack.

People ski touring in snow-covered mountains, carrying skis and poles.

Four people with skis and helmets are climbing a snowy mountain.

People with skis and poles are climbing a snowy mountain. They are wearing winter clothing.

Two people with skis and helmets are standing on a snowy mountain in front of an alpine backdrop.

Two people with skis and backpacks on a snowy mountain, wearing helmets and ski poles.

Person with skis and backpack in snowy mountain landscape, blue sky in the background.

People with skis and poles are walking up a snowy mountain; clear blue sky.

People with skis and poles in front of a mountain hut in the snow, blue sky in the background.

Two people with helmets and sunglasses mountaineering in the snowy high mountains.

Day 1

Day 3

Summit: Mala Ponca 2468m
Route: Spotnji Kotel, Srednji Kotel
Mountain Range: Julian Alps
Participants: Hansruedi, Tina, Ueli, Monika, Mäne, Mägi, Nejc (our local mountain guide)
Start: Gozd Martuljec approx. 900m
Descent: Pri treh macesnih
Stats: 1700m ascent, 1700m descent, 15.0km
Weather: initially slightly overcast, then clear, 7°C at the start

Today's planned ski tour was described by Nejc as "a very unique ski tour." We were curious, packed our backpacks, and the ice axe was ready for its next adventure. We set off at 7:30 AM - with skis strapped on - expecting about 20 minutes of carrying skis. Those 20 minutes turned into an hour through the steep forest, and we were all sweating as if exercising in a sauna. After 500 grueling meters, we switched to skins. Now we moved at a brisk pace, and the ice axe began to enjoy it again. A short portage helped us overcome a 40-meter steep section, and the ice axe got to showcase its qualities. The terrain became wilder and the views more impressive. We climbed to a small saddle and had our first glimpse of our day's goal, Mala Ponca. Nejc had a tough day today. The untouched slopes required a lot of trail-breaking. Hansruedi offered to take over, but it seems to be a point of pride in Slovenia for the local to break the trail. Fine by us - and so we overcame steep section after steep section with countless switchbacks. Another short portage and we stood in the narrow saddle between Velika Ponca and Mala Ponca. The last meters we climbed with crampons and on a rope to the summit. The ice axe was once again thrilled with its use and deeply impressed by the untouched and wild landscape. After a few summit photos, we descended to our skis and plunged into the steep couloir leading to the saddle. The snow quality was initially good but worsened with each meter down. But today was more about the adventure than the skiing pleasure. We descended to about 1300m and then strapped the skis back onto our backpacks. We followed a via ferrata-like path along a steep wall - requiring concentration once more. The remaining snow on the via ferrata and the strapped-on skis made the descent a challenging task. But we managed it and trudged through the forest down to our vehicles. The ice axe had another eventful day and was visibly tired from this "unique ski tour." It enjoyed an afternoon nap on the comfortable hotel bed.

Group of people with skis and helmets hiking on a forest path in the mountains.

Group of ski tourers with helmets and skis climbing a snow-covered slope in the mountains.

Person with helmet and backpack on snow-covered mountain, holding a hiking pole; high peaks in the background.

An ice pick lies on a white pillow in a bed.

Six people with helmets and climbing equipment on a snow-covered mountain peak.

Three people with skis and backpacks are hiking on a narrow path along a rocky slope.

People with skis and helmets on a snowy mountainside, surrounded by high, snow-covered peaks.

People with ski equipment are skiing down a snowy mountainside surrounded by rocks.

People with skis and backpacks are climbing a snowy mountain, with rocks in the background.

People with skis are skiing down a snow-covered slope, surrounded by mountains and trees.

People with skis and backpacks are climbing a snowy mountain surrounded by rocks.

Day 1

Day 4

Summit: Stenar 2501m
Route: Bukovlej in the Vrata Valley
Mountain Range: Julian Alps
Participants: Hansruedi, Tina, Ueli, Monika, Mäne, Mägi, Nejc (our local mountain guide)
Start: Vrata Valley approx. 940m
Descent: same as ascent route
Stats: 1620m ascent, 1620m descent, 18.7km
Weather: overcast, 3°C at the start

Today we had to get up a bit earlier, hoping the snow would be better for the descent. Well, at 3°C, the snow doesn't freeze in Slovenia either. We started at 6:00 AM in the Vrata Valley with a mix of carrying skis and skinning. The ice axe took its usual spot on our backpack and enjoyed the trek through the forest from a safe distance. We moved gently under the imposing Triglav North Face, passing the Bivak pod Luknjo. A traverse in very soft snow led us into a steep funnel, which we overcame with countless switchbacks and a short portage. We continued into the Stenarska Vratca, and from there, another exposed traverse led to the final slope of Stenar. The ice axe was getting a bit chilly, perhaps due to the freshening wind or maybe the lack of movement? We enjoyed the final ascent and stood on the summit of Stenar at 2501m shortly before 10:00 AM. The ice axe was celebrated and made it into countless summit photos once again. We removed the skins and switched to descent mode. There were countless beautiful turns until we reached lower altitudes. There, the descent was more like water skiing, but that was fun too. Finally, we made a wild ride through the forest and walked the last meters to our vehicles. Once again, the ice axe experienced a unique ski tour in Slovenia. And since the tour ended by noon, the ice axe visited the Elan Ski factory in Begunje and climbed a few routes at Domen Skofic's Climbing Ranch in the afternoon.