Vacation 2004 - together with Martha we decided to go to Slovenia - do some caving and see the country.
I was there some time ago (in Julian Alps) and I liked the country a lot.
So, after the speleo course it was high time to try some caving by ourselves.
Data that we had was pretty scarce: the "Cave Guide to Slovenia" (I. Bishop, 1997),
a tourist guide, some maps. Unfortunately, Internet didn't help much,
although we didn't spend as much time as we could have...
Anyway, we really could appreciate Polish cave pages: Epimenides
and KKTJ (they're just great).
We went to Speleocamp in the town Laze (recommended in the "Cave Guide"),
making sure earlier that we will have a place there - we contacted the owner, Franc Facija.
We hoped to get some more information from him about the surrounding caves,
but frankly, we were a bit disappointed there.
Anyway, Speleocamp is pretty nice. There's a small house for common use (with stoves and refrigerator),
another one with toilets and showers (with hot water) and with a hose for cleaning mud of all types of caving gear.
In Franc's house there are guest rooms, but we don't know the details.
At first we thought that we will stay at Speleocamp only a couple of days,
and then we will move somewhere else. But it turned out that we visited caves mostly around Laze,
so we ended up living there for the whole two weeks.
For the first week we were the only ones on the campsite,
people from Mendip Caving Group were in the guestrooms.
On the second week there were many more campers from various countries - at times around a dozen tents.
With such population, small problems appeared: not enough hot water (a boiler),
not enough electrical outlets (even for charging batteries).
But all in all, it wasn't bad. Oh, and the price was then 5 euro per person per day.
And some more notes for those who would like to go there.
We had Visa and Visa Electron cards; unfortunately it seems
that they prefer MasterCard and its variations.
A small problem, but for instance in Skocjanske Jame we had to pay with cash
(honoring a single card in such a tourist place as that?!?).
Another thing: there's no Pepsi in restaurants and bars!
And one last thing: we wanted to book places to Krizna Jama some time before even going to Slovenia.
Franc suggested that we can book these when we arrive.
Then, however, it turned out that during those two weeks there are not places available...
One last thing, before we go to the photos from different places: the country is beautiful
and it's really worth visiting. Just watch out for your car - on the last day we left our car
on a forest road and went to Najdena. When we returned, some f...ing assholes broke into it,
broke three windshields, broke the locks and stole several things.
What's funny is that those dumb idiots didn't take the most valuable things...
The Police was quite helpful and friendly, but since it was 5pm Friday,
we had no change of repairing the car before Monday morning (?!).
So our road back to Poland was slow, long and really tiring.
Of course we had no word about the incident since.
And we had some trouble translating the Police protocol in Poland
for the insurance agency (no help from them - PZU - when we were in Slovenia, naturally).
Trips:
Details:
No need to elaborate: the road was long (especially since I'm a pretty careful driver).
But it's worth looking around when driving - you can find some pretty nice place on the way.
Just before the Austrian-Slovenian border we saw some nice waterfalls, and in Slovenia,
we went to visit the Vintgar canyon - recommended!
Actually, the canyon was in our plans, but we had some trouble locating it...
Anyway, when you're going from Jesenice to Bled through Gorje,
there are some pretty small road signs pointing to the canyon.
The visit lasted about 2 hours, the ticket wasn't expensive.
No need to elaborate: the road was long (especially since I'm a pretty careful driver).
But it's worth looking around when driving - you can find some pretty nice place on the way.
Just before the Austrian-Slovenian border we saw some nice waterfalls, and in Slovenia,
we went to visit the Vintgar canyon - recommended!
Actually, the canyon was in our plans, but we had some trouble locating it...
Anyway, when you're going from Jesenice to Bled through Gorje,
there are some pretty small road signs pointing to the canyon.
The visit lasted about 2 hours, the ticket wasn't expensive.
On the way there and the Vintgar Canyon
Just before the Austrian-Slovenian border
Just before the Austrian-Slovenian border
On the way, by chance, we found this place (unfortunately, my camera started having fits)
On the way, by chance, we found this place (unfortunately, my camera started having fits)
Slovenia, the Vintgar canyon
Slovenia, the Vintgar canyon
Wonderful water color
Wonderful water color
The Sun's came out - this showed that it's really worth going there on a sunny day
The Sun's came out - this showed that it's really worth going there on a sunny day
Martha would like to do some fishing...
Martha would like to do some fishing...
On the way to the main attraction...
On the way to the main attraction...
At the end of the canyon - a waterfall
At the end of the canyon - a waterfall
Top
We decided to start our caving with the "cave walk" described in Bishop's book.
It's worth going by car to the start of the trail, unless someone fancies
walking on hot tarmac in 30 degree heat? The cave is easy to find,
metal is not necessary - a handline is enough (some 30 meters).
I found some opinions on the Internet about this cave,
that it's not interesting and not really worth visiting.
Well, we think that it's exactly the other way around - a very nice hole.
But watch out: people with arachnophobia should stay away from this cave - see the pictures.
We decided to start our caving with the "cave walk" described in Bishop's book.
It's worth going by car to the start of the trail, unless someone fancies
walking on hot tarmac in 30 degree heat? The cave is easy to find,
metal is not necessary - a handline is enough (some 30 meters).
I found some opinions on the Internet about this cave,
that it's not interesting and not really worth visiting.
Well, we think that it's exactly the other way around - a very nice hole.
But watch out: people with arachnophobia should stay away from this cave - see the pictures.
Stota Jama
The first cave - Stota Jama; it was very hot for putting on the suit...
The first cave - Stota Jama; it was very hot for putting on the suit...
On in all, a jura-ish cave, only with much nicer and undamaged formations
On in all, a jura-ish cave, only with much nicer and undamaged formations
What are you thinking about, darling?
What are you thinking about, darling?
When all of them started to move, the feeling was pretty eerie...
When all of them started to move, the feeling was pretty eerie...
On the way out
On the way out
Roots not far from the entrance; several centimeters in diameter
Roots not far from the entrance; several centimeters in diameter
From a cold cave into a 30-degree heat...
From a cold cave into a 30-degree heat...
Top
When searching for this cave a problem appeared that would bug several times yet.
Trails marks aren't very consistent, hardly visible, and the access descriptions
in the "Cave Guide" were often misleading.
We spent about 2 hours looking for the entrance. It turned out that the path to the cave
(leading from the main trail) is marked with triangles (most of the "cave walk"
is marked with red circles with white centers). Sometimes trails are marked with single red lines,
sometimes paths to cave entrances are marked with omega signs (pictograms of cave entrances).
The marks are usually hard to see and pretty sparse.
Anyway, when following the trail from Stota Jama, look for triangles leading to the right.
After about 30-50 meters you'll see a deep doline where the entrance can be found
(fortunately marked with a number, so you can be sure that this is the cave you're looking for).
The entrance pitch is about 20 meter deep and maybe 4 meters wide.
We rigged the rope (26 meters) from two trees; a tape is handy for the second point
so that the rope wouldn't rub. You can use a bolt too, but it's not necessary.
IMO, the cave is less interesting; with a muddy and slippery slope that need to be traversed.
We didn't use rope or tape there, but next time I think I would.
After this cave we searched for the next one (Jama Na Meji), but to no effect - the description in the guide,
as we found out later, was totally wrong!
When searching for this cave a problem appeared that would bug several times yet.
Trails marks aren't very consistent, hardly visible, and the access descriptions
in the "Cave Guide" were often misleading.
We spent about 2 hours looking for the entrance. It turned out that the path to the cave
(leading from the main trail) is marked with triangles (most of the "cave walk"
is marked with red circles with white centers). Sometimes trails are marked with single red lines,
sometimes paths to cave entrances are marked with omega signs (pictograms of cave entrances).
The marks are usually hard to see and pretty sparse.
Anyway, when following the trail from Stota Jama, look for triangles leading to the right.
After about 30-50 meters you'll see a deep doline where the entrance can be found
(fortunately marked with a number, so you can be sure that this is the cave you're looking for).
The entrance pitch is about 20 meter deep and maybe 4 meters wide.
We rigged the rope (26 meters) from two trees; a tape is handy for the second point
so that the rope wouldn't rub. You can use a bolt too, but it's not necessary.
IMO, the cave is less interesting; with a muddy and slippery slope that need to be traversed.
We didn't use rope or tape there, but next time I think I would.
After this cave we searched for the next one (Jama Na Meji), but to no effect - the description in the guide,
as we found out later, was totally wrong!
Jama za Teglovko
Some nice formations near the entrance pitch
Some nice formations near the entrance pitch
The entrance pitch
The entrance pitch
A suite made from polar-80 with short sleeves and legs - really nice!
A suite made from polar-80 with short sleeves and legs - really nice!
We didn't find our next cave that day...
We didn't find our next cave that day...
Top
The plan was as follows: we will mix serious caving with visits to show caves,
beaches and other interesting places. So, the next day, we went in the directions of Koper.
Target: Skocjanske Jame and a swim in the Adriatic Sea.
The ticket was pretty expensive and they don't honor Visa cards.
They suggest to take some warm clothes inside, but the entrance is pretty far from the building.
So, even if you plan to put on some warm clothes, do it just before entering the cave.
However, it's not that cold inside, so a typical summer outfit plus a light jacket is quite enough.
If you plan on going there, maybe you shouldn't read the rest of this paragraph - I
wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. Because the cave is really awesome.
You start by going through a tunnel that enters Tiche Jame - a very nice cave full of splendid formations.
But, as it often happens in caves such as this, after about 3 quarters of an hour,
even the most wonderful formations start to be a bit boring.
But that's when the best part of the cave begins!
An underground canyon some 3 kilometers long (but you don't visit its full length),
a hundred meters high, some 30 meters wide. A river at the bottom.
A bridge some 40 meters over the water, a catwalk in the middle of the wall.
At one time we looked back at from where we came - the exit from a big chamber looked now like a small hole
in the canyon's wall... On top of that, some really nice formations on the way.
Highly recommended!
On the other hand, Slovenian sea is nothing to get exited about: true, pretty warm,
but muddy and full of seaweed... We found better later on.
The plan was as follows: we will mix serious caving with visits to show caves,
beaches and other interesting places. So, the next day, we went in the directions of Koper.
Target: Skocjanske Jame and a swim in the Adriatic Sea.
The ticket was pretty expensive and they don't honor Visa cards.
They suggest to take some warm clothes inside, but the entrance is pretty far from the building.
So, even if you plan to put on some warm clothes, do it just before entering the cave.
However, it's not that cold inside, so a typical summer outfit plus a light jacket is quite enough.
If you plan on going there, maybe you shouldn't read the rest of this paragraph - I
wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. Because the cave is really awesome.
You start by going through a tunnel that enters Tiche Jame - a very nice cave full of splendid formations.
But, as it often happens in caves such as this, after about 3 quarters of an hour,
even the most wonderful formations start to be a bit boring.
But that's when the best part of the cave begins!
An underground canyon some 3 kilometers long (but you don't visit its full length),
a hundred meters high, some 30 meters wide. A river at the bottom.
A bridge some 40 meters over the water, a catwalk in the middle of the wall.
At one time we looked back at from where we came - the exit from a big chamber looked now like a small hole
in the canyon's wall... On top of that, some really nice formations on the way.
Highly recommended!
On the other hand, Slovenian sea is nothing to get exited about: true, pretty warm,
but muddy and full of seaweed... We found better later on.
Skocjanske Jame
Unfortunately, you can take photos only outside of the cave
Unfortunately, you can take photos only outside of the cave
Some waterfalls below
Some waterfalls below
In general, the size of the place took our breath away
In general, the size of the place took our breath away
I wouldn't want to live THERE
I wouldn't want to live THERE
The waterfalls again, from a different perspective
The waterfalls again, from a different perspective
First caves, then a warm sea. It's really worth living for!
First caves, then a warm sea. It's really worth living for!
Top
We continued our "cave walk" the next day. So maybe I'll describe how to get
from Jama Za Teglovko to Jama Na Meji. Just follow the trail marked with circles;
in places through some thickets. Cross a gravel road and follow a narrow trail straight through.
Right after you cross the road, you will pass a newly discovered cave on the right (it was 8 days old then).
Next, follow the triangles. After several hundred meters there's a path to the left
that leads to the cave (omega signs on trees, a tin can on a stick).
Follow this path for several minutes until you reach a 6 meter wide hole. That's it!
You should have: 50 meters of rope, gear for 4 bolts. At the top we rigged our rope from a bolt and a tree,
another bolt with a tape right below these (so that the rope wouldn't rub against the edge).
In the pitch, about half way through, you pass a bridge. The rope will rub against this, so use another bolt with tape there.
The descent is fun, without touching the walls. The Sun rays look really nice inside the pitch,
so I took a whole lot of pictures. There are only a couple below, but I had to choose only the best ones... :-)
There are some nice formations in the cave, some side passages, but the entrance pitch is the nicest thing there.
We continued our "cave walk" the next day. So maybe I'll describe how to get
from Jama Za Teglovko to Jama Na Meji. Just follow the trail marked with circles;
in places through some thickets. Cross a gravel road and follow a narrow trail straight through.
Right after you cross the road, you will pass a newly discovered cave on the right (it was 8 days old then).
Next, follow the triangles. After several hundred meters there's a path to the left
that leads to the cave (omega signs on trees, a tin can on a stick).
Follow this path for several minutes until you reach a 6 meter wide hole. That's it!
You should have: 50 meters of rope, gear for 4 bolts. At the top we rigged our rope from a bolt and a tree,
another bolt with a tape right below these (so that the rope wouldn't rub against the edge).
In the pitch, about half way through, you pass a bridge. The rope will rub against this, so use another bolt with tape there.
The descent is fun, without touching the walls. The Sun rays look really nice inside the pitch,
so I took a whole lot of pictures. There are only a couple below, but I had to choose only the best ones... :-)
There are some nice formations in the cave, some side passages, but the entrance pitch is the nicest thing there.
Jama na Meji
Sun rays in the entrance pitch
Sun rays in the entrance pitch
Martha's rigging
Martha's rigging
The entrance pitch viewed from the bottom (the bridge is about half way down)
The entrance pitch viewed from the bottom (the bridge is about half way down)
A tight passage there, with sings of recent exploration
A tight passage there, with sings of recent exploration
You can walk behind this formation
You can walk behind this formation
On the way up
On the way up
The light up there - that's Martha
The light up there - that's Martha
A sun bath on the way
A sun bath on the way
As strong as Atlas!
As strong as Atlas!
Top
Next on the "cave walk" is Vranja Jama. It's easy to find, the description
in the book is ok, no need for gear other than suits and boots.
The entrance is huge - I tried to show this on the merged photos,
but it doesn't look ok. And look out for falling trees: when we were changing
into caving suits, one fell down (and not just a branch, but a whole tree)!
And the entrance is big enough for a small cloud to form...
From the entrance chamber you have three passages to choose from.
The first one leads to nice formations; we even saw frogs there.
The second one leads to the second entrance - Mrzla Jama. The third one,
very muddy, leads down to a small lake. We found six proteuses there.
Of course it turned out then that I left my camera near the entrance.
When I came back with it, the nasty creatures were nowhere in sight.
Fortunately, several minutes later two swam into view, so I managed to take a couple of pictures.
Next on the "cave walk" is Vranja Jama. It's easy to find, the description
in the book is ok, no need for gear other than suits and boots.
The entrance is huge - I tried to show this on the merged photos,
but it doesn't look ok. And look out for falling trees: when we were changing
into caving suits, one fell down (and not just a branch, but a whole tree)!
And the entrance is big enough for a small cloud to form...
From the entrance chamber you have three passages to choose from.
The first one leads to nice formations; we even saw frogs there.
The second one leads to the second entrance - Mrzla Jama. The third one,
very muddy, leads down to a small lake. We found six proteuses there.
Of course it turned out then that I left my camera near the entrance.
When I came back with it, the nasty creatures were nowhere in sight.
Fortunately, several minutes later two swam into view, so I managed to take a couple of pictures.
Vranja Jama
Clouds in the entrance
Clouds in the entrance
A vertical panorama of the entrance - when I was shooting this picture, a tree fell down from the top
A vertical panorama of the entrance - when I was shooting this picture, a tree fell down from the top
A horizontal panorama of the entrance
A horizontal panorama of the entrance
Inside
Inside
One of the dwellers of this cave
One of the dwellers of this cave
View of the entrance from the inside
View of the entrance from the inside
The second entrance - Mrzla Jama
The second entrance - Mrzla Jama
We went outside for a while to catch some sun
We went outside for a while to catch some sun
Proteuses (there were six earlier, but I had no camera)
Proteuses (there were six earlier, but I had no camera)
Top
The next day, according to plan, without any caves. We drove to the nearby park: Rakov Skocjan.
The caves Zelske Jame and Tkalce Jame are there, but you need boat to visit these.
The park is very nice, you can visit some of the entrances to Zelske Jame.
Unfortunately, when we were there, the water level was very low, so the river
that was supposed to come out of Tkalce Jame... disappeared. On the other hand, of course,
a low water level means you can visit more of the caves...
The next day, according to plan, without any caves. We drove to the nearby park: Rakov Skocjan.
The caves Zelske Jame and Tkalce Jame are there, but you need boat to visit these.
The park is very nice, you can visit some of the entrances to Zelske Jame.
Unfortunately, when we were there, the water level was very low, so the river
that was supposed to come out of Tkalce Jame... disappeared. On the other hand, of course,
a low water level means you can visit more of the caves...
Rakov Skocjan
Small Natural Bridge
Small Natural Bridge
One of the entrances to Zelske Jame
One of the entrances to Zelske Jame
Ditto
Ditto
Big hole with a strong river inside
Big hole with a strong river inside
I almost broke my legs when running to Martha for the picture
I almost broke my legs when running to Martha for the picture
A bit like a jungle
A bit like a jungle
The bridge from the first picture, seen from below
The bridge from the first picture, seen from below
Great Natural Bridge
Great Natural Bridge
One of the entrances to Tkalce Jame
One of the entrances to Tkalce Jame
Top
The cave is easy to find, if you don't overlook the omega sign on a tree.
Of course, we did just that, so it took us almost 2 hours to find the hole...
that was maybe just 10 meters off the road. But, the entrance is pretty small!
It's a 46 meter deep series of pitches. The rigging is easy: from the tree and a rock,
but later one it became harder for us. There are no bolts in the cave, only natural points.
This was the first time when we were in such a cave (there is no rigging
from natural points on the course - and maybe there should be?) and we needed to switch to looking for such points.
Then it became quite easy...
So, there was a belay from a column, another one on a stalagmite,
and so on (all in all, 4 belays). However, the cave is a bit dangerous,
since a stone would fall from the top to the very bottom - and there are a lot of loose stones
in the small chamber below the entrance. So, even with belays, we decided to go the whole way down and up one by one.
There are some nice formations at the bottom, several small side passages and one chimney.
A nice cave and the rigging learned us a lot (for the natural points).
We didn't find the next cave on that day - Skednena Jama (that guide!)...
In the evening, we were invited to a grill party organized by the English from the Mendip Caving Group.
And it was also their 50th anniversary! The party was very nice, grilled garlic wasn't popular,
but ginger vodka went down very well. We were also invited to visit Mendip and the Pyrenees.
I guess that next year we will go caving to France.
The cave is easy to find, if you don't overlook the omega sign on a tree.
Of course, we did just that, so it took us almost 2 hours to find the hole...
that was maybe just 10 meters off the road. But, the entrance is pretty small!
It's a 46 meter deep series of pitches. The rigging is easy: from the tree and a rock,
but later one it became harder for us. There are no bolts in the cave, only natural points.
This was the first time when we were in such a cave (there is no rigging
from natural points on the course - and maybe there should be?) and we needed to switch to looking for such points.
Then it became quite easy...
So, there was a belay from a column, another one on a stalagmite,
and so on (all in all, 4 belays). However, the cave is a bit dangerous,
since a stone would fall from the top to the very bottom - and there are a lot of loose stones
in the small chamber below the entrance. So, even with belays, we decided to go the whole way down and up one by one.
There are some nice formations at the bottom, several small side passages and one chimney.
A nice cave and the rigging learned us a lot (for the natural points).
We didn't find the next cave on that day - Skednena Jama (that guide!)...
In the evening, we were invited to a grill party organized by the English from the Mendip Caving Group.
And it was also their 50th anniversary! The party was very nice, grilled garlic wasn't popular,
but ginger vodka went down very well. We were also invited to visit Mendip and the Pyrenees.
I guess that next year we will go caving to France.
Brezno v Zavoju
Hi there!
Hi there!
Formations at the bottom are quite pretty
Formations at the bottom are quite pretty
I got stuck there for a while...
I got stuck there for a while...
Top
We left the "cave walk" for a while, or rather its last cave (Skednena).
We wanted something bigger, not necessarily deeper, but bigger. So we chose Logarcek.
The description in the Cave Guide, together with a detailed map, suggested that there will no problems with finding the cave.
But we had some - earlier we were told that we should look for the entrance near a high voltage line.
So we found a cave pretty quickly, but we weren't sure if this is Logarcek.
The "Cave Guide" describes the entrance as a hole 6 by 17 meters???
Logarcek's entrance is about 6 by 4 meters, and maybe not that much...
The cave begins with a 20 meter entrance pitch. I guess that at the top, some time ago,
there was a workshop on bolt fixing (? - not sure of the word here).
There were 4 or 5 in one rock, a whole lot more in another. We used just 2 for the rigging,
one on the way and one for a deviator. And here we encountered another problem: the was not bolt for the deviator,
just a screw with a nut. So we took the screw off of one of our plaquettes.
But a note for future trips: take one or two such plaquettes without screws.
The cave is pretty long (over 2 km), so a one page survey with a half page description is a bit scarce.
We visited some side passages and chimneys of the first chamber. Next, we followed steal steps and rods to find,
under some boulders, the passage to the greater part of the cave. You can follow the arrows in this part of the cave.
After a hundred plus meters there's another pitch (you need 25 and 40 meters of rope for two descents,
although 25 for the first one is almost not enough). The second descent needs two belays plus a deviator,
or you can walk down on the left hand side (very slippery) and use just the ascender on the way up.
We rigged it as a normal pitch.
Then you come to a T-junction with the main, and quite big, corridor going South and North.
We chose the longer way North planning on visiting the large chamber that's about 400 meters distant.
We never saw such mountains of mud! Some 10-15 meters high, wet in the lower parts.
We almost lost our boots. That's how the passage looked all way to the chamber; the chamber itself was pretty similar.
Well, you can just open a mud mine there. Apart from that, the cave is not very interesting
(the passage is high and wide, easy to follow; there's only one place where you have to do a bit of crawling).
We left the "cave walk" for a while, or rather its last cave (Skednena).
We wanted something bigger, not necessarily deeper, but bigger. So we chose Logarcek.
The description in the Cave Guide, together with a detailed map, suggested that there will no problems with finding the cave.
But we had some - earlier we were told that we should look for the entrance near a high voltage line.
So we found a cave pretty quickly, but we weren't sure if this is Logarcek.
The "Cave Guide" describes the entrance as a hole 6 by 17 meters???
Logarcek's entrance is about 6 by 4 meters, and maybe not that much...
The cave begins with a 20 meter entrance pitch. I guess that at the top, some time ago,
there was a workshop on bolt fixing (? - not sure of the word here).
There were 4 or 5 in one rock, a whole lot more in another. We used just 2 for the rigging,
one on the way and one for a deviator. And here we encountered another problem: the was not bolt for the deviator,
just a screw with a nut. So we took the screw off of one of our plaquettes.
But a note for future trips: take one or two such plaquettes without screws.
The cave is pretty long (over 2 km), so a one page survey with a half page description is a bit scarce.
We visited some side passages and chimneys of the first chamber. Next, we followed steal steps and rods to find,
under some boulders, the passage to the greater part of the cave. You can follow the arrows in this part of the cave.
After a hundred plus meters there's another pitch (you need 25 and 40 meters of rope for two descents,
although 25 for the first one is almost not enough). The second descent needs two belays plus a deviator,
or you can walk down on the left hand side (very slippery) and use just the ascender on the way up.
We rigged it as a normal pitch.
Then you come to a T-junction with the main, and quite big, corridor going South and North.
We chose the longer way North planning on visiting the large chamber that's about 400 meters distant.
We never saw such mountains of mud! Some 10-15 meters high, wet in the lower parts.
We almost lost our boots. That's how the passage looked all way to the chamber; the chamber itself was pretty similar.
Well, you can just open a mud mine there. Apart from that, the cave is not very interesting
(the passage is high and wide, easy to follow; there's only one place where you have to do a bit of crawling).
Logarcek
Rigging of the second pitch
Rigging of the second pitch
Martha quite quickly started to loath these mountains of mud
Martha quite quickly started to loath these mountains of mud
In one of the chamber they just put in too much mud
In one of the chamber they just put in too much mud
The entrance pitch from the bottom
The entrance pitch from the bottom
Top
On the same day we got a chance to visit Planinska Jama with a canyoning-caving group from Poland.
You can visit the cave only with a guide, and if not for the free places in the group,
we wouldn't see it (so again, if you plan on visiting caves like Planinska or Krizna, book places much earlier).
The trips starts with an overly long walk in the cave - you need to get to the place from where
you can start swimming in boats. On the other hand, the cave makes an impression - high and wide passage,
long... huge. Next we got into three boats and rowed for the next 3 quarters of an hour.
The water is very clear, in places 75 meters deep. You can spot numerous proteuses on the way
(this is their home cave, I guess). There's this one muddy place where you could see over 10 of them.
Our goal, it turned out, was Paradiz - the dry part of the cave with wonderful formations.
But since we were in a large group with a guide, there was just no time on serious picture taking...
Anyway, there are numerous and various types of formations there, and we highly recommend this trip!!!
(You need to do some climbing on the way, but it's pretty easy.)
On the same day we got a chance to visit Planinska Jama with a canyoning-caving group from Poland.
You can visit the cave only with a guide, and if not for the free places in the group,
we wouldn't see it (so again, if you plan on visiting caves like Planinska or Krizna, book places much earlier).
The trips starts with an overly long walk in the cave - you need to get to the place from where
you can start swimming in boats. On the other hand, the cave makes an impression - high and wide passage,
long... huge. Next we got into three boats and rowed for the next 3 quarters of an hour.
The water is very clear, in places 75 meters deep. You can spot numerous proteuses on the way
(this is their home cave, I guess). There's this one muddy place where you could see over 10 of them.
Our goal, it turned out, was Paradiz - the dry part of the cave with wonderful formations.
But since we were in a large group with a guide, there was just no time on serious picture taking...
Anyway, there are numerous and various types of formations there, and we highly recommend this trip!!!
(You need to do some climbing on the way, but it's pretty easy.)
Planinska Jama
With a group from Poland we went to Planinska Jama
With a group from Poland we went to Planinska Jama
Goal: Paradiz at the end of one of the waterways
Goal: Paradiz at the end of one of the waterways
Ghost
Ghost
Bacon
Bacon
You need to spend some time on boats to get there
You need to spend some time on boats to get there
Our guide with a boat in one of the shallow places
Our guide with a boat in one of the shallow places
Fireflies
Fireflies
A bunch of proteuses live in the cave's waters; and they're not that small
A bunch of proteuses live in the cave's waters; and they're not that small
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Another rest day away from caves - we decided to visit the Triglav National Park in the North-Western part of the country.
I would have taken more pictures if not for the fact that the weather totally gave up on us...
We managed to see the Boca waterfall, visit the tourist and sport center - the town of Bovec,
and later in rain and fog: sculpted by the river Soca canyon and 47 turns on the way to a mountain pass
from 800 meters, up to 1600 and then back down to 800. The views are probably grand, but all we could see was fog...
Another rest day away from caves - we decided to visit the Triglav National Park in the North-Western part of the country.
I would have taken more pictures if not for the fact that the weather totally gave up on us...
We managed to see the Boca waterfall, visit the tourist and sport center - the town of Bovec,
and later in rain and fog: sculpted by the river Soca canyon and 47 turns on the way to a mountain pass
from 800 meters, up to 1600 and then back down to 800. The views are probably grand, but all we could see was fog...
A trip to the Triglav National Park
The Boca waterfall
The Boca waterfall
Super clear water
Super clear water
All I wanted to do was to jump in (with a guaranteed heart attack)
All I wanted to do was to jump in (with a guaranteed heart attack)
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Ok., back to caving, high time to finish the "cave walk" - we need to find Skednena.
Again: the description is worse than useless (I don't think anything matched the terrain).
If we had not met help on the way, we would still be looking for it...
So, when following the triangles from Vranja Jama (that you can find on the wall left of
the trail that leads down to the entrance). Ignore the standard marks (circles) and follow the triangles.
The trail circumvents Vranja's doline, goes for a short while up, and then for several hundred meters down.
Then a right turn (to the left there's an unmarked path) and right after that, on the left of the path
there's a small doline where you can find the South entrance to the cave (if you follow the triangles further,
you'll find the North entrance).
You don't have to change into a caving suite to visit this cave, although this might be necessary
to visit the three side passages. There are almost no formations here, but the passage is high,
wide and comfortable. Near the South entrance there's a pretty chimney that nicely illuminates the walls and floor.
The cave's North entrance lies in a deep doline of appropriate size. All in all, a very relaxing trip.
Ok., back to caving, high time to finish the "cave walk" - we need to find Skednena.
Again: the description is worse than useless (I don't think anything matched the terrain).
If we had not met help on the way, we would still be looking for it...
So, when following the triangles from Vranja Jama (that you can find on the wall left of
the trail that leads down to the entrance). Ignore the standard marks (circles) and follow the triangles.
The trail circumvents Vranja's doline, goes for a short while up, and then for several hundred meters down.
Then a right turn (to the left there's an unmarked path) and right after that, on the left of the path
there's a small doline where you can find the South entrance to the cave (if you follow the triangles further,
you'll find the North entrance).
You don't have to change into a caving suite to visit this cave, although this might be necessary
to visit the three side passages. There are almost no formations here, but the passage is high,
wide and comfortable. Near the South entrance there's a pretty chimney that nicely illuminates the walls and floor.
The cave's North entrance lies in a deep doline of appropriate size. All in all, a very relaxing trip.
Skednena Jama
Finally found, with help
Finally found, with help
That's how some of the caves are marked; others have numbers painted near the entrance; all the others have no markings at all
That's how some of the caves are marked; others have numbers painted near the entrance; all the others have no markings at all
The South entrance with the chimney
The South entrance with the chimney
Near the second entrance the air was full of vapor
Near the second entrance the air was full of vapor
Martha was having some fun
Martha was having some fun
The tunnel from the previous picture; behind Martha - daylight
The tunnel from the previous picture; behind Martha - daylight
Exit
Exit
The same exit
The same exit
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Since Skednena turned out to be totally trivial, we decided to visit Mackovica on the same day.
And that's a cave you wouldn't want to miss!
Surprisingly, the description of the access to the cave pretty closely matches reality.
We visited Mala and Velika Dvorana, but didn't go into Blatini Rov (we had enough mud after Logarcek),
thus ropes were unnecessary. Mala Dvorana has some nice formations, but Velika Dvorana is full of them.
The most interesting one, IMHO, was the big boulder pile that's covered with calcite - numerous
interesting and pretty forms. Add to that many stalactites, columns, calcite-falls, and a brain splashed on stones... :-)
Since Skednena turned out to be totally trivial, we decided to visit Mackovica on the same day.
And that's a cave you wouldn't want to miss!
Surprisingly, the description of the access to the cave pretty closely matches reality.
We visited Mala and Velika Dvorana, but didn't go into Blatini Rov (we had enough mud after Logarcek),
thus ropes were unnecessary. Mala Dvorana has some nice formations, but Velika Dvorana is full of them.
The most interesting one, IMHO, was the big boulder pile that's covered with calcite - numerous
interesting and pretty forms. Add to that many stalactites, columns, calcite-falls, and a brain splashed on stones... :-)
Mackovica
I decided to shoot some pictures of the various formations - and there's a lot to choose from!
I decided to shoot some pictures of the various formations - and there's a lot to choose from!
The brain
The brain
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On the previous day, when looking for Skednena, we saw some holes in the forest floor, about 1 meter deep.
Recalling that near Jama Na Meji there's a newly discovered cave only a week old,
I decided to try my hand at exploration. So we bought some professional tools and went digging
(that is, I was digging and Martha helped a bit by transporting the rocks and earth a bit farther from the "cave";
a bit later on she began to get seriously bored...).
Well, after some 5 hours and 2 meters I capitulated...
The rocks started to get closer to each other and the place stopped looking as a potential cave site.
Regardless, I think that I like digging, so I'll give it another try somewhere else! :-)
On the previous day, when looking for Skednena, we saw some holes in the forest floor, about 1 meter deep.
Recalling that near Jama Na Meji there's a newly discovered cave only a week old,
I decided to try my hand at exploration. So we bought some professional tools and went digging
(that is, I was digging and Martha helped a bit by transporting the rocks and earth a bit farther from the "cave";
a bit later on she began to get seriously bored...).
Well, after some 5 hours and 2 meters I capitulated...
The rocks started to get closer to each other and the place stopped looking as a potential cave site.
Regardless, I think that I like digging, so I'll give it another try somewhere else! :-)
A try at exploration
Martha found some nice looking holes
Martha found some nice looking holes
After 5 hours of digging - the end...
After 5 hours of digging - the end...
My tools
My tools
Sunset over Speleocamp
Sunset over Speleocamp
The same hill, but looking East over Planinsko Polje
The same hill, but looking East over Planinsko Polje
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For the next day we chose Gradisnica. The survey seemed pretty obvious, but the numbers
on the vertical scale didn't exactly get through. We knew that it's a big and deep cave,
but when we got there it turned out to be totally AWESOME!
There's this forest, and all of a sudden there's a hole - some 30 meters in diameter!
And 70 meters deep. Martha went first and even when she became very little,
she still was hanging well above the bottom. And the bottom itself was pretty steep
but didn't look as such from the top; I guess the inclination approaches 40 degrees...
This is one of those caves that has new, fixed bolts. On the way down we fixed 3 belays,
but you need only one bolt (from which the longest descent is rigged).
When at the bottom we started thinking, that since this cave is a tourist attraction,
it would be better to rig the descent from two points that are just below the lip of the pitch.
Then, even if somebody would steal the gear from the top two points, we still would have two points for the main pitch...
Going down the very much inclined bottom, you get to the next, 40 meter pitch.
In the "Cave Guide" it's described as having many rub points; but now there are new bolts,
so that with standard rigging we had not problems. The descent ends in the main chamber of the cave,
which is just huge (about 150 meters long, 50 meters wide and of the same heights).
It has a very loud and long lasting echo. Unfortunately, the bottom is in deep mud,
so we walked around the highest point of the chamber. All in all, we were some 185 meters deep.
What's interesting is that even at this depth we still could glimpse some sunlight.
The ascent went pretty smoothly, although the temperature was a bit too high for climbing - about 20 degrees or so
through most of the 80-meter long stretch. But the trips was a very nice one.
For the next day we chose Gradisnica. The survey seemed pretty obvious, but the numbers
on the vertical scale didn't exactly get through. We knew that it's a big and deep cave,
but when we got there it turned out to be totally AWESOME!
There's this forest, and all of a sudden there's a hole - some 30 meters in diameter!
And 70 meters deep. Martha went first and even when she became very little,
she still was hanging well above the bottom. And the bottom itself was pretty steep
but didn't look as such from the top; I guess the inclination approaches 40 degrees...
This is one of those caves that has new, fixed bolts. On the way down we fixed 3 belays,
but you need only one bolt (from which the longest descent is rigged).
When at the bottom we started thinking, that since this cave is a tourist attraction,
it would be better to rig the descent from two points that are just below the lip of the pitch.
Then, even if somebody would steal the gear from the top two points, we still would have two points for the main pitch...
Going down the very much inclined bottom, you get to the next, 40 meter pitch.
In the "Cave Guide" it's described as having many rub points; but now there are new bolts,
so that with standard rigging we had not problems. The descent ends in the main chamber of the cave,
which is just huge (about 150 meters long, 50 meters wide and of the same heights).
It has a very loud and long lasting echo. Unfortunately, the bottom is in deep mud,
so we walked around the highest point of the chamber. All in all, we were some 185 meters deep.
What's interesting is that even at this depth we still could glimpse some sunlight.
The ascent went pretty smoothly, although the temperature was a bit too high for climbing - about 20 degrees or so
through most of the 80-meter long stretch. But the trips was a very nice one.
Gradisnica
Mud castles in the main chamber
Mud castles in the main chamber
Waiting on some cavers form Germany to get out
Waiting on some cavers form Germany to get out
The entrance and the bridge
The entrance and the bridge
View downwards, in the direction of the second pitch
View downwards, in the direction of the second pitch
Close-up of the bridge
Close-up of the bridge
Martha started the ascent
Martha started the ascent
That's 70 meters deep; the bottom gets about 15 meters deeper from left to right
That's 70 meters deep; the bottom gets about 15 meters deeper from left to right
Hornets in Speleocamp
Hornets in Speleocamp
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On the next day we decided to see the Croatian sea. The drive is not much longer than to Koper,
but the seaside is rocky so the water is very clear. A very nice trip with snorkeling,
doing nothing in the sun, doing nothing on a boat and some pretty tasty food.
Yeah, at moments such as this one has to wonder why on Earth anybody would want to go underground
when you can sit with a cold bear on the beach...
On the next day we decided to see the Croatian sea. The drive is not much longer than to Koper,
but the seaside is rocky so the water is very clear. A very nice trip with snorkeling,
doing nothing in the sun, doing nothing on a boat and some pretty tasty food.
Yeah, at moments such as this one has to wonder why on Earth anybody would want to go underground
when you can sit with a cold bear on the beach...
A trip to Croatia
Once again into a warm and clean sea!
Once again into a warm and clean sea!
Flippers as oars; but this was a great vantage point (for observing the beach)
Flippers as oars; but this was a great vantage point (for observing the beach)
I'm a fan of the film "The Fifth Element", so I just had to take this picture
I'm a fan of the film "The Fifth Element", so I just had to take this picture
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For the last day we left ourselves the 5 km long Najdena. We were planning on following one of the North bound passages.
The cave is very similar to Logarcek, and frankly speaking, it's enough to visit one of the two.
The entrance is a 3-meter pitch. The guide suggests a hand-line here, but there's really no need.
Even for me, the climb was very simple. The pitch ends in a small chamber, when you can fasten your rope
around two columns for the descent. Here again, the "Cave Guide" turned out to be a bit outdated:
warns against rope rubbing on rocks, and suggest using rope protectors. But there are new bolts so this is totally unnecessary.
Next, you'll find wide passages, larger and smaller chambers, on crawl in mud,
mountains of mud - just like in Logarcek. Of new things, we only saw some interestingly carved rocks (see picture).
Apart from that, pretty boring. And on that day (fortunately, on the last day) we started to have enough of all this caving.
So when we got to the sump, we quickly turned back and got out, only to find that our car was broken into...
At Speleocamp, some kind Germans helped us out with sheets of foil that we used
to imitate windshields on the 1000 km long road back home. I didn't see anything through them,
so Martha had to be my rear view mirror. :-) But, somehow we managed to get back ok, and the whole trip was just fantastic.
For the last day we left ourselves the 5 km long Najdena. We were planning on following one of the North bound passages.
The cave is very similar to Logarcek, and frankly speaking, it's enough to visit one of the two.
The entrance is a 3-meter pitch. The guide suggests a hand-line here, but there's really no need.
Even for me, the climb was very simple. The pitch ends in a small chamber, when you can fasten your rope
around two columns for the descent. Here again, the "Cave Guide" turned out to be a bit outdated:
warns against rope rubbing on rocks, and suggest using rope protectors. But there are new bolts so this is totally unnecessary.
Next, you'll find wide passages, larger and smaller chambers, on crawl in mud,
mountains of mud - just like in Logarcek. Of new things, we only saw some interestingly carved rocks (see picture).
Apart from that, pretty boring. And on that day (fortunately, on the last day) we started to have enough of all this caving.
So when we got to the sump, we quickly turned back and got out, only to find that our car was broken into...
At Speleocamp, some kind Germans helped us out with sheets of foil that we used
to imitate windshields on the 1000 km long road back home. I didn't see anything through them,
so Martha had to be my rear view mirror. :-) But, somehow we managed to get back ok, and the whole trip was just fantastic.
Najdena Jama
It turned out that rope is not needed here at all
It turned out that rope is not needed here at all
An egg carton - the rock was only several centimeters thick
An egg carton - the rock was only several centimeters thick
Again, everything in mud - enough!
Again, everything in mud - enough!
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