Short Trip to Slovenia #3: Express-Climbing a 2500m High Mountain Without Safety Equipment

It was probably a crazy idea to climb one of the highest peaks in the Julian Alps 'Mount Prisank' without proper equipment. Normally, people would set out early in the morning with their via ferrata set always at hand to tackle this demanding hike.

When we arrived at 2 in the afternoon at the trailhead, the sign gave us an estimate of 4 hours to reach the top and we didn't really reflect what that would actually mean. We were hiking fast and reached the base of the mountain in half the indicated time.

Then things became tricky. Everyone was already coming down frowning at us for being so poorly equipped. Some of them wished us Good Luck and there wasn't even a trace of humour in their voices.

So we climbed and climbed, some parts really steep and potentially deadly but it was doable. Obviously.

When we reached the summit both the adventure and the views left me breathless. Once again I was overwhelmed by the sheer grandeur and power of the natural world.

Climbing to the sky

The so called 'Prisank Mountain Window' is 80 meters high and 40 meters wide. While it looks somewhat tiny on the photo it's gigantic and the greatest of its kind.

Looks like a dried up sea floor.

Final approach along the ridge.

View from the top.

Me pointing at 'Mount Triglav' - with 2800m the highest mountain in the Julian Alps.

One of my favourite pictures. Could be Yosemite.

Finally leaving the danger zone.