• Helene Rimberg
  • Helene Rimberg

Alpe Adria Trail & Croatia

Long distance hiking on the 2nd half of the Alpe Adria Leia mais
  • Inicio da viagem
    25 de agosto de 2019

    A day of traveling

    25 de agosto de 2019, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Early morning start out of Portland. Even get to Chicago early adding to the 7 hour layover. Made use of the Hilton’s fitness facilities and ate up a bit of time. Been meandering around since then while we await out flight to Venice. Boarded us on the plane and even backed out of the gate early. And then we stopped. And waited. Hydraulic problems of uncertain severity. Deplaned and now we wait. At least I am practicing my Italian listening to those around us.Leia mais

  • Arriviamo a venezia

    26 de agosto de 2019, Itália ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    After another technical issue (computers this time) we finally leave Chicago - 4+ hours late. Stretch out on seats and fitfully sleep for most of 8 hours. Easily slide through security and hop on the slow bus to Venice. Find our hotel, shower and out to explore the city. Give up any hope of knowing where we are going but manage to get to San Marco, drink Aperol spritzes, have a nice dinner and eat gelato. Pretty successful 7 hours of touring.Leia mais

  • To the start of the trail

    27 de agosto de 2019, Áustria ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Meandered through Jewish ghetto though couldn’t find the synagogue. Lovely day for a stroll through crowded Venice. Manage to not get lost and do find seafood market. Figure out way to the bus station - via a people mover. Nice ride through flat farmland - mostly grapes and corn? Mountains rise in front of us. Wind our way into a valley surrounded by large peaks. Skies open up momentarily and then it is over. Unfortunately bus passes by our hotel. A few miles walk back to our tennis camp/hotel. Too late to swim in thermal pool. Short walk to fish dinner passing our first Alpe Adria trail sign.Leia mais

  • Warmbad Villach to Feistritz an der Gail

    28 de agosto de 2019, Áustria ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    First day on the trail. Up early and find a gourmet food store catering to restaurants. Though most things come in really big sizes manage to buy little amounts. Start our journey walking through a very lush green park. Change over to forests and an old Roman road. Mostly flat though a few rollers. Come out of the woods and onto a road. Hiking through farmland. Back into the woods as the mountains tower on both sides. Come along the Gail river. Stop and re-energize the legs with a wade in chilly water. Bike path the rest of the way into the official end point though we continue on to our hotel. Nice typical Austrian dinner - heavy on the carbs and fat and light on the veg. Tasty though. Can see the pass which we journey into tomorrow and back into Italy.Leia mais

  • Feistritz to valbruna: C3

    29 de agosto de 2019, Itália ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Up early to relatively clear skies. Nice breakfast to sustain us up long climb. After checking out the church walk mostly along the ‘4x4’ road. Reasonable grade but it goes up forever. Lots of mushrooms along the way. Stop at the tiny hamlet up top where goats and cows run free. No idea how these people sustain themselves during the winter. Doug refuels himself with a beer and it is down into the valley we go. Incredibly steep and gravelly - very hard on the knees. Finally turn onto the asphalt and reach our B&B. No English spoken but make do with Italian and enjoy the offered beers. Showered and off into stormy skies to find dinner. Walk along bike path and though it initially only rumbles and sprinkles for awhile, ultimately the skies open and the storm erupts. Good pizza dinner as storm continues. Drag out dinner as long as possible but ultimately head into the rain to return to our place. A bit soaked but we easily dry!Leia mais

  • c4: valbruna to tarvisio

    30 de agosto de 2019, Itália ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Up early and breakfast in our room before heading out into foggy morning. Easy 4 km to start of the start-of stage through cute town of valbruna. Stick to river bed before heading upon the road to Mt. Luassari. Reasonable grade and lovely views. Hit the top, wander around and have some lunch amongst the crowds. Sun is still shining which is contrary to what is predicted. Head down but get a bit confused on which way to go. Ultimately find our way - down. Another steep descent. Back down to valley floor and walk bike trail until we divert. Another moment of confusion to find hotel. 2 very good beers on porch and then good dinner in the hotel restaurant.
    ,
    Leia mais

  • C5: Tarvisio to Rifugio Zacchi

    31 de agosto de 2019, Eslovênia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Good breakfast before heading out into the forest above the towns. Though signs warning of brown bears none to be seen. Switch from forest paths to road to bike path. Day clears nicely. Pass over gorges and turn back into forest and onto logging roads. Arrive at Fusine
    Lakes. Can’t swim but get feet in. Go around the lakes and then head steeply up steps to Rifugio Zacchi. Beers on the porch and then dinner amongst soaring peaks.
    Leia mais

  • C6: Rifugio Zacchi to Koka na gazdu

    1 de setembro de 2019, Eslovênia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Beautiful morning amongst the towering mountains. A bit late for breakfast and get dregs. Cool morning as head up through the woods. Hit the optional detour to vista point which we take (leave packs behind). Climb into the peaks but go left instead of right. Up a very sketchy path trying not to think about how we come down. Make it up and down without dying which seems a feat. Take the correct path to a more safe vista. Long descent back to the lakes. From lakes onto bike path into Slovenia. Make it to Kranjska Gora as clouds open. Beautiful path along blue green water. Finish with a steep up through the forest to our alpine lodge. Long day.Leia mais

  • Stage 23: koka na gazdu to Trenta

    2 de setembro de 2019, Eslovênia ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Cloudy day. Nice breakfast before heading up to the pass. Decent ascent to first hut and then on shared paths with mountain bikes. Thunder rumbles but no rain. After pass back in the woods. Clouds open up but trees are somewhat protective. Soft path turns into rocky rivers but rain slows. It is a warm rain at least. Hit the Soca river; our companion for the next few days. Continue downward and finally make it to trenta as clouds grow more ominous. Quick dash down the road to tourist farm where we have beds in the hay. Truly.Leia mais

  • Stage 24: Trenta to Bovec

    3 de setembro de 2019, Eslovênia ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    Beautiful morning as we roll out of the hay. Literally. Best breakfast thus far and on to the trail. River roars alongside us as we step between tree roots. Path varies between wet rocks, soft ground and road. Mostly flat with a few ups and downs. Put our feet in the beautiful green water though quite cold. Lots of sketchy swinging bridges. Make it to Bovec where we set up our tent and do our laundry. Short walk into town where we sit at a brewery, eat cart food and listen to 60’s and 70’s rock. Where are we?Leia mais

  • Stage 25: Bovec to Dreznica

    4 de setembro de 2019, Eslovênia ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Very cold night and not well prepared. Tent a bit wet so take time to dry out before packing up and heading into town for breakfast. Forgo all sorts of adventures (zorbing, canyoning, zip lining) and hike out of town. Two side trips to falls. Stay by water though for a good bit are above it. Watch kayakers and rafters from lunch spot. Actually much warmer than yesterday. Continue long up to Dresnica where there is fortunately a room for us. Nice dinner in tiny hillside town.Leia mais

  • Stage 27: tolmin to tribal di sopra

    6 de setembro de 2019, Itália ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Early start but a few stops leads to a late start going up. Very steep up through the forest. Very windy and skies pretty ominous. Make it to open air museum. Head up then down into Italy quickly as very windy. Stop in the woods for lunch. Clouds open up on us. Truck on down through the rain and mist. Make it to our hostel and we are the only ones here. Nice dinner.Leia mais

  • Stage 28: tribil di sopra to cividale

    7 de setembro de 2019, Itália ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Early start after our breakfast in our own hostel. Morning is clear and a bit chilly. Nice walking through undulating forest paths. Seems a bit more fall-ish. Long down followed by long up to Castelmonte. Meet up with all of the other AAT hikers. Quick lunch and back down on gravel road trying to beat the rain. Thunder rumbles as we speed up to beat the rain. Hit town and undercover before the rain hits. Hang out in a bar as rain subsides. One block from our B&B. Check in, clean up and into the walled city. Very beautiful but very rainy. Good pizza dinner.Leia mais

  • Stage 28: tribil di sopra to cividale

    7 de setembro de 2019, Itália ⋅ 0 °C

    Early start after our breakfast in our own hostel. Morning is clear and a bit chilly. Nice walking through undulating forest paths. Seems a bit more fall-ish. Long down followed by long up to Castelmonte. Meet up with all of the other AAT hikers. Quick lunch and back down on gravel road trying to beat the rain. Thunder rumbles as we speed up to beat the rain. Hit town and undercover before the rain hits. Hang out in A bar as rain subsides. One block from our B&B. Check in, clean up and into the walled city. Very beautiful but ven rainy. Good pizza dinner.Leia mais