Fangorn forest to Solčava

The 3rd and final leg of the day was meant to be just 5km down to the valley to Solčava...

Well, nobody had thought to mention that the path would be the most narrow and gnarly so far on this trail. So, to keep with the Tolkien metaphor (sorry, normal people)... this was now Fangorn Forest, wild, overgrow and with fallen trees and rocks putting obstacles in my path. It was AWESOME! Eventually the going got easier and the views switched on postcard mode. Wow! That's all I can say.... wow!

By then I had hiked for more than 10 hours, not counting breaks. So with the trail starting to follow forest roads, I was a bit on autopilot and missed a turnoff. Instead of the direct path to the village I kept following the gravel road which lead to an additional hour of walking. Great.

The day finished with camping in Solčava by the side of a quiet side road. I had asked the neighbours and they said it was fine. There was a stream nearby to freshen up in and I was set up, washed and had dinner just as it started to go dark, roughly 14h after I had set out in the morning.

What a day, what a day! :)Read more