Hiking - Day 3

Today we hiked over the mountain from Bohninjska Bistrica to Podbrdo. It literally was a hike straight up and then straight down. Our friend choose not to hike today. We know it is better to honor ones body than to prove something. She hiked locally instead. We left around 7:15 in order to beat some of the heat. Because there are not many places to stay in Podbrdo, we will be taking the train back to where we stayed. Therefore, we did not have to carry our big packs and just carried a day pack with water and lunch. The start of the trail was very steep. We first passed a logging company and then a few people walking their dogs headed back to town. Shortly into the hike we passed a small village with a playground and soccer field. A man was driving his tractor pulling a wagon with his two young children in it. They looked happy to be going to work with daddy. From there the trail came to a 4x4 track that was easier to walk on. The trail still went up but not as steep until we started into the woods again, and then it became steep and more treacherous. Finally after around 4 hours we reached the peak. The views were amazing.

We enjoyed our lunch at the peak. Behind us was an old WW2 bunker and just below they peak was a hunting cabin. There was a road a short way back. I guess they hiked into the cabin from there.

Starting from the cabin the decent started very steep with a lot of loose rocks. We stepped our way down slowly and carefully. Thank goodness for hiking poles. After about ten minutes, the trail became a series of switchbacks. We still had to watch our step, but it was easier, though any kind of downhill is hard on the knees. The downhill trek was faster and really uneventful. About 3/4ths of the trail was in the shade. We didn't pass anyone. Jeff did lose his hat somewhere on the way down. Once in the city of Podbrdo, we found the train station to take us back to where we started. The first train didn't show and the second train was late so we waited for two hours. The ride back took only ten minutes and went through a four mile tunnel through the mountain we had hiked over.

Once back, our friend had beers and pizza waiting for us. Such a treat! After dinner, we finished with some gelato and then headed home.Read more