Day 19 – to Trenta, Julian Alps

In places like the Triglav National Park, a good driving route choice can be very rewarding. Today was a good example.

Rather than head down through Bled and in the motorway to Jesenice and Kranjska Gora (Slovenia’s main ski resort), I took the 905 road over a high pass, and into Kranjska Gora the slow way. I’m sure in summer this would be very busy, but today, I pretty much had the road to myself.

From Kranjska Gora I headed up the 50 hairpin curves of the Vršič Pass (curve 45 pictured on photo 6), known as the Russian road, paved by Russian POWs in the First World War, when a good supply route south to the Isonzo front was vital.

It is Slovenia’s only real Alpine pass, rising to 1611 metres asl.

Just below the summit is a graveyard and a Russian Orthodox Chapel from the Great War. Photo 10.

The snow makes for spectacular views of course, and the small amount of traffic is appealing, but it is one of the most memorable passes I have driven.

Any campervan wild-camping here is strictly forbidden, as pretty much everywhere in the National Park, but campsite prices are pretty reasonable.

I will spend a few days here in the Trenta valley. For much of it the road follows the Soča river, in places with extremely steep sided cliffs, and always, incredible views.

The first site I considered had such steep sides that the sun went behind them just after 2 pm; it’s still cold at the moment without it, dropping from 14C to less than 5C in minutes.

The second site, just after Trenta village, is a farm site, and we are set up just next to the sheep with their lambs, and their shed, and horse stables. It’s very pleasant, and there are just a few other people around, mainly Germans.

I hiked a section of the Soča river trail (96 km in entirety) as the sun ducked behind the ridge (photos 8 & 9), though with appropriate clothing it was possible to stay outside until dark.