16908

Austria: MTB - From Peca's Slopes to the Pliberk Fair

Today marked the final day of the CHERA Hiking Koroška Weekend. While some participants opted for hiking and other activities, the mountain biking group headed across the border to the Austrian side of Mount Peca for one last adventure on two wheels.

After a short transfer into Austrian Carinthia, we began climbing the gravel road leading towards the upper gondola station beneath the mountain. The steady ascent gave us plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and admire the beautiful views of the surrounding valleys and peaks.

Once at the top, it was time for a well-earned break. We rehydrated, relaxed in the sunshine, and enjoyed an unexpected concert by a group of button accordion players, which added a perfect Alpine atmosphere to the day.

The highlight of the ride was still ahead of us. From the upper station, we joined the famous Peca Flow Trail and began our descent towards the valley. The trail offered exactly what its name promises: flowing turns, smooth berms, and endless opportunities to simply enjoy the ride. It was a fitting finale to three days of mountain biking in the beautiful landscapes of Koroška - Garmin Connect.

After descending into the valley, we made our way to Bleiburg (Pliberk), where the traditional Bleiburg Wiesenmarkt was taking place. What started centuries ago as a livestock market has grown into one of the largest traditional fairs in southern Carinthia, attracting visitors from Austria, Slovenia, and beyond. The fair combines local food, market stalls, exhibitions, entertainment, and a lively social atmosphere that makes it a highlight of the region's cultural calendar.

With good food, great company, and plenty of memories from the trails, the underground mine, and the mountains surrounding Mežica, the CHERA Hiking Koroška Weekend came to a perfect conclusion. As always, the best part was not just the destinations we visited, but the people who shared the journey.

Break before the descent.

Enjoying the endless turns of one of Europe's longest flow trails.

Rokly on The Flow Country Trail.

Mountain biking at its finest.

#MTB #Guide #CheraHiking

16907

Slovenia: MTB - From Mine Tunnels to Mountain Trails

Today we continued with the CHERA Hiking Koroška Weekend. After a long and rather lively night, we met again for breakfast before the mountain bikers headed to the Information Centre in Mežica. There, we handed ourselves over to a local guide and exchanged our own bikes for those specially prepared for one of Koroška's most unique experiences: cycling through the underground world beneath Mount Peca.

The old lead and zinc mine beneath is one of the most remarkable attractions in the region. Mining in the area dates back centuries, and over time miners created more than 1000 kilometres of tunnels inside the mountain. Today, a small part of this vast underground labyrinth has been transformed into a tourist attraction, allowing visitors to experience the mine in a completely different way.

After a short transfer to the mine entrance near Mežica, we equipped ourselves with helmets and headlamps and rode into the darkness. The route follows more than five kilometres of abandoned mining tunnels, passing old railway tracks, chambers, and countless reminders of the mine's industrial past. Throughout the ride, our guide shared fascinating stories about the history of mining, geology, and the lives of the men who spent their working days deep beneath the surface. Riding through the cool, silent tunnels, hundreds of metres inside the mountain, was a truly unforgettable experience.

Once back in daylight, we continued our ride towards the village of Jamnica, another well-known destination for mountain bikers. The local bike park offers a nice network of trails and has become a popular stop for riders exploring the hills above the Meža Valley.

After a well-deserved refreshment break on the hilltop, we began our descent into the valley. From there, we followed the cycling path along the Meža River back to Mežica. The ride was relaxed, the weather remained pleasant, and everyone was able to enjoy the beautiful Koroška landscape at a gentler pace - Garmin Connect.

Back at the hostel, a picnic with a variety of culinary specialties was waiting for us. It was the perfect way to end another great day filled with excellent company, unique experiences, and plenty of kilometres on the bike.

The breakfast table revealed that the night before had been a long one.

 

At the Igrčevo mine entrance, ready to disappear into the mountain.

 

Ore deposits between Peca and Uršlja gora have been known since the Romans discovered them. The first mining permit for the mining of lead ore dates to 1665. We mark this year as the beginning of mining in our regions. The long years of mining and the development of the mine have uniquely marked the life of the people and the landscape at the foothills of the Karavanke mountains.

In 1988, a law was passed on the gradual closure of the mine, and a project was drawn up for the closure of the Mežica Lead and Zinc Mine in 1994.

The underground cycling route is normally more than five kilometres long, connecting two valleys on opposite sides of Mount Peca. Due to maintenance work in part of the mine, however, we could not follow the usual route all the way through. Instead, our guide led us along a circular route through several different tunnels, allowing us to explore an even larger section of the underground labyrinth before eventually returning to the starting point.

 

No matter whether it is a hot summer day or the middle of winter, the temperature inside the mine stays at a constant 10°C.

 

Towards Jamnica single trail park.

On the uphill trail.

Jamnica, a scattered settlement high above the Meža Valley, is a favourite destination for mountain bikers thanks to its beautiful views and growing trail network.

After the climb, it was time to let gravity do the work.

 

Sabina navigating one of the bike park's trails.

 

Afternoon activities, planning and cutting.

After a day on the bikes, the smell of barbecue was impossible to resist.

A long day takes its toll on everyone, not just the cyclists.

Balkan cuisine with a taste of the sea.

#MTB #Guide #CheraHiking

16906

Slovenia: MTB - Strojna and Poseka

The CHERA Hiking Koroška Weekend has begun. For the next three days, we will be based in Mežica, where participants can choose from a variety of outdoor activities. My role for the weekend is to guide the mountain biking group through the surrounding hills and mountains.

For the first day, we selected a route from Ravne na Koroškem up to Strojna, followed by a visit to the Poseka Bike Park. The park is beautifully maintained and offers a great mix of trails, making it a perfect addition to the day's ride - Garmin Connect.

The weather forecast had not looked promising, which probably influenced attendance. In the end, only Baki and a half-day participant, Sabina, joined the tour. Fortunately, the forecast turned out to be wrong, and the weather cooperated far better than expected. We enjoyed a really pleasant day on the bikes, exploring the hills above the Meža Valley before returning to our hostel, where we wrapped up the first day of the weekend in great spirits.

Between Meža and Austrian border.

Quiet roads and endless countryside.

A few laps in one of Koroška's finest bike parks.

Me and Black mamba were ready.

 

Our first ride here.

 

Easier trails for us.

Great to see Jure, a local mountain biker and former course mate, joining us for the evening.

#MTB #Guide #CheraHiking

16901

Slovenia: Prelaz Ljubelj

Today's walk with Bronco took us to Ljubelj Pass. The road was packed with tourists heading across the border into neighboring Austria, so we had to leave the car a bit lower down than usual, which made the hike slightly longer. The extra distance was hardly a problem, though, as the familiar trail offered plenty of opportunities to enjoy the surrounding scenery and the fresh mountain air. On our way back, we met Nada, who had chosen the smarter approach for the day: tackling the climb on her eMTB. While Bronco and I had earned our views step by step, she seemed to be enjoying the ascent with a little technological assistance.

38th ascent to Ljubelj Pass this year - Garmin Connect.

#hiking #mountains #Karawanks #CatahoulaLeopardDog

16900

Slovenia: Around Medvedjek

This morning, Bronco and I set out for a short walk around part of our village. We first headed towards Za Šijo and then followed a forest skid trail in the direction of Medvedjek. The trail soon came to an end, so we simply followed our bearing through the forest and successfully reached the ridge leading towards Medvedjek. Since the summit itself is nothing particularly special, we decided not to visit it and instead descended earlier towards Dolenčeva guba. From there, we passed through the village center and continued uphill through the village before getting to Kamp Podljubelj - Garmin Connect.

 

View to Črni Gozd.

On the path, that leads to Medvedjek.

Reber.

Dolenčeva guba.

#hiking #mountains #Karawanks #CatahoulaLeopardDog

16899

Slovenia: MTB - Planina Planinca - Poljška planina - Smokuški vrh

With the holiday season coming to an end, a strong turnout returned to our regular Thursday ride, but this week we had it on Friday. Ten riders gathered in Begunje na Gorenjskem, ready for another day in the mountains.

We started by riding through the beautiful Draga Valley towards Planina Planinca, where our friend Šurjak welcomed us with refreshments. After a well-earned break and some time to refuel and relax, we continued our journey past Poljška planina and on towards the junction below Smokuški vrh.

With plenty of time left, we decided to continue all the way to Smokuški vrh. As the trail became steeper near the summit, some riders left their bikes below the top and completed the final section on foot, while others pushed their bikes all the way to the summit. In the end, we all reached the top together and were rewarded with beautiful views before heading back down to the valley - Garmin Connect.

Another excellent Thursday ride, combining great company, mountain scenery, and a few extra metres of elevation for those willing to push their bikes all the way to the top.

 

Through the Draga valley.

 

Mountain biking and homemade treats, a perfect combination.

Participants: Aleš, Tuši, Aleš, Rokly, Manca, Nada, Andreja, Mateja, Jerneja and Nina.

 

Some sections were a little more difficult.

 

Nice single trail through the forest.

 

Some walked, some pushed, everyone reached the summit.

Me and Black Mamba on Smokuški vrh, 1122 m.

View towards Lake Bled.

Ljubljana Basin.

 

After capturing the moment with a group photo, it was time to start our descent back into the valley.

 

The hard work was done. From here, it was all downhill.

 

Flat before the end, but we quickly fixed it.

#MTB #Guide #KamnikSavinjaAlps #Karawanks