17027

Austria: Sledding Competition in Winterleiten

Another year has flown by, and once again we made the trip to Winterleiten to cheer on our sledding representatives, Vid Kralj and Žiga Kralj.

This is usually the easiest race for us to attend, as Winterleiten is one of the closest venues, just about two hours from home. Like many places this winter, there wasn't an abundance of natural snow, but fortunately the temperatures were low enough for the organisers to maintain the track with artificial snow.

The atmosphere was excellent, and it was great to see another strong performance from our athletes. In the end, we went home more than satisfied. The Slovenian national anthem was played in honour of Vid, while Žiga narrowly missed the podium and finished in the always frustrating fourth place.

Towards Obdach.

 

Waiting for the competitors while keeping a close eye on the start list.

 

Žiga racing down the track during his first run.

 

No break for the fans, Vid was next on the start list right behind Žiga.

During the break between runs, we took a short walk to the lakeside hut.

Looking across to Kreiskogel, bringing back memories of our 2024 ski adventure - 16341.

The Slovenian cheering squad.

Žiga found an extra second on his second run.

The run that secured victory and the playing of the Slovenian national anthem.

 

The long trip was well worth it. We were delighted with the final results.

A view of the icy finish area, where every hundredth of a second mattered.

Congratulations to Vid and Žiga on a fantastic performance in Winterleiten.

The Austrians and Italians are regular visitors to the podium, but this time they couldn't keep the Slovenians away.

A proud day for the Kralj sledding family.

#sledding

17026

Slovenia: Hike & Fly - Potoška gora

This year I haven't spent nearly as much time paragliding as I would have liked, so when Miha suggested a hike-and-fly trip to Potoška gora, I was happy to join him.

As is often the case, the hiking part went smoothly. We made our way to the take-off site without any issues and prepared our gliders for what looked like a straightforward flight. While we were getting ready, the main landing area gradually disappeared beneath a layer of fog. Fortunately, there was still a backup option available: a smaller landing field at a slightly higher elevation that remained clear and visible above the fog. With a safe alternative in sight, we took off and enjoyed the flight down the valley. Both of us landed without any problems and then took a short walk back to our cars - Garmin Connect.

Every flight starts with a wing, a slope, and a bit of patience.

All set for launch and the flight ahead.

A view towards the Julian Alps, with Triglav rising above the horizon.

Potoška gora is known for its spacious launch and pilot-friendly conditions.

Four rows of lines keeping everything connected: red, green, blue, and the yellow brake lines.

Tenor

Miha in action.

#hiking #paragliding #mountains #KamnikSavinjaAlps

17025

Slovenia: Mali vrh

December 26th is Slovenia's Independence and Unity Day, a public holiday and a perfect opportunity to spend some time outdoors. With fresh snow in the mountains, Nada, Bronco, and I headed to Begunje na Gorenjskem, where we chose an unmarked trail leading towards Mali Vrh.

The route continues along the ridge over Velike Gače and Jamarski Vrh, offering a quieter alternative to the more popular hiking trails. The climb was fairly steep from the start, and the recently fallen snow made it even more demanding as we gained altitude.

As the snow became deeper and our progress slowed, we decided to shorten our plans. A little beyond Mali Vrh, we turned around and began our descent. Although we didn't complete the entire route, we still enjoyed several hours in a beautiful winter landscape and logged a few kilometres along the way - Garmin Connect.

 

It didn't take long before we left the marked trail behind.

 

This was where the route really started to earn its elevation gain.

 

Above us, blue skies. Below us, a valley filled with fog.

Looking out over the Ljubljana Basin.

Looking towards Dobrča, which was likely offering equally impressive views.

A constantly changing panorama shaped by sun and fog.

Nada and Tuši. Bronco didn't want to cooperate.

 

The snowy path leading us onwards towards Mali Vrh.

Bronco and Tuši on Mali vrh, 988 m.

 

While Bronco was racing around in the snow, Ledena trata revealed itself in all its winter beauty.

 

Looking across to Stol, the undisputed king of the Karawanks.

 

The steep and exposed sections demanded extra caution. With plenty of snow still ahead, we decided it was wiser to turn back.

 

Heading back down after another enjoyable day in the snowy hills.

#hiking #mountains #Karawanks #CatahoulaLeopardDog

17024

Slovenia: Korošica

With the mountains covered in snow, Bronco and I decided to spend Christmas morning on the trails and headed towards Planina Korošica to see how much snow had fallen in recent days.

We completed a pleasant circular hike through snow-covered forests and meadows, enjoying a few peaceful hours in a winter landscape. We didn't meet a single person along the way, and for the entire hike the trails and snowy slopes felt as if they belonged to us alone.

Bronco certainly didn't complain. He spent the morning following tracks in the snow, charging through drifts, and investigating every interesting scent he came across.

I may be hiking the trail once, but Bronco seems to cover it three times over.

 

A perfect amount of snow: enough for a true winter hike, yet easy to walk on.

The mountain pasture transformed into a winter landscape.

The mountain hut on Planina Korošica, 1554 m.

For the descent, we followed a hunters' trail winding through the forest back to the valley - Garmin Connect.

#hiking #mountains #Karawanks #CatahoulaLeopardDog