Tuši's blog: 16830

Saturday, June 14, 2025

16830

Austria / Slovenia: Ojstrc, Kravji vrh and Pony ride

Today, Nada, Bronco and I headed across the border into neighboring Austria, where we started our hike at Eisenkappler Hütte (Kapelška koča). After paying the toll road fee and leaving the car behind, we set off towards Ojstrc (Hochobir). The weather couldn't have been much better, offering clear skies and spectacular views in every direction. After reaching the summit and taking in the scenery, Nada decided to return to the valley, while Bronco and I continued our adventure towards Kravji Vrh (Kuhberg). As luck would have it, we also found a geocache along the way, which made the day even more enjoyable. From there, we made our way to Šajda Saddle, where Nada picked us up for the return journey - Garmin Connect. Of course, no mountain outing is complete without a well-earned beer, so we stopped in Sele (Zell Pfarre, Alpengasthof Malle) before heading home. But the day was far from over. Later that evening, we met up again at Kralov travnk for one more beer.

Clear sky welcomed us at the start.

Since we drove quite high, the hike wasn't long.

View to the majority of the peaks of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps.

Nada.

Blooming flowers.

The Rainer Hut (Rainerhütte or Rainerjeva koča) was one of the earliest mountain refuges in the Karawanks mountain range, located just below the summit of Mount Obir. The hut was established in 1877, when an old miners' shelter was converted into a mountain refuge. It was named after Archduke Rainer Ferdinand of Austria, an important patron of science and alpine exploration. At the time, organized mountaineering was becoming increasingly popular, and the hut provided a safe resting place for hikers, naturalists, and scientists exploring the limestone mountains of the eastern Alps.

During the Second World War, the hut was destroyed by fire in 1944 and was never rebuilt. Today, only the stone ruins remain, standing as a reminder of the early days of Alpine tourism.