Day 9: AAT Reloaded, Stage 22 –> Baumgartner Höhe – Kranjska Gora

Today we would be hiking another stage of the AAT, from Baumgartner Höhe to Kranjska Gora. Meaning we would be hiking along the Austrian-Slovenian border, via some mountain passes and summits without any serviced huts on the way. It’s also the most difficult stage of the AAT with an approx. duration of 8 hours… So, let’s have some fun! 😎

Since the weather forecast wasn’t very stable we decided on an early start. From our accommodation, the Baumgartnerhof, we got a lunch package because breakfast was served only from 7.30 a.m.

So we got up at 6 a.m. and ate a quick breakfast and at 6.45 a.m. we already headed off to Slovenia.

The sun wasn’t yet up but it was already rather warm. The path led through the forest and we met those little fellas in the early morning sun:

For the next 1,5 hours we hiked through the forest up to the Jepzasattel. The path was ok, a few times rather steep but nicely shaded in the forest.

Obviously, this region was also bear territory:

I must admit I doubt the instructions when encountering a bear: “Stay calm until the attack has passed.” Sure, easy thing. 😂

Before 9 a.m. we reached the pass:

After consulting Google we were glad to unterstand that this only meant “Attention, border” and not “Attention, bad road”. 😜 And by the way, meja is also Indonesian for table. Ah well, the things you learn while hiking… 😂

Then we hiked slowly ascending always on the border along the mountain ridge up to the first summit, the Schwarzkogel.

The path was a little demanding and nothing for people suffering of vertigo but the view was AMAZING! 😍

It was approx. 10 a.m. when we reached the Schwarzkogel. From up there the view was incredible.

We stopped for a little break and Felix even got a Radler thanks to some trail angels who had put some cans of Radler for thirsty hikers in the shadow right atop the mountain. 😎

Still cool from the night and a welcome refreshment. I was fine with water. 😉

Then we continued back down on the other side to hike below some mountain peaks to a pass that would get us down to Kranjska Gora.

The way was actually quite nice to hike, not very easy because it was an up and down on a rather small path but the landscape was awesome, and so was the view. Austria on the one side, Slovenia on the other – and we hiking straightly on the borderline.

At around noon we arrived at the mountain pass which would lead down to Kranjska Gora. But there was the Techantinger Mittagskogel just around the corner, and so we promptly decided to add it to our summit collection. Since it was up and back again the same way, we left our backpacks at the pass and headed up.

The view was awesome, even better than on the Schwarzkogel!

After some photos we went down back to our backpacks and ate something. Just then a German hiker came along who was also going down to Kranjska Gora. We recommended the T. Mittagskogel before we started our descent.

The path was everything from steep and rocky to comfortable and forest path-like but more than 1000m down are still heavy stuff so we were glad when we made it downwards rather smoothly.

And at the end when the street started and some houses were visible our trained eye spotted this lovely bee house:

In the afternoon we enjoyed ourselves in the swimming pool of the hotel, took a short walk along the Save and stuffed ourselves at the dinner buffet. All in all a successful hiking day! 😎

Some figures:

  • 21km
  • 1.300m up
  • 1.450m down
  • Summits: 2
  • Highest point: 1.931m (Techantinger Mittagskogel)
  • Free summit beer: 1 🍻
  • Lost: my awesome sun hat – I’m still mourning 😢

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