Big Pasture Plateau

I was invited to Big Pasture Plateau – Velika Planina for a birthday party. I get up around 8am. After the bathroom and breakfast, I pack up and head out. I took the motorway to Domžale and then continue past Kamnik to the lower station of the cable car, which leads to Velika planina. I park and buy a gondola ticket (€ 17). A look from below revealed that the top was in the fog. A few people were already gathered, so I had to wait for the next ride. The ride took 10 minutes and offered a beautiful view of the valley. Because of the COVID, we wore masks, even though we are crammed into a cabin (25 people).

After arriving at the top, it is confirmed that there is fog and I changed my plan. Since the surroundings would not be visible, I decided to take the two-seater cable car to the first station next to the Green Edge – Zeleni rob inn. The fog on the cable car was very dense, where the next two-seater is barely visible. An older Austrian was my companion on this ride. After some small rtalk, I enjoyed the silence interrupted only by the buzzing of the cable car and the bells of the cows. From there, I walked past the electric shepherd and the other huts to the last hut, the Pehta hut. Visitors who had been there since Thursday were just heading out.

Until the rest of party arrived we played cards. It turned out I wasn’t much of a player. My gift to Sven was a microscope. A few more times we took a walk to wait for the other guests at the Green Edge inn, who were slowly arriving. The weather improved and the sun occasionally peeks out shyly. When we all get together it’s time for a homemade lunch, chicken stew, buckwheat mash and sausages. Now it was time to animate the birthday boy and the other kids. They set off in search of treasure. Grownups rested on deckchairs or in the jacuzzi. Upon return of kids, it was time for a dessert, the hedgehogs which the children helped to bake.

Slowly, the first guests who will not sleep over began to head back. I had great time and decided to sleep over. We had more tha nenough food and we constantly nibble on something. When the water cooled down a bit, the jacuzzi was the main attraction. Adults sat down for a drink, where the main theme was to have one or two dogs. Around 9 o’clock we were all in the hut. After dinner, it was time for cards again, this time I done better and shared first place.

When everyone else gone to bed with Gregor, we went to the jacuzzi at midnight. The water was too hot but we didn’t mind. Some rain fell and thunders all around, but we still stayed. Occasionally you heard the bells of cows. We debated about various things over beer. After an hour it started to rain hard. That was a signal to return back to the hut. Inside we prepared a bed in the kitchen. Gregor turned on Netflix and standup from Ricky Gervais on his phone. we soon fell asleep to his jokes and snorts happily.

Around 7 o’clock in the morning, the first inhabitants of the hut started to get up. At 8 o’clock we were all up. It was time for breakfast and tidying up. The weather is deteriorating drastically and not only strong wind but rain is getting stronger by the minute. We all tried to prepare as much as possible for what awaits us outside, anoraks and capes are sought-after. Backpacks that do not have a cover were put in garbage bags. I got another backpack on our way down. At the exit, we got wet by the rain. At the Green Edge, it is more open and really strong gusts of wind started. I saw cows for the first time this weekend. They were hiding behind a hut. Here we split into two groups. I was in a group of six that went by gondola to cars. The other group went to the Cat’s Corner – Mačji kot parking lot.

The chairlift is closed due to the wind. The path leads down and we move slowly in the rain that whips our faces. After 5 minutes, my pants were completely wet, still there is no choice but to continue. The next milestone is when my shoes got wet and I have been swimming in them ever since. Finally, my the anorak gave in and now I was completely soacked. In the last 200 meters the weather calmed down, there is no more rain or wind. As we wait for the gondola I stack things up a bit, we look for tickets and masks. Upon arrival in the valley, we want for a farewell drink, but after 10 minutes we give up. Their computer didn’t work and they couldn’t sell anything. After the farewell, I got in the car and drove home. This time across Trzin. I stopped for refueling on the way.

When I got home, I was soaked and cold. I jumped under the hot shower, drunk aspirin, eat a bit and laid down to rest.

Povzetek

Velika planina is a plateau at an altitude of about 1500 meters. Here are beautiful paths for a walk in nature. Once upon a time, there were pastures here where only shepherds and their cows lived. Today it is a place where you can see the ethnic heritage. Some shepherd’s huts have been turned into a place to rest. In others, it is still possible to get sour milk or similar delicacies. In the Zelni rob inn you can get other home-made dishes (goulash, štruklji, …). In winter here is also a ski slope.

If you want to visit from Ljubljana, there are three options, all of which lead through Kamnik

• highway to Domžale and further to Kamnik
• pass Trzina to Kamnika
• highway to Gorenjska, exit at Vodice and continue to Kamnik

The ascent to Velika planina is possible from different directions. The basic are 3 mentioned below:

• Gondola on West side (easiest and most expesive)
• Parking lot Mačji on North side (parking 7€ daily)
• Multiple parking lots on South side (longest, you see most things)

Whichever route you choose, always be properly equipped and follow the weather forecast. Don’t take risks and stick to the marked paths.