Sheep, Sunsets, Struklji: Cojzova Koca to Presernova Koca

Our original plan to do a hut to hut hike changed because of snowy route conditions, so we ended up still doing a hut to hut hike, just with a little drive (plus a meal at a real restaurant) in between hikes. Does that still count as a hut to hut hike?

I woke up for sunrise and was delighted that the sun was shining at Cojzova Koca - it looked like it was going to be a hot one. Dan wanted to sleep a little more, so I went for a little hike a different direction to explore a little more and enjoy some of the golden glow of morning light. We ate breakfast and said our goodbyes to the hut crew before heading back down 3000 ft to our car. 

The Cojzova hut with the morning light 

Mount Grintovec - the highest mountain in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps which we summited the day before

Last year, there were lots of landslides because of massive flooding - all of this rock was not here beforehand 

We came down from way up there and still have more to go 

These cows have great views

Eating at a "real" restaurant on our hut to hut - my eyes may have been bigger than my stomach 🙄

On to the trailhead for Mount Stol. It was a very hot, steep hike up 3100' to the hut - so many switchbacks! We were a little cooked from yesterday's hike and the hike down in the morning. It felt super good to arrive at the Presernova Hut.

Love trees

So many switchbacks

Resting standing up on the way up - it was hot!

Feeling cooked

Arriving at the hut

Typical Slovenian hut food - stews with bread

Struklji - a Slovenian dumplings with cottage cheese that is sort of steamed

After dinner, we headed out to enjoy the sunset and we were delighted to see flocks of sheep roaming around. I loved watching them and hearing their bells. The positioning of this hut gave us a front row show seat to both sunrise and sunset.

The sheep near the hut were fantastic - so cute. I love the sound of their bells and bleats in the mountains 

What a view! Most of the Slovenians we met in the mountains easily names off all the peaks we could see in any direction. They love their mountains.

Presernova Koca

Sunset!

Awwww...my hunka hunka burnin' love is so strong 😁

Sharing a laugh together during this gorgeous mountain sunset

Sheep and a sunset in mountains - does it get any better than this?

Presernova Hut has been in this location for a long time (since before 1900 I think). It has undergone many renovations, but it definitely has an older feel to it. The 1st dorm room that we were given was tricky to get in and out of the beds, had really uncomfortable mattresses and had one small window that was kind of blocked by the back of the building. When I asked if there were any other places to sleep, they said that we were allowed to sleep where some of the construction workers were sleeping. It was in a newer part of the hut with plenty of headspace and lots of light and with a view of sunrise - so much better! Everything was a little damp feeling, but we were dog tired so sleep came easily. I went to bed hoping that we would get to enjoy sunset in the morning which would be very early in the morning.

Our "upgraded" dorm room