Fall has arrived!
Summer is out, fall is in.
Nature shone with yellow gold. You want to lay on the soft ground, listen to the rustle, and watch the leaves carried by the wind. Nature in the fall is a calming and mesmerizing sight. I walked a circular tour around the top ridge.
The advantage of hiking medium-high mountains is that they are beautiful with no crowds, and large groups are rarely seen. There will be local mountaineers, especially on the weekends, but you mostly get the feeling that you are all alone.
On the other hand, attractive peaks of Europe like the Grossglockner are packed with visitors like shopping malls. It’s a different experience. Both are great, depending on what you are looking for. Something like blasting out AC/DC vs easy listening.
I found that a place like the old Učka is calmer and more satisfying. Maybe it’s because Učka massif is 140 million years old. Lower-elevation mountains have something special, in my opinion, the most beautiful quality.
Fall is ideal for hiking. The woods are lush, and the air temperature is pleasant. Peaks are accessible to anyone and high enough to enjoy the magnificent, colourful view. Days are long enough to roam the mountain all afternoon and still have some daylight left when you come down.
If you hit the off-trail, you can see an animal, a roe deer or a fox. There is everything in the low-elevated mountains, everything you need. Places like this create a moody atmosphere, especially under the blankets of clouds and fog.
Nothing beats the tranquil highlands of Učka, Ćićarija, Velebit and Dinara – and I can take you to any of them.
The mountains of Primorje, Istria and Kvarner are accessible all year round, and the greatest challenge to hiking in this area is a wind called bura (bora) and heavy rains. Bura can develop hurricane strength and blow at speeds up to 220 km/h.
This geographically diverse area is very comfortable for hiking, both because of its beautiful vistas and scenery and because it offers a variety of mountaineering opportunities.