We left Sarajevo at six in the morning, still dark outside. The forecast predicted clear skies in the afternoon and winds of thirty kilometres per hour above one thousand five hundred metres. We agreed to assess at the saddle whether we could continue towards the summit.
First hour of the ascent
It took us some time to find our rhythm in the cold and hard snow. Before setting off, we went over a few things about clothing with the beginners:
- At the start, you might feel a little chilly because you'll warm up as you walk.
- The first layer should stay dry, so avoid wearing a cotton shirt under your jacket.
- Remove layers as soon as you feel warm, before you start sweating.
We reached the saddle in just under two hours. The wind was lighter than forecast, so we continued the ascent.
Decision at the saddle
The mountain isn’t going anywhere. If today’s not the day, we’ll come back another time.
We often repeat this on our tours. This time, conditions allowed us to carry on. We reached the summit at eleven and saw the entire ridge towards Igman.
Gaiters for next time
Two people hadn’t brought gaiters. In the first deeper snow, this slowed their walking and made the ascent less comfortable. From the next winter tour, we’ll require everyone to bring them.
If you want to join us in the mountains, check out the upcoming tours.