A quick visit of Stari Grad by Zadar at the end of June was my first time travelling outside of Slovenia since the start of the pandemic. A good weather report encouraged me and my wife, Mateja, to visit the Dalmatia and see what the situation is like there. After a long time we decided to set up camp in the official National Park Paklenica camp. When we arrived, we got to choose between the nicest camping spots, since there were only a few tents and motorhomes. Since the camp is facing the west, it’s a great spot to watch the sun set.
Many members of the alpine club I’m a part of were in Stari Grad at the time, so finding some co-climbers wasn’t difficult. We spent two days enjoying some outstanding climbing, which was made possible by the great rock in Paklenica. I especially enjoyed the multi-rope routes in Joe de Ripper and the legendary Left Trzic route. Even with temperatures of 30 degrees C and higher we didn’t have difficulty finding shade. The high temperatures only caused swelling in my toes, since I didn’t climb much the past few months, at least not on live rock. In the evening we enjoyed a cold beverage and a view of the setting sun with our friends. We got extra company from numerous mosquitoes, which were probably so rampant due to a large amount of river water in the canyon, which pours into the sea.
On the wall in Paklenica
My first time travelling outside of Slovenia was made marked by washing hands, special procedures in sanitaries, sleeping in a tent, unforgettable climbing, hanging out at a distance and scenic sun sets. This climbing journey was a good entry into my guide work on Allgau, which followed only two days after Paklenica.
A beautiful sunset on the beach of Stari Grad
Danilo Tič, 2020
