Our goal is to climb Mount Mangart in the Julian Alps, this time with our dog Ibo. From the beginning of our stay in Slovenia the weather has been on our side – clear, stable and with excellent visibility. Exactly the kind of weather you want for a high-mountain ascent.
We first see Mangart from the village of Log pod Mangartom, where we stayed. The massive summit dominates the whole area and already from a distance it’s clear that views await us that make getting up early worth it.
Mangart Road
Log pod Mangartom lies just a short distance from the Mangart Road, so early in the morning we drive along the narrow, winding road up to a parking lot at approximately 1 900 m n. m., a little below the Forcella della Lavina saddle. We have information that due to road damage it is not possible to drive all the way to the saddle, and that proved to be the case.
Two useful tips:
- If you arrive here before seven in the morning, you will avoid the toll for the access road, which is 10 euros and is paid right at its start.
- Before the trip, definitely check whether the road is passable, since especially at the beginning of summer it can be closed due to snow on the road.
The Mangart Road itself is an experience in itself. It is the highest road in Slovenia, built back in 1938. You will encounter countless sharp bends, several tunnels, narrow stretches and views that can be uncomfortably exposed for the faint-hearted in places. All the more reason they are worth it.
Ascent in ideal conditions
We start the ascent at the aforementioned parking lot. The route continues from there on asphalt up to the Forcella della Lavina saddle at approximately 2 000 m n. m. The first sections of the route follow a comfortable path that traces the border between Slovenia and Italy.
The route then splits. You can choose the more demanding ferrata that runs along the Slovenian side of the massif, or – as in our case – the Italian normal route. Even on that route there are sections secured with steel cables, but these are more intended for tackling harder passages in bad weather. Apart from one more exposed section right at the start of the route, the whole ascent is safe and well marked. Since we’re here at the beginning of summer, there are also small snowfields, but they could either be easily bypassed or were located on relatively flat stretches.
With every meter gained the landscape opens up more and the views gradually intensify. The lakes Laghi di Fusine dominate the view on the Italian side. In the distance ahead of us appears Slovenia’s highest peak – Triglav (2864 m n. m.), which is beautifully distinguishable.
Mangart with a dog
Going the so-called Italian normal route proved to be a sensible decision. It’s the easiest ascent route that – except for minor complications – can be managed with a dog. That was one of the reasons we chose this route, and neither we nor Ibo regretted it. Of course, don’t forget the basic kit – not just for you, but also for your dog. We brought a longer hiking leash, a hiking harness, plenty of water and some treats.
For most of the ascent Ibo could follow us freely, without a leash. In riskier sections we preferred to tie him on. We carried him in our arms only twice, and those were very short stretches. In the end it turned out that the biggest problem of the ascent for Ibo was the large number of flies at the summit of Mangart, which, by the way, we reached completely fine, without stress and in perfect weather. At the summit the bottoms of the surrounding valleys were at times almost 2 000 metres below us and the Julian Alps are laid out before you in every direction.
We descended by the same route and our progress was, of course, faster. Ibo, however, was hurrying at an even quicker pace. To keep him from disappearing from view entirely, I decided to put him on a leash. But later that caused him to rub his paws on the rocks as he tried to walk far ahead.
To prevent further harm to his health, on the more demanding sections of the descent I put him into the backpack. It may sound crazy, but I have had a similar situation before. Iva took the items from the backpack and Ibo went into the backpack. The only one who complained in the end was me – you immediately feel those extra 11 kilograms on your shoulders.
In the end everything turned out well and we completed both the ascent and the descent without further problems. We returned to the car with a good feeling from a beautiful hike full of wonderful views.
Facts about the mountain Mangart
Elevation: 2 679 m n. m.
Range: Julian Alps
Location: border between Slovenia and Italy
Significance: the fourth highest peak in Slovenia
Terrain character: high-mountain, rocky, at times exposed
Suitability with a dog: possible via the Italian normal route in good conditions
Best season: June – September (depending on snow conditions)
Dangers: rapid weather change, wind, snowfields at the beginning of summer