Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
Begin the hike at Valvasorjev Dom mountain lodge.
Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
The hike begins by winding through dense, old-growth forest, filled with lush underbrush and mossy ground.
Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
Until you ascend from treeline, various free-range farm animals, including cows and horses, can be spotted close to (and even on!) the trail. Give them their space and be cautious.
Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
Hiking into the cloud that clings to the Karavanks can be an eerie experience.
Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
A Prížnica (Slovenian for Pulpit) rest stop halfway through the hike, just as the trail begins to ascend above tree line.
Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
Cloud inversions are a common weather phenomenon in the Karavanks. Thick fog may characterize the lowlands, while ascending above the cloud bank may reveal sudden bluebird skies.
Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
Blue skies in the Karavanks make for a beautiful day out in the mountains.
Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
Making the final push up the sun-bleached talus slope to the Stol summit.
Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
Looking northwest along the stunning and dramatic Vajnež ridge.
Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
Looking back on Prešernova Koča mountain hut, perched right on the edge of the mountain Mali Stol (2,172 m), a minor summit just below Stol itself.
Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
From the summit, look south to the rolling green hills of Slovenia, including Lake Bled and the town of its namesake.
Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
The summit of Stol is frequented by dense cloud cover. It can be difficult to time your hike around the clouds to get the full effect of the panoramic views. Either way, it's stunning.
Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
Looking down the northern Austrian side, the summit falls away quickly into jagged, rocky talus.
Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
If you choose to make the hike a loop, you descend into this scree-filled bowl toward Finžgarjeva skala (cliff).
Amber McDaniel
Photo Date: 
05/09/2018
The secret mountain spring filled with potable water at the bottom of a scree filled bowl on the descent from Stol.