Primož Jakopin, photo diary
From the Pekel gorge to Velika Karlovica
A rare opportunity to visit the central part of the cave without a boat
August 12 to 17, 2025, 25 pictures
The images, except for the portraits, where the vertical side measures 450 pixels, are mostly 768
by 1024 pixels in size, numbers in front of the picture descriptions are serial numbers of the original
photo files. Jože and Berta Stražišar from Dolenja vas contributed greatly to the success of the
excursion on August 17. The names of several parts of the cave are the author's.
The purpose of the excursion on August 17th was to visit Velika Karlovica through the tunnel
in Rakov mostek. This time, although not very easily, it was a success.
Page, text and photos copyright (c) Primož Jakopin - Klok 2025.
Pekel Gorge (Gorge of Hell) near Borovnica, August 12
55881. Green-lined view of the rock amphitheater a stone's throw downstream from the first waterfall
55882. Third waterfall
55883. Rock-covered eastern part of the pool under the third waterfall
55884. Rapids downstream from the fourth waterfall
55885. Cobwebs in a tree cavity created when half of the trunk broke off
55886. Mountain arum, Arum cylindraceum
55887. Pool above the first waterfall
55888. Purple cyclamen, Cyclamen purpurascens
Kamnik pod Krimom, August 13
55889. Grove snail, Cepaea nemoralis on vine leaf
Pekel Gorge near Borovnica, August 15
55890. View of the Pristava hamlet from the bend of the path to the fourth waterfall
55891. A beam of sun rays on the eastern slope on the way back, already close to the beginning of Pekel
Velika Karlovica, August 17
55892. Jože and Berta having lunch with their daughter Meta, who came to visit, and their granddaughters Vesna and Nadja. At the time of the photo, there was beef noodle soup, pork roast, roasted potatoes and tomato salad on the table.
55894. One of Berta's most beautiful potted plants, the spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum, was in a rather inconspicuous place opposite the entrance to the house, with a not very photogenic background. The author put it on a small chopping block, which he placed in front of the tall grass behind the agricultural machinery next to the house. The view from the side was not very pleasing, but from the top (in the picture) it was just right.
55893. The spider plant was placed in front of a large patch of cockspur grass, Echinochloa crus-galli, Jože called it sirk (broomcorn).
55895. View from the Cvinger viewpoint towards the east, across the already quite dry and mown lake
55896. Admiral, Vanessa atalanta, on a stone by the viewpoint (cropped photo)
55898. In the streambed in front of the Rakovski mostek, the main outlet of the Jamski zaliv (Cave Bay), there was no longer any flow, only puddles remained.
55897. The rake of the Rakovski mostek
55900. View of the rake from the inside ...
55901. ... and a view of the tunnel, approximately 20 meters long, leading to Velika Karlovica. The path inside looks easy with such low water, which is only here during a severe drought, but it is not so simple as it looks (yet). The concrete tube of the tunnel is round with a diameter of 3.5 meters, and, of course, it is not horizontal, but it slopes gently, about a centimeter per meter, towards the inside. The author went, following Jože's advice, along the left (southern) side and at first everything looked fine. He did not measure how deep the water was in the middle, at first it seemed to him that it was well below the edge of his boots. The concrete slope just below the water level was not steep, but flat, and with the support of four rods (used as light stands for the cave photos) tied together, he advanced quite well (photo). Except not far. Already halfway down, the middle of the bottom was well above his boots, and for the last five meters the author walked on increasingly steep concrete and the top of the boot on his lower, right foot was getting closer and closer to the water level. A slip would of course mean jumping in at least knee-deep water and the end of excursion. The last two meters were critical. Despite supported by rods on both sides, he reached the small sandbank at the beginning of the tunnel with great difficulty, and only got both of his trousers a little wet (they hung a little over the edge of his boots). On the other, right side, the concrete pipe ends in a small pool with vertical banks, and crossing to land would not be possible.
55902. View from the cave through the tunnel towards the outside. The water level in the pipe is not a trapezoid only optically, due to perspective, but also in reality.
55903. A slightly wider view of the tunnel from the cave
55904. The first larger hall, about 150 meters from the entrance, view back. The author did not explore the many side tunnels, but followed the one with the highest ceiling and that was also the widest. The tunnels were well washed, with only a little clay here and there. In the photo a pile of it, already quite dry, is seen in the middle of the picture.
55905. Interesting wall scallops and pebbles in the corner of the hall, further on (the black patch on the right in the picture) a narrow and high tunnel leads, with water too deep for the boots.
55906. Along the side wall the water has hollowed out some interesting shapes, the one in the middle of the picture resembles a part of a human skeleton, such as a shoulder girdle.
55908. View of Mount Slivnica from the field track that leads across the meadow to Rakovski mostek. The goldenrod, Solidago virgaurea hid the Novi Peščenk neighbourhood under the mountain.
Related pages:
Towards Mt. Kanin caves, August 1, 2025
Velika Karlovica, August 20 to 24, 2025
This page, text and photos by Primož Jakopin,
member of the Ljubljana Cave Exploration Society (DZRJL).
Send inquiries and comments to primoz jakopin guest arnes si
(insert dots and at sign as appropriate).
Page was initiated on August 20, 2025; date of the last change: August 26, 2025.
URL: https://www.jakopin.net/primoz/slike/2025/PJ20250812_en.php
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