Osp mit Johan

A while ago Johan asked me if I would be interest to travel to Spain again. Some might remember our epic trip from last year. Even though Margalef is one of the best sport climbing areas I've been to, I found it very hard to see any reason to buy plane tickets to Spain. Osp is just a few hours away, and offers more steep lime stone you can handle.

So, instead of travelling to Spain, Johan came to Vienna. Unfortunately his baggage didn't arrive, but as he was smart enough to have his climbing shoes in the hand luggages (free tip for everyone), we decided to live on the edge and drive to Osp without his spare underwear.

 Osp, once again

 Misja Pec

 Johan getting peppad

 Soncni dnevi 7b. "Så jävla bra".

It's very technical and definitely steeper than it looks 

Johan enjoys Slovenian sun

 Me & Dalec stran je sodni dan 7b

Last time we met a biker with a full face helmet. He told me where to find a nice downhill track. He also said I would need all protections. I didn't believe him.

 A two-meter drop with bad landing... I guess the guy was right.

 Luckily most of the track was like this 

The track is pretty easy to find, just head towards Tinjan until you see the track beside the road. The other solution is to start from the end of the trail and push your bike up.

Back at the crag with Rex

Crni Biser 7c, yet another awesome line

 Johan & Suznji vertikale 7a+

 Party at the town

 Slovenia is a catholic country so they have their own carnival. It's like Rio de Janeiro but on a bit smaller scale. 

 Age of rock

Mandatory sunset photo. Nothing special but beats Vantaa.

Back in Mödling with 5 liters of Slovenian wine

X-mas in Osp

Haukkari is slowly turning into a sport climbing blog, but who cares. Osp is simply too good and too close to be ignored. This time we spent two weeks in the limestone paradise, and I'm pretty sure we are coming back soon.

  Good morning Slovenia

 Osp 

  Sunshine and steep limestone, helt okej! Me campusing Durango 7b+

 A Slovak hardman on Hobit 7c

 This time we climbed also in Croatia. This is Pandora, one of the coolest sectors I've ever seen. Sometimes there is a waterfall coming through the big hole at the roof.

  This is Kompanj in Croatia, one of the biggest areas close to Buzet. It is about 40 km from Osp.

 Even if you prefer trad climbing, it's hard not to like the limestone in Croatia.

  Anu & Croatian via ferrata 

 Back in Osp. This time we took bikes with us for rest day activities. 

 Italy is just a few kilometers away. A big shopping center (with Decathlon) is 6 km from Osp.

 A view from the road to Osp

  The bridge

  A young gun and Hobit 7c

  Even younger gun, a nine-year-old girl on the sharp end 

  Anu & Jumbo 7a. Close but...

  Winter came to Osp.

  We cycled to Crni Kal to have a white Christmas

  The view from Crni Kal 

  A Slovenian castle

  The climbers' parking was easy to spot

  Back to basecamp, tea and a chess match

  Silvo's birthday party

  Misja Pec central wall, long and steep

 A random guy at Misja Pec

  Anu & Desna Bunkica 6b+

 A mandatory art photo of a tree

Happy new year!

Osp

Osp is a small town in southwestern Slovenia. It is close to both Italian and Croatian borders and only a few kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea. The distance from Mödling is 465 km, which might be a lot or not depending how you take it.  For us who are used to driving to Niemisel (320 km) and Hell (600 km) from Umeå, it’s quite ok for a weekend trip, especially as the whole way goes on good freeway. 

It's still possible to free climb around Vienna, but when the weather is bad, it's nice to have an option like this.

Osp

 Osp is basically one church and ten houses, there is not even a food store. Luckily, there is a refugio and camping...

...and some seriously good limestone. The approach to the closest sector (Banje) is about 5 minutes.

 Cactuses make you feel like being abroad 

The weather was nice and sunny. Actually it was too hot for our Spanish friend who wanted to climb in the shade all the time.

 Ruben & Suznji vertikale 7a+

 Some lower angle routes at Babna

Misja pec is about 15 min walking distance from Osp. 

The view of the other side of the crag. You can always find both shade and sun. And it’s not just steep and juggy tufa climbing, there are plenty of 40+ meter routes at Misja pec. At Velika Stena (close by crag) you can find even longer sport routes, up to 110 meters.

 Wouter working on Hobit 7c

An unknown climber on Talk is cheap 8c

 Waldek on Tortuga A 7b

 This angle shows the steepness a bit better…

Me & Tortuga A 7b

An unknown climber on Mr. bighand 8b+

An unknown climber on Galaktika 8a+

 Tedijeva luknja, a cave at Misja pec

 Traffic on the wall

 A good rest on Stinger 7c

 An unknown climber on Hugolina 7b+

 Sunset at Misja pec

 Niki coming down from a 6c route called 9a

There are 23 crags/sectors around Osp in the guidebook, but the ones within walking distance are enough reason to drive here.  This is Luknja, the home of Grande Grotta-like tufa climbing. 

 Back to refugio

 The place is not officially open yet, but it's one of the nicest and cleanest refugios I've ever been to.

The kitchen had a nice and big gas stove

 The owner of the refugio and wine from the nearby village, local enough for me

 Mandatory sunset photo

 Art photo of the day

Until the next time!