Scrawny Old Man

By richtoller

Maglic

Bosnia backblip 4 - new readers start here (or really dedicated ones go back another day).
Today's picture is definitely worth the magnifying glass treatment.


Today we had an exceptional day on the highest mountain in BiH - and a bit of embarrassment for me.
Again starting through open forest and meadows with the usual flowers changing and new species appearing as we got higher - including crocuses growing straight out of the snow.
The cliffs of Maglic presented a formidable wall ahead of us.
Once we got onto the hard stuff there was a section of scrambling assisted by fixed cable - exhilarating stuff and with some great views if you paused to look round and down. Some found this section easier than others but nobody had any real problems with it.
The next bit was the only section that was a bit unnerving as we had a steep ascent on earth (not much grass, lots of crocuses) with nothing to hold on to and a big drop below. Then it was onto the broad ridge and easy apart from one little scramble to the summit of Maglic (2386m).
Relax, eat lunch.
After the walk back along the ridge with more great views, it was down on scree which required care, then a simple path and down to Trnovacko Lake. The standard Maglic photo is looking down from the mountain to the lake - this is the other way round.

And here's my embarrassing story.
I was one of the first down to the lake; stopped, took off rucksack and started taking off boots to cool my feet in the water (which wasn't too cold). Then looked around for my camera - it wasn't there. I hadn't even noticed I didn't have it on the last part of the descent, from the foot of the scree where we all stopped for a break.
Hoped somebody behind would have seen it and picked it up - but nobody had. More concerned about the pictures than the camera itself. Wasn't going to go back or ask anybody else to, but Srdjan went - once we'd made sure he knew exactly where I'd (probably) left it.
It took him about half an hour; once we could see he was on his way back down, the rest of the group moved on but I waited for him, and this is him getting started on the (uphill) return to the bus after successfully returning the camera. He said he was tired after that! He'd done a remarkably quick up and down; told me he used to be in the Bosnian national triathlon team ('but I was lighter then').

Srdjan's drinks were on me that evening.

PS most of today's walk was in Montenegro.

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