On the recommendation of friends we met in Finale Ligure, we headed to Osp, Slovenia. Osp is a tiny village surrounded by an imposing limestone amphitheater, just across the border from Italy. We arrived at what appeared to be the only business in town, a campground/restaurant/climber hangout named “Pri Vovku”. We walked in under a fierce wolf painting and a sign which translates to “At the Cry,” according to Google translate… a really amazing name, we thought. We met the owner who didn’t hesitate to loan us his guidebook for our short stay.

The guidebook is a gem, we particularly liked this page

The climbing was fun and thought provoking on epic karst limestone features. Vertical walls had us working hard and rewarded us with views over the village. After spending the day in the intense heat, we enjoyed a glass of local wine and a fresh cold beer at the restaurant.

Mel crushing a lead while a bird spectates. I think the whole village must have thought we were crazy to be climbing in the sun.

Aerial view of Osp from a wall in the Babna sector

Our second day brought us to a cave hidden at the base of the amphitheater. While most of the climbs in the cave are super hard because they are incredibly overhanging, we kept busy on moderate routes climbing steep tufas and a fun dihedral. A big group of Austrian climber familes set up a rope swing from the anchor of a steep climb, and tons of giggling children were lining up to fly through the cave.

Neighboring guy crushing a difficult route, just outside the cave

The cave has a sandy floor and it’s filled with water in the winter!

View out of this epic cave!

Cooking with a view

Our time in Osp was short but sweet, a perfect stop on our way south.