Upper parts of the Čaganka cave
After a challenging visit to Čaganka there was a promise of a more enjoyable trip to the upper older parts. The weather forecast was not the best and even though it promised heavy snowfall, we were greeted by a bearable 20 centimeters of snow. We were lucky, as in the next few days, there was more than a meter of snowfall and we wouldn’t even be able to picture a visit to the cave until the spring.
A true caving idyll, a beautiful, sunny morning … It had us walking on the freshly fallen snow towards the entrance to the cave instead of the decorated forest. Well, at least low temperatues and snow aren’t usually present in caves, but in some, there is plenty of mud – and Čaganka has it in abundance. But the upper parts are not comparable to the muddy atmosphere of the lower parts, which was of course a plus for us.
The first stages passed quickly and was brightened by occasional photography and joking about this and that. The parts in the beginning are picturesque, but quite similar to one another, so we saved some details for the way back. We were mostly interested in the 70-meter level and our thoughts were focused on the execution of that photo. With an army-like execution consisting on ‘you, that’, and ‘you, there’ we spread out before entering the level and made everything easier with radio stations. The dripping of water creates a considerable ruckus and screaming instructions really isn’t very helpfuly.
In the following meander we had some problems with positioning the model and the flashes, which ended in an absurd complication with the equipment. If you are aware of bad ideas in such a situation, it’s best to stop what you’re doing, be content with what you’ve done and spend your time elsewhere with better results. So we headed towards the Ceiling ring with more enthusiasm, where Marjan made the photo more interesting with his antics.
Our path finally transitioned through a new level and a shorter meander towards the Coral Reef and finally, towards the Acoustic Hall, the next large space in the cave. I had previously experienced the cave to the bottom of the Acoustic Hall, so the positioning was fast and easy. I used a tripod after a long time while Bole lit a single lightbulb at the bottom of the hall for a ‘warmer’ touch of ambiance.

Towards the Acoustic Hall.
We also headed towards the South passage. The goal was to make at least a few photographs to the entrance of the Gorenjska continuation, but we managed to make more throughout the shaft. But we decided against heading into the following parts as Šini was promising a few more hours, which would be difficult to afford for us. The trip was followed by the usual coffee in a bivouac in the Northern passage with comical relief about the life of a caver and of course photography of the motives I had mentally noted during this time’s visit.

The South passage.
As it were, it was quite late when we came up again and there was still an abundance of snow. A warm house was once again the highlight of our day, and the meal by Marjan and Šini one of the best culinary treats, even though it was just pasta and beans from a can … This time, the adventurers in Čaganka were Bole, Mojca, Marjan, Miha and Šini, and you can see more of our work in the gallery, of course.

Funny moments in the bivouac.
Projects archive
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National Geographic Junior Slovenia 12/2018
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National Geographic Slovenia 09/2018
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Descent 261 04-05/2018
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NaProstem.si 01/2018
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Slovenske novice XXVIII/37 2018
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The secrets of Brgevčeva cave
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InterPress Magazine 07/2017
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National Geographic Slovenia 04/2017
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Dutch Mountain Film Festival 2017
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National Geographic Slovenia 12/2016
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Ivačič cave under Triglav hut on Kredarica
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National Geographic Najlepši kraji na svetu
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National Geographic Slovenia 05/2016
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Bela griža 1
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National Geographic Junior Slovenia 04/2016
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Servus in Stadt & Land, 01/2016
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3D Geocarto 3rd exhibiton
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Peli Calendar 2016, october
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Calendar BSU 2016
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Spelunca 139, 09/2015
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Cave and Karst Science 42-2 08/2015
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Cooling off in the cave Markov spodmol
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National Geographic France 07/2015
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Jama pred Kotlom
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Lower parts of the Čaganka cave
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National Geographic Slovenia 10/2014
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Speleologia 12/2013
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Shutterbug 03/2014
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Nedeljske Novice 01-06/2014
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National Geographic Slovenia 05/2014
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Small natural bridge in the moonlight
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Again “Ledenka” and certainly not the last time
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Cave of the Sežana river Reka (Jama Sežanske Reke)
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The underground world of Budapest
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Visiting our neighbours again – this time it was Grotta Gualtiero Savi’s turn
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In search of a prehistoric leopard
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Underground boating in Vranja jama and Gradišnica
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In the South parts of the Žirovcova jama
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A short visit to Konasnica
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Great hall at the Brezno v Medvedovi konti
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In the icy underground of Eiskogel
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Descent 232 06/2013
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Playboy Slovenia, 08/2013
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Planinski vestnik 08/2013
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National Geographic Slovenia, 06/2013
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After a while, back to Mitjina jama
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When the Burja (bora) blows
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Caving on the Matarsko podolje again
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The end of Davorjevo brezno?
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The first tasting of Grotta Martina
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Grotta Impossibile – for the second and, as it seems, not the last time
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Gea 11/2012
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Fossil passages in Davorjevo brezno
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The untouched Golokratna jama
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Ice cave on Viševnik – it’s true, again …
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Žirovcova jama – the photo story still hasn’t ended
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Žirovcova jama, photo trip – as usual
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Ice cave by plateau Viševnik – a measuring and photo journey
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Descent 223 12/2011
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Šport mladih 09/2011
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Il Carso classico, l’acqua e l’uomo, 2011, Trieste
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Svet & Ljudje 05/2011
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Planinski vestnik 10/2010
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Proteus 09/2010
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National Geographic Junior Slovenia 03/2010
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Gea 09/2008
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Digital Photographer Ukraine, 10/2007
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Exhibition Jamske perspektive, KC Janez Trdina, Novo Mesto, 2007
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GEO Slovenia 10/2006
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Exhibition Jamske perspektive, Chemical Institute, Ljubljana, 2006
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Polet 04n11/2005
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Exhibition Jamske perspektive, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana, 2005
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Olympus ECHO n02/2004
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Euro
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Jack 03/2002
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Mars 01/2002
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Grif 06/2001
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Grif 11/2000
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Adrenalin 05/2000
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Grif 08/1999
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Grif 06/1999
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Exhibition Luč v temi, KUD France Prešeren, Ljubljana, 1998
4 comments
Comment by Daniel Chailloux
Daniel Chailloux February 28, 2015 at 11:11
Hi Peter,
I like your pictures with the vertical perspectives.
Congratulations !
—
Daniel.
Comment by peterg
peterg February 28, 2015 at 14:59
Thanks Daniel!
Comment by Rainer Straub
Rainer Straub March 3, 2015 at 19:06
Hello Peter,
great lighting and cool cave!
Cheers Rainer
Comment by peterg
peterg March 5, 2015 at 19:07
Thanks Rainer…