Travel Tales by Afar

Facing Mountains, Loss, and My Inner Overachiever on Slovenia’s Newest Hiking Trail

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Writer and avid hiker Peggy Orenstein is exactly the kind of person you should send off into the wilderness with an iPhone and a pair of hiking boots. And for this episode, we did just that. In October 2022, Slovenia rolled out the 167-mile Juliana Trail, a route that circles Slovenia's Triglav National park and the Julian Alps and takes walkers back in time. Peggy tackled a portion of the trail and along the way, she found:

  • Well-preserved remnants of World War I.
  • A rich farm-to-table cuisine.
  • Cultural legacies, including a lengthy history of beekeeping.
  • Fantastic hiking, that leads along the Sava River and through icon spots like Lake Bled.


    • Don't miss these moments!

    • 2:37: An interview with Peggy.
    • 8:15: Her first day on the trail.
    • 11:27: How the Juliana Trail came together.
    • 14:33: Exploring Slovenian culture along the trail.
    • 19:31: Visiting Lake Bohinj.
    • 21:08: Losing her phone on the trail.
    • 26:47: Toasting with a septuagenarian on a mountaintop.
    • 30:58: The last day on the trail.
    • 34:16: Peggy's ode to American pop music


      • In the episode, you'll understand what it's like to hike the Juliana Trail, the trail's highlights, and how Peggy faced down her inner overachiever.

      Resources

      • Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
      • Learn more about the Juliana Trail and plan your own hike. 
      • Read Peggy’s other AFAR stories: hiking the Kumano Kodo trail in Japan, horseback riding in Wyoming, and exploring Yunnan, China. 
      • Buy Peggy’s latest book, Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater.


        • Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.

        And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel.

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        Travel Tales by AfarBy AFAR Media
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