Zagrad - Pečovniška koča on Grmada (via Grmada)

Access to starting point:
From the highway Ljubljana - Maribor, we take the exit Celje - center and continue driving in the direction of Laško and Zidani Most. The road leads through the center of Celje, then brings us to a roundabout with a fountain. Here we continue "straight" (direction Laško and Zidani Most) and follow the road to the next traffic-light intersection, where we continue left, drive over the river Savinja and then at the intersection behind the bridge continue right. Further, we come to the underpass under the railway track and only a few meters ahead to the fire station in Zagrad near which we park on a larger macadam parking lot.
To the starting point, we can also come from Dolenjska and Zasavje. In this case, first we drive to Rimske Toplice and then through Laško to the starting point.

Path description:
On the eastern side of the parking lot, we notice the blazes, which point us to the path which at first ascends among houses, and then crosses an asphalt road. Further, we ascend only briefly through the forest and then join the previously mentioned road. The road, which further gently to moderately ascends, leads us across a panoramic grassy slope, from which a nice view opens up. Higher, the road ends, and we continue on a wide and well-made mountain path, which then leads us through an indistinct valley. Higher, we step on a macadam road and, with the exception of some shortcuts, follow it to a marked junction by which a religious symbol is situated.
Here we go left and continue the ascent on a steep path (straight to Grmada and Pečovniška koča gentle path), which at first still moderately ascends through the forest. The path, which further runs through the forest, gradually becomes increasingly steep. Higher, the path turns to the right and transitions to steep and mainly slippery when wet slopes. On the top of the diagonal ascent we reach a viewpoint, which is situated above a real precipice (carefully!). From the viewpoint, we continue on a marked path, which continues on an ever narrower and increasingly steep ridge. Just below the summit of Grmada, we come to probably the hardest part of the path. The path steeply ascends over rugged rocks, which are in wet and snow very dangerous for slipping. Further, the path flattens and after a few additional steps brings us to the summit of Grmada.
From the top of Grmada we continue on a marked path which starts to descend more steeply along the eastern ridge of the mountain. Then the path turns a little to the right, where it flattens and gradually transitions to a wide cart track, on which we then descend to the Pečovniška koča in a few minutes.
We can descend on the gentle path.

On the way: Grmada above Celje (718m)

Trip can be extended to: Hotel Celjska koča , Bavč , Almin dom na Svetini , Tolsti vrh above Celjska koča