Aljažev dom v Vratih - Pihavec (via Luknja)

Access to starting point:
We leave Gorenjska highway at exit Hrušica and follow the road ahead in the direction of Kranjska Gora. Just a little before the village Dovje the road which goes to Mojstrana (Vrata, Kot and Krma) branches off to the left. We follow the road ahead in the direction of valley Vrata and we drive on that road to the large parking lot near Aljažev dom.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we continue on a macadam road which after 3 minutes of walking brings us to a crossing at Aljažev dom. We continue straight in the direction of Triglav, Luknja and Pogačnikov dom (right Škrlatica) on a wide path, which goes behind the chapel (on the right side) and Aljažev dom (on the left side) into a lane of a forest. A wide tourist - walking path past the winter bivouac brings us out of the forest, where in front of us we notice the famous wedge (monument dedicated to fallen partisans mountaineers). We continue straight (left Tominšek route) on the path which returns into the forest and it brings us to the next crossing, where we continue straight (right Stenar, Pogačnikov dom). The path ahead is ascending by the torrent and soon brings us to a crossing, where we continue straight in the direction of Luknja (left Čez Prag route). The path ahead crosses a short lane of bushes, and then passes over below the scree of surrounding mountain walls. Here the path towards Bivak pod Luknjo branches off to the right (5 minutes), and we continue straight on the more and more steep path. The last meters below Luknja the path ascends even steeper and it brings us to the border with Primorska. Here a nice view towards the mountains above the valley of Soča river opens up.
On the saddle, we go right following the signs Bovški Gamsovec and we start ascending on grassy slopes. The path then goes slightly to the right and by the steel cable crosses smooth rocky slope. After the steel cable path turns slightly to the left and again runs on grassy slopes. In front of us we will then slightly to the left notice smaller scree, and marked path little before the scree turns to the right (90°) towards Bovški Gamsovec (northeast). At this turn we leave the marked path and go on the mentioned scree. Few meters after the turn by marked path is on the left side also a cairn, and by it, there are placed mountain boots. Immediately when we come over the mentioned scree, on a grassy slope, we turn to the right, so that we are ascending almost parallel with the marked path. Grassy slopes are replaced by rocks, and we are still ascending in the same direction. We will soon notice on the left side one more scree, which turns slightly left upwards. At the end of this scree we turn to the left and we ascend towards a narrow groove. In front of the entry into the groove is on the left side also a memorial plaque in the memory of Tine Mihelič. From the memorial plate we then continue through the groove, which is quite steep and quite some climbing is needed. When becomes the groove very narrow, we climb from the groove on the left side on a grassy slope and we ascend left upwards, so that we in ascent cross the slopes towards the west. Then we cross a narrow scree and we ascend on even a little steeper grassy slope (still crossing towards the west). When the slope becomes less steep we turn to the right and we start ascending towards the north. Grassy slope is soon replaced by rocks and a short ascent follows towards the notch Čez Kamen (2331 meters). On the notch, we turn to the left and after few meters we join the marked path from Kriški podi. The path from the notch then runs on the south side of Pihavec towards the west, and then turns slightly to the right and then follows a short undemanding ascent to the top.
Vrata - Luknja 2:30, Luknja - Pihavec 2:00.

On the way: Luknja (1758m), Čez Kamen (2331m)