Aljažev dom v Vratih - Stenar (via Sovatna)
Starting point: Aljažev dom v Vratih (1015 m)
Starting point Lat/Lon: 46.4128°N 13.8466°E
Path name: via Sovatna
Time of walking: 5 h 15 min
Difficulty: partly demanding marked way
Difficulty of skiing: very demanding
Altitude difference: 1486 m
Altitude difference (by path): 1500 m
Map: Triglav 1:25.000
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 a large parking lot in the valley Vrata we continue on a macadam road, on which in three minutes of walking, we get to Aljažev dom v Vratih.
From the mountain hut, we continue straight in the direction towards Triglav, Stenar and Kriški podi (right Škrlatica) and we continue on a wide tourist path. The path ahead is barely ascending through a lane of a forest, where we bypass on the right side a winter bivouac, after that forest gets thinner and after few minutes of additional walking, we get to a large wedge (monument dedicated to fallen partisans mountaineers). From the monument we continue straight (left Tominšek route) on the path which gradually returns into the forest and a little higher brings us to a marked crossing, where we continue right towards Pogačnikov dom (straight Triglav and Luknja). From the crossing ahead, the path starts ascending steeper through the beech forest (area is called Bukovlje), and a little above 1300 meters brings us to a pleasant well, which in dry periods dries up. Next follows few minutes of walking through the forest or higher bushes and the path brings us out of the forest by the foot of Sovatna, where joins quite an overgrown path from the bivouac Bivak pod Luknjo.
From here ahead path is becoming panoramic and more steep. The path from which beautiful views are opening up on Triglav northern wall, higher brings us to short slightly exposed passage, where mainly in wet more caution is needed. The path ahead slightly flattens, but is still relatively steeply ascending. Next follows an ascent through gravel, after that valley narrows and the path brings us to short rocky jump over which we ascend with the help of reliable fixed safety gear.
Above the jump slope flattens, and the path ahead pa leads us over a series of valleys, where we often notice herd of ibexes. The path higher passes on the left side of the valley, where then ascends diagonally over wide and on short part slightly exposed ledge. From here follows few 10 strides of walking and the path brings us to a marked crossing on Dovška vrata.
From here we continue right towards Stenar and Križ (left Bovški Gamsovec and Pogačnikov dom) and we continue the ascent on at first gentle after that more and more steep path, on which we quickly get to a crossing below Stenarska vratca.
We again continue right (left Križ) on the more and more scenic path, which only few steps higher joins an unmarked path over Stenarska vratca. Further, we cross the scree and with nice views on Triglav, Bovški Gamsovec, Pihavec and valley Trenta we walk to the steep slopes of Stenar. From here ahead path starts ascending steeply on a nicely rugged rocks, and then turns sharply to the left, where after few 10 meters suddenly flattens. Here or already good 10 meters before pathless approach on Spodnji Stenar branches off to the right, and we continue on a marked path, which again starts ascending steeper. Next follows for approximately 15 minutes of walking on the upper slope of the mountain and more and more scenic path brings us on 2501 meters high peak.
Vrata - Dovška vrata 4:00, Dovška vrata - Stenar 1:15.
On the way: Dovška vrata (2180m)
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