Bučan - Dom na Zelenici

Access to starting point:
From highway Ljubljana - Jesenice we go to the exit Ljubelj (Tržič), and then we continue driving in the direction of Celovec / Klagenfurt. After Ljubelj tunnel the road starts descending, and on the Austrian side we follow it to the first left turn, where old Ljubelj road branches off to the right. We park on an appropriate place by the crossroad, or we can also park higher on the Austrian side of the former border crossing Ljubelj.

Path description:
From the starting point, we go on the old Ljubelj road which is with a traffic sign closed for public traffic. The road at first moderately ascends over two zig-zags, and then continues along the stream to the ruins of former church of St. Lenart, by which stands a little bigger sign. Here the road turns to the left and gradually goes away from the valley. From the road then nice views start opening on Palec and other surrounding peaks. The road ahead leads past a smaller crossroad, where we continue sharply right on "main" road, and then in a moderate ascent we cross steep slopes (danger of falling stones, or in the winter time avalanche and slipping). Higher, the road makes few hairpin turns, and then it brings us to the marked crossing, where a marked footpath towards Košutica / Loibler Baba branches off to the left. We continue on a wider road and in 10 minutes of additional walking, we get to an old border crossing, after which stands a mountain hut Koča na Ljubelju.
From the mountain hut, we continue right in the direction of Zelenica and Povna peč (Polna peč). The path ahead goes past the mountain hut and immediately behind it starts ascending. The steepness soon decreases and the path brings us on mostly vegetated ridge from which occasionally a view opens up a little. After additional few minutes we already notice in front of us peak Polna peč, which the path bypasses on its northern side on steep slopes. The path which almost circles the peak only few steps below the summit it brings us to a crossing, where we continue right in the direction of Ljubeljščica (left Polna peč 1 minute, peak with a view on central Karawanks).
The path which runs on the border ridge then starts descending and after 50 altitude meters of descent brings us into dwarf pines. Further, the path avoids the ridge a little to the right and crosses slightly exposed crumbly gully. Next follows an easy ascent on one of the many peaks in the ridge of Ljubeljščica. Here on wooden sign we notice a faded sign, that safe path is ending (less experienced can end the tour here and on the same path return to the starting point).
Immediately after the sign ridge narrows and from vegetated changes into crumbly and slightly exposed ridge (dangerous for slipping). And after few steps of descent on a crumbly ridge path returns in safe arms of dwarf pines, but problems don't end yet. The path which is ascending and again descending crosses some similar gullies, where a little more caution is needed. Unmarked path ahead brings us to the caption on rock. Caption with sign Zelenica point us on the Slovenian side, where on the left side we bypass steep rocky towers. The path then returns on the ridge and it brings us to probably most difficult part of the path. With the help of steel cables we descend on narrow, steep and precipitous ridge steep downwards (for less experienced it is recommended to use a self-belay set). After a short descent ridge widens and the path again starts ascending. After additional few minutes of a moderate ascent we come to the next sign, where a sign for Zelenica points us left downwards. Next follows a crossing of the scree, and then we get to steep side ridge. With the help of fixed safety gear we ascend a level higher, after that still in the arms of fixed safety gear we descend on the other side of the mentioned ridge. Gradually a little poorly visible footpath, then turns a little right and on a quite overgrown slope again ascends on the border ridge. Here the path turns slightly left and on overgrown slope ascends on a saddle Čez Pod (saddle between Zgornji Plot and the ridge Na Možeh).
Here we continue slightly right (left Zgornji Plot 1704 meters, 1 minute) to the border sign, and then we descend on a small footpath to the upper edge of ski track triangel. Here we step on a cart track (transport road), which turns slightly right and is moderately descending to the next ski track, where we step on a marked path. We continue straight or slightly left (sharply right Stol and Vrtača) over ski track. After that, the path crosses a shorter lane of a forest and after further short descent brings us to the mountain hut Dom na Zelenica.
From the border ridge we can descend to the mountain hut also on a ski track, but this path is quite overgrown and steeper.

On the way: Koča na Ljubelju mountain hut (1370m), Polna peč (1503m), Ljubeljščica (1492m), Čez Pod (1686m), Zgornji Plot (Triangel) (1704m)

Trip can be extended to: Dom pri izviru Završnice , Roblekov dom na Begunjščici , Klagenfurter Hutte/Celovška koča , Spodnji Plot , Vrh Ljubeljščice (Triangel) , Na Možeh , Srednji vrh (above Završnica) , Žleb (Suho ruševje) , Srednja peč , Bielschitza/Svačica , Pautz/Zelenjak , Selenitza/Palec , Begunjščica , Prešernova koča na Stolu , Vertatscha/Vrtača , Hochstuhl/Stol