Dom v Lepeni - Veliki Lemež

Access to starting point:
Between Trenta and Bovec in the village Soča, a road in Lepena branches off. This asphalt road we follow to a parking lot at the mountain hut Dom v Lepeni.

Path description:
From the mountain hut Dom dr. Klementa Juga in Lepena we go on the path in the direction of the mountain hut Dom pri Krnskih jezerih, Gomiščkovo zavetišče na Krnu and Dom na Komni. Already immediately from the parking lot path passes into the forest, through which it is ascending on a wide mule track. On a mule track, we are mostly moderately ascending (steep variant of ascent in the lower part for some time isn't in use anymore) through the forest, only occasionally a view opens up a little towards the valley and surrounding mountains. During the ascent, we also several times cross the route of a cargo cableway, crossing it is forbidden while operates. After a good hour and a half of walking, the path flattens and only a little further brings us to the upper station of a cargo cableway.
From here ahead path leads by the edge of smaller valley, and it quickly brings us to the spot, where every year in April they measure height of the snow. Next follows a short descent, and then we get to a marked crossing, where the path to Velika Baba branches off to the left.
At the crossing, we still continue on a wide path, which quickly brings us to the next crossing. This time we go left downwards on a footpath which in few minutes brings us to the mountain hut Dom pri Krnskih jezerih (if we continue straight we bypass mountain hut).
From the mountain hut, we continue straight in the direction of Krn and Krn lake on a gentle path that soon joins the path that avoids the mountain hut. We continue past the shepherd hut, behind which we get to the next crossing, where we again continue in the direction of Krn (left Bogatin, Mali Šmohor and Dom na Komni..
After the next few minutes, a gentle path brings us to the pearl of the Krn mountains. In front of us we see Krn lake and inviting meadows by the lake for a rest. The marked path then leads us on the left side of the lake by the base of the scree of Mali Šmohor. On the other side of the lake, the path turns a little to the left and starts ascending on a bit steeper slope, on which higher unmarked (upper) path joins us. The upper path in ascending crosses the scree above Krn lake (this path is a little shorter but exposed to falling stones). The path then turns a little to the right and it brings us to extensive deposits of torrential gravel.
We continue on a gentle path which runs through mountain pasture and on the right side we will notice a hunting cottage. We then leave the marked path and go right on pathless terrain. We stick to a gentle grassy terrain left from the mountain hut and go towards small valley, that runs towards the saddle Čez Potoče. At the end of the mountain pasture before path starts again ascending we will also notice some cairns.
When we start ascending the footpath is again better visible and orientation isn't too demanding. The path further is all the time ascending through the valley upwards and runs on a mostly grassy terrain. Such a path we then follow all the way to a saddle Čez Potoče where for a short time a view opens up also towards the north.
On the saddle, we leave beaten footpath and go right on pathless terrain. In the initial part we are ascending by the ridge on the right side. The slope is here covered with grass and is occasionally also quite steep therefore also some caution is needed. Especially in wet, the slopes can be dangerous for slipping. For a short time, we withdraw from the ridge a little more to the right side, after that follows an ascent back towards the ridge. We soon reach the secondary peak on which there are also some remains from the first world war. On the eastern secondary peak there are also some military tunnels.
From the secondary peak, we slightly descend on still mostly grassy slope, which is on this part slightly less steep. Next again follows the ascent by the right side of the ridge to the top of Vogel from which a view opens up towards the summit Veliki Lemež, which is situated ahead in the ridge. And from the path, we have otherwise for some time a nice view towards Krn and valley of river Soča.
From the top of Vogel we continue on the ridge and again descend a little. Next follows some walking on a little wider and less steep ridge, which brings us below steeper slopes of the next secondary peak. Grassy ridge here becomes very narrow and is in parts also slightly exposed therefore at the ascent quite some caution is needed. We still continue on the ridge and we soon reach the next secondary peak.
From the secondary peak, we descend on a steep slope by the ridge where otherwise runs a little worse beaten footpath. After a short descent the footpath brings us into a notch where we will on the right side notice a bigger rockfall, which happened during the earthquake in the year 1998.
From the notch, the ridge becomes again narrow and the footpath goes for a short time on the left northern side of the ridge. Next follows a short ascent on a steep and quite exposed grassy slope, which is especially in wet quite dangerous for slipping. We quickly again reach the ridge, which further becomes again less demanding. Follows an ascent on a wide grassy slope to a panoramic summit.
We descend on the ascent route.

On the way: Dom pri Krnskih jezerih mountain hut (1385m), The lake Krnsko jezero (1391m), Planina na Polju (1530m), Čez Potoče (1850m), Vogel (nad Lepeno) (1980m)