Pišnica - Stenar (via Križ)

Access to starting point:
A) First, we drive to Kranjska Gora, and then we continue driving towards the mountain pass Vršič. When Kranjska Gora ends, the road leads past the lake Jasna, and behind the lake we come to the bridge over Velika Pišnica, where there is the beginning of the described path. We park on a smaller parking lot by the crossroad, or a little earlier, on a large parking lot before the beginning of TNP, or after the bridge near the former hotel Erika.
B) We drive to Trenta, after that over mountain pass Vršič we start descending towards Kranjska Gora. After we cross a bridge over Velika Pišnica, there is the beginning of the described path. We park on a smaller parking lot by the crossroad, or a little earlier near the former hotel Erika, or a little after the bridge, on a larger parking lot opposite of TNP sign.

Path description:
From the bridge over Velika Pišnica we continue in the direction of the mountain hut Koča v Krnici, where the path leads on a macadam road, and through the valley of Velika Pišnica. A quite gentle road, that runs by mountain stream, at first crosses few torrents, and after a dam, which is because of high mountains at the back quite photogenic, a little ahead brings us to a marked crossing, where the path through Kačji graben on Špik branches off to the left.
We continue straight on still gentle road which then through gravel terrain brings us to a marked crossing, where on the periphery of the mountain pasture V Klinu, from the right joins the path from Ruski križ.
We continue left in the direction of Krnica, after that immediately after the crossing of torrent right on a forest footpath. Next follows a moderate ascent through the forest, and after approximately 20 minutes of additional walking, we get to the mountain hut Koča v Krnici.
From the mountain hut Koča v Krnici we continue straight (left Špik and Velika Dnina) in the direction of Križ, Pogačnikov dom na Kriških podih and Škrlatica. The path ahead at first still leads through the forest and then it brings us into a lane of bushes, where for some time we walk by the mighty torrent deposits. Higher, the path turns a little to the left and starts ascending steeply. Next follows a steep ascent on an area named Travno brdo, where the path leads through the last lane of a forest. Higher larch forest at first gets thinner, after that quite quickly also ends. Next follows an ascent over a short grassy part, and from the path which passes on the scree, nice view opening up on surrounding mountains and walls. Higher, at an altitude of approximately 1900 meters, the path flattens and brings us in the cirque V kotu, and at the end of the cirque, the path turns left and it brings us to the entrance into the wall Kriška stena (in the early summer at the entrance into a wall there is often still snow).
In front of the entry into a wall, possible also earlier we put on a helmet, and then we carefully step into a wall. The path at the beginning of the wall turns left and steeply ascends, and further, the path mostly runs on natural passages, on harder spots we get also help from fixed safety gear. The ascent on a wall, which is besides exposure, exposed also to falling stones lasts approximately one hour. Above the wall the path flattens and it brings us to a crossing on Vrh Kriške stene, where we continue right in the direction of Križ (left Vrata, Škrlatica, Bivak na Rušju).
Next follows an ascent on a wide ridge, on which we are ascending to Bovška vratica, where there is the next crossing.
From Bovška vratica, from where a nice view opens up on Kriški podi, we continue left in the direction of Križ (right Pogačnikov dom, Razor, Vršič and Trenta) and we continue on a narrower ridge and then with the help of a steel cable we ascend over slightly exposed rocky plates. Above the mentioned part, we get to a smaller natural groove, through which with some skills we ascend on the nearby peak of Križ.
From Križ we at first steeply descend on exposed ridge, where we get some help from fixed safety gear, and then ridge widens, and the path turns a little to the right, and it is still steeply descending. A little further from the right joins the path which bypasses the peak of Križ, and we continue slightly left and we are at first still steeply descending. Lower slope and the path flatten out, and even a little further we get to a marked crossing below the saddle Stenarska vratca.
We continue straight (left Stenarska vratca, right Sovatna and Pogačnikov dom) on an increasingly panoramic path. 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.
The starting point - Koča v Krnici 1:20, Koča v Krnici - V kotu 2:30, V kotu - Vrh Kriške stene 1:00, Vrh Kriške stene - Križ 30 minutes, Križ - crossing below Stenarska vratca 35 minutes, crossing below Stenarska vratca - Stenar 55 minutes.

On the way: Koča v Krnici mountain hut (1113m), Vrh Kriške stene (2289m), Bovška vratica (2375m), Križ (2410m)