Plaz Črlovec - Sleme (via Vrtaška planina)

Access to starting point:
We drive to Mojstrana, then we follow the signs for Vrata valley. On the road through the Vrata valley we drive to the road sign 8 km or some 10 meters ahead to gully Plaz Črlovec, where the described path begins. Parking in the area of TNP is allowed only on marked parking spots.

Path description:
From gully Plaz Črlovec we return along the road some 10 meters back, then we continue on a side road which continues towards the northeast. The path ahead leads us past the gate, behind the gate an unmarked path branches off to the left towards Kukova špica and Njivice, we continue straight and continue walking on the road. While walking on the road, the path leads us past mountain pasture Višek, behind it we quickly arrive at stream Peričnik, which we cross over the footbridge. On the other side of the stream we walk on the road only a short time, then we go left onto a well-beaten forest path along which we begin to ascend through the forest. After a few minutes the path splits, we continue left (straight well-beaten shortcut (the path via the shortcut is shorter by approximately 10 minutes and also easier)) along the constructed path which gradually begins to ascend steeply. After a short ascent we arrive at a vantage point, above the vantage point the path becomes quite steep. For some time we ascend steeply, then we arrive below the cliffs of Lengarjev Komen (1520 m), where we continue right. Follows crossing of partly vegetated scree and behind it some grooves and gullies, where the trail is narrower and especially when wet dangerous for slipping. When the slope becomes less steep, the shortcut joins us from the right, the path gradually becomes steeper again. Higher we ascend steeply again, the slope also becomes steep. Follows some traversing ascent, then we arrive at the steel cable which assists us in the short steep ascent on the exposed slope. When the safety gear ends we are on a nice vantage point from which a nice view opens onto Vrata valley and the mountains above it. Follows crossing of a grazing fence, then we continue right and walk some minutes without major changes in elevation. After some minutes we go slightly left and ascend to the shepherd hut on Vrtaška planina.
From the mountain pasture we continue in the direction of Vrtaški vrh and Sleme, the path when it enters the forest turns slightly left and begins to ascend moderately to occasionally steeply. Higher the path levels out and leaves the grazing area (on this section the old path to Vrtaški vrh branches off to the right). Continuing in a gentle ascent we cross increasingly panoramic and occasionally steeper slopes, after some time we arrive at the pasture on Njivice, where we arrive in a nice little valley.
At the beginning of the little valley the "upper path" from gully Plaz Črlovec joins almost unnoticeably from the left, we continue to the nearby marked junction.
From the junction we continue straight towards Sleme (right Vrtaški vrh 20 minutes), the path on the upper part of the pasture turns slightly left into the dwarf pine belt. Follows easy ascent through dwarf pines and sparse larch forest, when the path turns somewhat more to the left it also begins to ascend more steeply over the higher grassy slope. After some minutes of steep ascent we reach a panoramic ridge from which a nice view opens towards Kukova špica, Špik and surrounding mountains.
On the ridge we go left (right Drobeče Sleme) and after 10 minutes of further ascent we arrive at the panoramic summit.
Starting point - Vrtaška planina 1:45, Vrtaška planina - Njivice 1:20, Njivice - Sleme 0:55.

On the way: Planina Višek (975m), Vrtaška planina (1462m), Njivice (1820m)