Ruski križ - Škrlatica (via Kriška stena)

Access to starting point:
First, we drive to Kranjska Gora, and then we continue driving towards the mountain pass Vršič. Only a little before 3rd hairpin turn of Ruska cesta or Vršič road, we will on the right side notice Ruski križ (a cross), and on the left a smaller parking lot, where we park. Because the parking lot is relatively small and quickly full we can park also a little higher on a larger parking lot little above the 4th hairpin turn (in this case, we have to our starting point at Ruski križ descend a little).
To the starting point, we can also come from Primorska side through the mountain pass Vršič.

Path description:
Only a little before 3rd hairpin turn of road Ruska cesta, we will notice by the road signposts for mountain hut Koča v Krnici, which point us slightly left on a wide cart track which immediately starts moderately descending. After few minutes of descent through the forest, the path flattens and it brings us to a riverbed of Suha Pišnica. Only a little after we cross the mentioned stream, the path turns slightly to the left and it brings us out of the forest on ample grassy slopes of the mountain pasture V Klinu, where on the right side we notice a lonely cottage, and on the left a smaller memorial park Mali Tamar. The path ahead entirely flattens, and then it joins the forest road which comes from the former hotel Erika or bridge over Velika Pišnica. Here we continue right, and we follow relatively steep forest road all the way to the mountain hut Koča v Krnici, which we reach after approximately 20 minutes of additional walking.
From the mountain hut where there is a pleasant shade we continue straight in the direction of Kriška stena through the valley Krnica at first slightly and then steeper and steeper upwards. The path soon comes out of the forest, where a nice view opens up on the nearby walls. Ahead we cross gravel, which storms bring from surrounding gullies. The path ahead becomes steeper and still runs in the same direction. The last trees are already behind us and we are slowly passing on the scree below the walls of Kriška stena. In the upper part of the scree, the path is slightly turning to the left to the entrance into the wall Kriška stena. Here starts the climbing part of the path, where we put on a helmet. The path at the beginning of the wall turns left and steeply ascends. In the wall, the path runs mostly through natural passages and in some parts we also get help from fixed safety gear. On this part we also have to be careful, not to trigger stones! After a little less than an hour of climbing on a wall, which in parts is quite difficult we exit from it. Next follows few steps of walking to a crossing, where we continue left downwards in the direction of Škrlatica (right Križ). Already after few minutes of descent, the path brings us to the next crossing, where we again continue left (straight bivouac Bivak na Rušju and valley Vrata). Ahead we walk below the walls of Gubno and Dovški Gamsovec almost horizontal approximately for 30 minutes. The path ahead starts ascending on a crumbly gravel terrain towards the steep notch Rdeča škrbina, which is situated between Dolkova špica and less known Rogljica. From the notch, we continue straight downwards in the direction of Škrlatica (right Dolkova špica 15 minutes). The path ahead crosses a short secured gully, and then descends on a steep and for slipping very dangerous gully (in the early summer possible snow fields). The descent ends 200 altitude meters lower, in smaller cirque Zadnji Dolek, where we also come to a crossing. We continue left upwards in the direction of Škrlatica (straight valley Vrata) and we ascend on steep scree. On the scree we are ascending all the way to the entry into a climbing part of the path on Škrlatica. Here blazes point us to the right and the path passes from scree into rocky part of the path. The path ahead runs on the western wall and is well secured with iron spikes and steel cables. We soon get to a difficult, but well-secured passage. We notice a wall, which is almost vertical and over it runs a path, which is secured with stemples and a steel cable. If we have a camera, then here is the right point to take a picture. Carefully sometimes some of the stemples spin. Next follows some more of easy climbing on a secured path. In the last part of the difficult section of the path, we can notice a window in Škrlatica, which a lot of mountaineers miss it. Soon and then we step on the ridge from which we have to the top only 20 more minutes of panoramic and not very difficult walking. When we notice the cross we are almost on the summit.
The starting point - Koča v Krnici 45 minutes, Koča v Krnici - Vrh Kriške stene 3:30, Vrh Kriške stene - Rdeča škrbina 1:15, Rdeča škrbina - Škrlatica 2:00.

On the way: Koča v Krnici mountain hut (1113m), Vrh Kriške stene (2289m), Rdeča škrbina (2500m)

Trip can be extended to: Škrlatica