Žagana peč - Kalški greben (via Škrbina)
Starting point: Žagana peč (812 m)
Starting point Lat/Lon: 46.3384°N 14.5702°E
Path name: via Škrbina
Time of walking: 5 h 15 min
Difficulty: partly demanding unmarked way, easy marked way
Difficulty of skiing: no data
Altitude difference: 1412 m
Altitude difference (by path): 1550 m
Map: Kamniške in Savinjske Alpe 1:50.000
Access to starting point:
We drive to Kamnik and follow the road ahead towards the valley of Kamniška Bistrica. From the hut in Kamniška Bistrica we continue driving on the forest road which higher brings us to a crossroad, where we continue straight (right Jermanca, starting point for saddle Kamniško sedlo). The road then brings us to Žagana peč (large boulder by the road), and we drive 30 meters ahead, where on the left side we notice a smaller parking lot on which we park.
Driving from the mountain hut in Kamniška Bistrica to Žagana peč is now forbidden (traffic sign), this extends the path for approximately 45 minutes.
Path description:
By the parking lot we notice the beginning of the hunting path which leads in the forest. The path soon starts ascending steeply and after approximately 15 minutes brings us on distinct forested ridge, where the path for some time flattens. The path ridge quickly avoids to the left, where in ascent crosses some steep and mainly in wet for slipping dangerous slopes. Next follows a short descent, and then the path turns slightly to the right, where starts very steeply ascending (dangerous for slipping and falling stones). Next follows an ascent on and by wide forested gully, which path higher avoids to the left. Follows only good 15 minutes of ascent through the forest and the path brings us to the hunting cottage, which is situated by the edge of the panoramic slope.
From the hunting cottage, we continue on a well visible footpath which returns into the forest and at first crosses slopes towards the left and then turns a little towards the right and gradually starts ascending steeper. Higher, the path by which we notice more and more "unofficial" blazes (red dots and lines) brings us into a smaller valley and gradually starts vanishing among high grass. Even though the path is slowly vanishing for some time we can still follow it.
A little further, we come on a smaller crossing, where we continue on the left poorly beaten footpath (right upward Zob and one of the options for approach on Kalška gora). The path ahead is ascending gently (exception is few shorter steep ascents) by the lower edge of rocky cliffs. Ahead barely noticeable footpath then brings us to an abandoned mountain pasture Ovčarija, at the end of which it vanishes completely. Ahead we follow frequent red dots and lines, which soon turn quite to the right and higher again to the left. Mentioned red lines we follow all the way to the spot, where we step on a marked path Krvavec - Kokrsko sedlo (if we were consistently following red lines, we will reach a marked path right at some sort of verse written on rock above the path).
When we step on a marked path we follow it to the left, and after 5 minutes of traversing it brings us to abandoned crossing, where right upwards abandoned path branches off on Kalški greben (mentioned path at first ascends on a slope straight upwards and then before reaches bottom edge of the wall turns left in steep groove, where we get help from old, but partly still useful steel cables and iron spikes. Higher, the path turns to the right and after a short further ascent brings us on the main ridge, where we join the marked path Kokrsko sedlo - Kalški greben).
We continue straight on the path which is still crossing slopes towards the left and with the exception of shorter ascents is gradually descending. The path which ahead runs on karst terrain full of limestone pavements and abysses, after some time entirely flattens, and left below us we notice a smaller lake named Krvava lokev. The path ahead crosses one more a little longer scree, and then it starts ascending steeper and after good 10 minutes of ascent brings us to a crossing near Škrbina.
Here we continue right in the direction of Kalški greben (left crossing on Škrbina 1 minute) and we continue on a wide and at first also quite gentle footpath. The path ahead ascends steeper for a short time through a lane of dwarf pines, and then it brings us by the edge of the ridge, from where a beautiful view opens up. A wide path soon avoids the ridge a little to the left, where from dwarf pines gradually passes on grassy slopes. Next follows a short crossing a little towards the left, and the path quickly brings us on a smaller saddle, from which a view opens up towards the mountains above the river Kokra. The path ahead in a diagonal ascent passes on a wide upper ridge, on which we then in few minutes of additional walking ascend on Kalški greben.
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