Kneške Ravne - Vogel (via Žabiški Kuk)

Access to starting point:
From the road Bača pri Modreju - Podbrdo, in the settlement Kneža we turn on the road in the direction of Kneške Ravne. Further, we are ascending on the road which continues through the valley of the stream Kneža. At first quite gentle and partly macadam road, higher starts ascending steeper, on a steep part the road is mostly asphalt. Higher, the road splits, and we choose a slightly left road which is still asphalt and leads towards Kneške Ravne (slightly right macadam road which leads in the direction of the mountain pasture Planina v Prodih). Next follows crossing of scenic stream Prošček, and then we quickly ascend to the parking lot before Kneške Ravne, where we park.

Path description:
From the parking lot, where there is an information board of Kneške Ravne and surroundings, we continue upwards, on first crossroad by NOB monument, we go straight (left a homestead Pri Jakopu and a homestead Pri Jaklnu). The road soon turns left, and from there also the road towards the homestead Pri Francu branches off to the right. Here as well, we go straight, and at the next crossroad, we go slightly right (slightly left a homestead Pri Pologarju). Asphalt road once again splits, this time we choose the left path (right we would get to the homestead Pri Francu), which loses an asphalt covering and leads us over a grazing fence. Further, we are ascending on a cart track which leads us above orchard, and then turns left and through a lane of a forest and through more grazing fences brings us to a crossing by smaller partly stone cottage. Here we go right, and the cart track higher once again turns left and then in few minutes brings us to the hunting observatory. At the hunting observatory, we go sharply right, after that from bad cart track immediately left, on a slope straight upwards. After a short ascent the footpath appears, which is mostly ascending diagonally through the forest, and leads parallel with edge of the nearby meadow. Higher, we reach the ridge between Ljubinjske stene and Masovnik, where the footpath becomes more distinct, and leads on other, west side of the ridge. Next follows crossing of slopes and some gullies, the path by which we notice some old, already quite faded blazes, later starts ascending diagonally. Higher, we get to overgrown scree and in few minutes we ascend to a crossing by the foot of Ljubinjske stene.
We continue left in the direction towards the mountain pasture Razor (right mountain pasture Planina v Prodih and Rut), and the path leads us directly below the cliffs, where mainly in spring time is increased possibility of falling stones. Next follows a diagonal ascent and the path brings us into the forest, where leads us past a source. After the source path for some time steeply ascends, and after two zig-zags again flattens. A little further, we cross also a grazing fence, and the path out of the forest brings us on the upper part of the mountain pasture Kuk, on an area named Močila, where on the bottom side we bypass few cottages. Behind cottages we reach a driving road which we follow to the right (left mountain pasture Kuk and a parking lot), and then we quickly get to a crossing, where the path on Žabiški Kuk branches off to the right (also Žabijski Kuk) - path past Gradič (old military path).
We continue on the mentioned path (straight mountain hut Koča na planini Razor 30 minutes), which on a grassy slope starts vanishing. During the ascent, we get help from wooden poles, which are in the upper part colored in red color. When higher we step into the forest, more footpaths appears, and we continue on the one, by which there are red lines. For some time we in a diagonal ascent cross quite steep slopes towards the right, and then we step out of the forest and we get to steep grassy slopes. Next follows traversing in a gentle descent, where it is mainly in wet dangerous for slipping, and then the path turns left and passes into steep, mostly grassy gully surrounded by dwarf pines. Through indistinct gully the path which is still marked with red lines, is ascending straight upwards, so that the path is very steep. Higher, the footpath turns a little to the right, and the slope also flattens a little, and with nice views, we reach old mule track. For some time we are ascending on an old mule track, and then the path out of the dwarf pines passes over by the edge of the ridge, where we are ascending by the edge of steep slopes. Higher the ridge becomes a little more distinct, and in few additional minutes we get to miniature Aljaž turret, which is situated on Žabiški Kuk (1844 meters).
From the inscription box, we short time continue diagonally on the ridge and then red lines point us on a bad footpath which on the left side bypasses survey point 1881, which is the highest point of the ridge of Žabiški Kuk. With nice views on surrounding mountains path soon returns on the ridge and there we descend to the saddle between Žabiški Kuk and Vogel. From the saddle a short ascent follows and we reach a marked path which leads from the mountain pasture Razor towards Vogel.
We continue the ascent and after 10 minutes of additional walking, we get to panoramic peak.
Kneške Ravne - Močila 2:10, Močila - Žabiški Kuk 1:55, Žabiški Kuk - Vogel 0:30.
Description refers to condition in the year 2018 (July), and pictures are from various periods.

On the way: Močila (1258m), Žabiški Kuk (1844m)

Trip can be extended to: Črna prst , Vrh Krnic