Koča na Pikovem - Jesenik (Jesenikov vrh)

Access to starting point:
We drive to Črna na Koroškem, and then we follow the signs for Podpeca and later Koča na Pikovem. We park on a parking lot near the mountain hut Koča na Pikovem.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we walk to the church of St. Helena and mountain hut Koča na Pikovem, after that behind the church we continue left on the path in the direction of Veliki vrh. The path ahead leads us on a worse macadam road which at first runs through the forest and then through meadows, from which a beautiful view opens up. Behind the homestead Pik the road changes into a cart track, and by the edge of the forest path to Pikov vrh branches off to the right (also on Veliki vrh). Next follows shorter gently sloping ascent through the forest and the path brings us to religious symbol, where another path branches off to the right on Pikov vrh, and we continue on the path which gradually starts lightly descending.
We quickly get to a smaller crossing, where we continue left (straight one of the paths into Mežica), and at the nearby next crossing we go right in the direction of Mežica (straight saddle Vrh šteng).
From the crossing, we quickly ascend on a small saddle, where right downwards path descends towards Mežica, and we continue straight on an unmarked footpath which starts ascending on the south ridge of Jesenik. Further because of numerous fallen trees, which are consequences of strong wind in December 2017, it is hard to follow the path which mostly runs on the ridge. The path higher joins a cart track, where it also flattens.
Cart track at first leads on the ridge and then it passes into a smaller valley, and when it ends we ascend on the nearby peak on a worse footpath.
Description and pictures refer to a condition in the year 2018 (May).

On the way: Sveta Helena (992m)