Križe - Storžič (through southwest groove)

Access to starting point:
A) From highway Ljubljana - Jesenice we go to the exit Naklo, and then we continue driving in the direction towards settlements Žeje, Spodnje and Zgornje Duplje to the settlement Retnje, where we turn right towards the settlement Križe. Further, we drive past NOB monument, sports field Križe to the parking lot by the cemetery and a parish church of Holy Cross.
B) From highway Jesenice - Ljubljana we go to the exit Podbrezje, and then we continue driving towards Ljubelj and Tržič. Before Petrol gas station in Bistrica pri Tržiču we turn right and then we drive in Tržič. When the road descends into the valley, we continue sharply right in the direction of Pristava and Križe, and further we drive on the main road which leads towards Zgornje and Spodnje Duplje, mentioned main road we leave at settlement Retnje, where we continue left in the direction of the settlement Križe and Golnik. Further, we drive past NOB monument, sports field Križe to the parking lot by the cemetery and a parish church of Holy Cross.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we continue on the road towards the east, where the path leads at first past the church, and then also past the post office, inn Pr Benk and bakery to a crossroad at the chapel, where we continue left in the direction of Pristava. The road then leads us also past the store Tušek market Markič, and then we already notice first signposts for Gozd, Kriška gora and Storžič, which lead right on street Planinska pot. At crossroads through the settlement we follow the blazes, and then the road loses an asphalt covering and passes into the forest. Few minutes higher, at the crossroad of the macadam roads we continue right, and then we gradually get out of the forest, from where a nice view opens up towards Gorenjska. After the panoramic part, the road becomes asphalted and it brings us to the spot, where we join the road which leads towards Gozd. We follow the road to the left, and there we walk only for a short time because blazes lead right on a cart track.
We leave the road at smaller information board, which informs us about openness of the cottage Zavetišče v Gozdu. From the cart track, we continue immediately 2 times left, so that we continue the ascent on a forest path, and it soon joins to other cart track, on which we in few minutes return on an asphalt road. Few strides we walk on the road, after that from the left joins the path from Tržič, and right continues a footpath or cart track towards the cottage Zavetišče v Gozdu (straight on the road Koča na Kriški gori - steep path).
We continue on the right path (cart track), which at first runs parallel with the road and further leads past a trough with water. A little further, we leave the cart track, because blazes lead left on for some time a little steeper path, which soon returns on a cart track, and then on an asphalt road. We follow the road to the right, and we walk there for few minutes, or all the way to the spot, when on the right side we notice a large parking lot and next to it cottage Zavetišče v Gozdu.
From the cottage, we walk to the near church, and then we come at the marked crossing, where from the right side joins the path from Golnik. We continue left upwards on an increasingly bad road which in few minutes brings us to a crossing.
We continue on the right cart track in the direction of Storžič, Tolsti vrh and Mala and Velika Poljana (left mountain hut Koča na Kriški gori). Cart track, which is diagonally ascending towards the east has in the lower part some crossings, but those are well marked, so that at orientation there aren't any bigger problems. Higher, the cart track changes into gradually increasingly steep footpath, and out of the forest it brings us on panoramic grassy slopes. Eventually, the path flattens and it brings us to a pleasant viewpoint with a bench, by which we notice a memorial plaque.
Further, the path crosses a steep grassy slope (dangerous for slipping and in the winter time also exposed to avalanches) and then passes into a dense forest, where we come to a marked crossing. We continue straight in the direction of Velika Poljana (left Tolsti vrh), where for a short time, we cross forested slopes, and then forest gradually gets thinner and passes on steeper slopes of Štajnarica, where we continue with some shorter ascents and descents, and on harder spots we get some help from steel cables. In the last part of the passage over Štajnarica we also cross steep grassy slope, from where opens up first nearby view on Storžič. After the bench the path passes into the forest and then it starts descending diagonally towards Mala Poljana, which after few minutes we also reach. When we step out of the forest, we step also on a cart track, on which we descend to the hunting cottage on Mala Poljana.
From Mala Poljana, from where joins the path from Tolsti vrh, Dom pod Storžičem and Zalog, we continue on the left side of the hunting cottage, on the path in the direction of Velika Poljana. The path which ahead runs on a cart track, quickly goes into the forest, where it is then ascending diagonally. After few minutes of walking, we come to panoramic slopes, from which a nice view opens up on surrounding mountains. Only a little further, the cart track turns to the right and after a short ascent, it brings us on the upper edge of Velika Poljana, where there is a marked crossing.
We continue straight in the forest on the path in the direction of Storžič over Psica (right cottage on Velika Poljana 1 minute). The path ahead starts quite steeply ascending and then turns slightly to the right and the steepness decreases a little. Such a path soon brings us out of the forest and to a crossing below Psica.
At the mentioned crossing to the left continues very demanding path on the ridge of Psica, and we continue right in the direction of the easier path on Storžič. From the crossing ahead, the path several times diagonally descends and again ascends, and leads on slopes of Psica, from which occasionally a view opens up a little, otherwise path first part of the crossing mostly runs through the forest. After additional 30 minutes of walking, we get to a crossing, where crossing ends, and we join the path which leads on Storžič on southwestern groove.
We follow the mentioned path left upwards (right downwards mountain pasture Javornik, Povlje, we can also get to a hamlet Laško and village Bašelj) and we start ascending steeply on the path which leads us on southwestern groove of Storžič. On the mentioned groove, from which increasingly beautiful views opening up towards Gorenjska, we are ascending for a good hour, and then the path turns a little to the right and brings us on the southwestern ridge of Storžič, where from the right side joins an unmarked path which leads on the mentioned ridge.
We continue on the ridge and marked path then turns slightly to the right and soon join also other paths from Dom pod Storžičem and Kališče. From here to the top, which we already see in front of us, then only a short ascent follows by wonderful views.
Križe - Zavetišče v Gozdu 1:15, Zavetišče v Gozdu - Mala Poljana 2:00, Mala Poljana - Velika Poljana 15 minutes, Velika Poljana - Storžič 2:35.

On the way: Zavetišče v Gozdu mountain hut (891m), Mala Poljana (1325m), Velika Poljana (1410m)