Ruše - Pečke

Access to starting point:
To Ruše we can drive from Maribor as well as from Koroška side on Drau valley. We can leave the car in the settlement or we drive a good kilometer further on settled asphalt road which we would otherwise have to walk.

Path description:
If we leave the car in the settlement, we continue approximately half an hour path on the road, not looking on numerous shortcuts and we go only straight, until we come to the end of the asphalt on a small saddle, which locals call Dobnikov križ. A cross with Jesus on it stands by the road. There stands also with wooden roof covered signpost for Pečke and numerous other destinations. We cross the saddle and we continue walking on a macadam road which after the rain can be muddy. On bottom side of the road there is a large meadow, above which we walk, until we get to the forest and we continue path to small parking lot and two houses, built together, from which is one wooden hut, and second made of bricks and yellow painted. On the stone by the house is a trail blaze, and nearby a signpost, which shows direction of further hike. There we make a sharp turn and start walking on a cart track which ascends above macadam, on which we walked before. The latter we do not follow anymore, because it runs into a valley past dangerous dog. Anyway, we follow the cart track to another signpost, which clearly marks direction of the path on Pečke and also back in Ruše. So we turn left and go on a wide forest path, which once turns and after about 100 meters we get to the turn-off of the path for Pečke. A sign is small, so we have to be careful, that we don't miss the turn off. Cart track otherwise continues far and it really isn't recommended to miss the turn off. We recognize it by, that it is steeply descending into a valley. On this part of the path, we need to be careful, because it is quite slippery. In the winter small crampons are needed here, hiking poles will be useful throughout the year. Steepness luckily quickly flattens and narrow forest path leads us on the edge of the hill. In the valley we already hear murmur of the stream, during the winter, like it was in the year (2012/13) we can already hear it up at the turn-off. Water rich is because of the snow, which is melting higher in the mountains. Stream originates below Glažuta. On the path we cross some fallen trees, over which we had to climb not so far ago, now they are cut in half. We soon get to a stream, where we can refresh ourselves (water is drinking) and then we cross it on footbridge. We ascend to one more macadam road which we cross it and by the signpost we continue on clearly visible wide path towards Pečke. The path is steep, hiking poles are recommended and in the winter also crampons. After approx. 10-15 minutes we get to a macadam, by which there is a small monument to Rudi, who froze in deep snow 10 years ago. The path again steeply ascends, but soon again flattens and we get to the road. We can we follow it, or we can continue through the forest. Eather way we get to the mountain hut Dom na Pečkah, near is also shooting range, so don't get scared by shots. We are at the destination! Hint: we can continue up to Glažuta and Areh or to Meranovo, where they have good wine.

On the way: Dobnikov križ (520m)