Ruski križ - Planja (via Kriška stena)

Access to starting point:
First, we drive to Kranjska Gora, and then we continue driving towards the mountain pass Vršič. Only a little before 3rd hairpin turn of Ruska cesta or Vršič road, we will on the right side notice Ruski križ (a cross), and on the left a smaller parking lot, where we park. Because the parking lot is relatively small and quickly full we can park also a little higher on a larger parking lot little above the 4th hairpin turn (in this case, we have to our starting point at Ruski križ descend a little).
To the starting point, we can also come from Primorska side through the mountain pass Vršič.

Path description:
Only a little before 3rd hairpin turn of road Ruska cesta, we will notice by the road signposts for mountain hut Koča v Krnici, which point us slightly left on a wide cart track which immediately starts moderately descending. After few minutes of descent through the forest, the path flattens and it brings us to a riverbed of Suha Pišnica. Only a little after we cross the mentioned stream, the path turns slightly to the left and it brings us out of the forest on ample grassy slopes of the mountain pasture V Klinu, where on the right side we notice a lonely cottage, and on the left a smaller memorial park Mali Tamar. The path ahead entirely flattens, and then it joins the forest road which comes from the former hotel Erika or bridge over Velika Pišnica. Here we continue right, and we follow relatively steep forest road all the way to the mountain hut Koča v Krnici, which we reach after approximately 20 minutes of additional walking.
From the mountain hut where there is a pleasant shade we continue straight in the direction of Kriška stena through the valley Krnica at first slightly and then steeper and steeper upwards. The path soon comes out of the forest, where a nice view opens up on the nearby walls. Ahead we cross gravel, which storms bring from surrounding gullies. The path ahead becomes steeper and still runs in the same direction. The last trees are already behind us and we are slowly passing on the scree below the walls of Kriška stena. In the upper part of the scree, the path is slightly turning to the left to the entrance into the wall Kriška stena. Here starts the climbing part of the path, where we put on a helmet. The path at the beginning of the wall turns left and steeply ascends. In the wall, the path runs mostly through natural passages and in some parts we also get help from fixed safety gear, we also have to be careful, not to trigger stones! After a little less than an hour of climbing on a wall, which is in parts quite difficult we step from it. Next follows few steps of walking to a crossing, where we continue right upwards in the direction of Križ and the path which passes on a wide ridge, quickly brings us on Bovška vratica, from which a view opens up on Kriški podi, where we can see the highest Slovenian lake. We continue straight downwards in the direction of the mountain hut Pogačnikov dom (left Križ 10 minutes) on rugged rocks. During the descent, we can on the right side notice Šplevta (mountain in the shape of Indian), which enriches our trip. Descent, which is slightly demanding with the help of some iron spikes brings us on a smaller saddle between Križ and Kriški rob. The latter path bypasses on the left side, where we cross steep slopes (most difficult part is secured). Here we can for some time observe lake Zgornje Kriško jezero, then the path starts descending on karst terrain of Kriški podi. After approximately one hour of descent, the path brings us to a crossing near the mountain hut Pogačnikov dom. We continue right in the direction towards the summit Razor (left Pogačnikov dom 3 minutes) on the path which crosses slopes towards the northwest. The path here even descends a little and then we get to a rocky jump. We climb it with the help of fixed safety gear and on the top of the jump we continue left on a slightly exposed rocky plate. On the other side of this plate we again find ourselves on the scree. We continue forward towards the saddle Planja, where joins the path from Vršič.
We continue left in the direction of Planja (right Razor) on the path which in a diagonal ascent with the help of fixed safety gear ascends to the upper slope of the mountain. Here the steepness decreases and a more panoramic path in few additional strides of walking, it brings us on an ample peak.
The starting point - Koča v Krnici 45 minutes, Koča v Krnici - Pogačnikov dom 4:25, Pogačnikov dom - Planja 1:45.

On the way: Koča v Krnici mountain hut (1113m), Vrh stene (2289m), Bovška vratica (2375m), Pogačnikov dom na Kriških podih mountain hut (2050m), Sedlo Planja (2349m)