Tourist farm Perk - Matkova kopa (shepherd-hunting path)

Access to the starting point:
From the Kranj side via Kranjski Rák or from the Štajerska side via Mozirje, pass through Luče and onwards to Logarska dolina. At the turn-off for the Logarska dolina valley, continue on towards the Pavličevo sedlo border crossing and, about a kilometre higher up, turn left over the bridge into Matkov kot. At the small power station, the macadam road begins. On the right is the turn-off to the Gradišnik tourist farm (homestead of the famous Slovenian zither player Karli Gradišnik). We continue along the macadam past the Kočnar and Matk farms to the Perk farm (a small sawmill on the right and a pig pen on the left side of the road). There we kindly ask where we can park so that our parking will not interfere with their work.

Path description:
Parking is available at or near Perk Farm. Our route starts at Perk's sawmill, following the forest track logging trail to the right, steeply uphill. A little higher up, we reach a marked train path on a ridge, which immediately turns left twice in a short distance. The path-train then heads straight up the ridge to the right, crossing the forest road twice. Above the second crossing, the marked trail-train soon turns right, and we go straight ahead and immediately left again on a track that is not very visible. After about 100 m, the path leads us across a small stream to a clearing in the forest (the path disappears here), which we follow along the right-hand side to Lesnikovo sedlo a little higher up. There you will come to a forest road which leads you left through a clearing uphill. Then turn right up logging trail to the upper side of the clearing. At the end of logging trail and the coppice, a beautiful pastoral-hunting trail begins. A little higher up, go right to Jerebičje (you can also go across, then the paths merge again). Continue along the ridge Jerebičje and then descend down to the Mother's Saddle. The saddle is like a long almost flat grassy ridge, with a small dilapidated tent below the left edge, surrounded by forest. The path here is very poorly visible. At the end of the saddle, climb steeply up a vegetated ridge. The path is again clearly visible. Matkov Grintovec and Jevševec are soon behind us. It takes us a little time to climb them, as they are just above the path. The easiest access to them is at the end (not at the beginning), loking in the direction of the walk. A little further on, the path descends very steeply far down past a precipitous ravine on the left, along a clearing past a salt pan to the ravine below. Then cross the gully and climb steeply up the other side. The way ahead is easier, but often very exposed and dangerous to slip. Several times we descend a little and climb up, as our feet let us know. After a long traverse of the dwarf pines vegetated slope of Matkova kopa, we reach a gully (there is usually a cairn if you don't put it there), which starts the last part of the ascent to the summit. There is no further route from here.
It is difficult to describe the further ascent. As we progress along the gully above, we see a pointed rocky peak which we have to head towards. From the entrance gully we climb to the less distinct right below it, and follow its (right) edge up to dwarf pines. Then a few steps to the right again, up a little, then a little to the right and up again (visible fotprints - unlikely to be man-made). Without much struggle with dwarf pines we are on the lower edge of the scree (for posterity, put cairn). From here on, there are no more major orientation lops. At the edge of the scree, climb to the fot of the cliffs and head right. The easiest approach to the top of Matkova kopa from here is near the right edge. The steep gully to the left of it, which is very visible, is best approached straight up. Once this part is climbed, the top of the Mother's Cairn is in front of us.

On the way: Lesnikovo sedlo (1517m), Jerebičje (1761m), Matkovo sedlo (1623m), Matkov Grintovec (1700m), Jevševec (1730m)

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