Aljažev dom v Vratih - Dolkova špica (on SE ridge)

Access to starting point:
We leave the Gorenjska motorway at the Hrušica exit and continue following the road towards Kranjska Gora. Just before the village of Dovje, a road branches off to the left from the main road, leading to Mojstrana (Vrata, Kot and Krma). We continue following the road towards the Vrata valley and drive along it to the large parking lot near Aljažev dom.

Route description:
From the parking lot, we continue along the gravel road, which after 3 minutes of walking brings us to the junction at Aljažev dom.
We continue right in the direction of Škrlatica and Dolkova špica along the path that leads us across a meadow into the forest. We then ascend an initially gentle cart track that higher up turns into a somewhat steeper footpath. Soon the path brings us to the bed of a torrent, along which we ascend for only a short time before it turns right and climbs steeply through the forest. The path then turns left, crossing a short avalanche-prone slope before gradually transitioning to the slopes below Stenar. We continue ascending these slopes, lightly overgrown with dwarf pine and individual larches. Higher up, the path reaches a small junction where we continue right towards Škrlatica (left to Stenar via an unmarked path over Stenarska vratca). The path ascends only briefly further before flattening and reaching a larger junction, where we continue right towards Škrlatica (left to the bivouac in 2 minutes and Križ in 1:30). The path then crosses a small scree field and turns sharply right. Next, we traverse a slightly exposed ledge (risk of slipping), after which we reach the pastures below Dolkova špica.
The route begins a good half hour from the bivouac on a grassy promontory directly below the SE branch of Dolkova špica. We first ascend steep grass slopes, occasionally climbing over rocks. Later in the wall, we seek the easiest passages between chimneys and gullies, generally keeping to the right side. Cairns mark difficult orientation points. The steepness persists until Spodnja Dolkova špica at 2541 m; only here does the true ridge properly begin. The ridge is approximately 1 km long with moderate difficulties; only the passage into the notch requires a secure and steady step—this may be the most demanding part of the entire tour.
From the summit, we descend to Rdeča škrbina, where we have two options: either towards the bivouac on Rušje (better known as bivouac IV) or into Zadnji Dolek and descent through the cirque between Škrlatica and Dolkova špica.

Along the route: Bivak na Rušju (1980m)

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