Aljažev dom v Vratih - Dolkova špica (western way)

Access to starting point:
We drive to Mojstrana, then follow the signs for the Vrata valley. We continue along the toll road, which is closed to public traffic in winter, following it to the large parking lot located a few minutes before Aljažev dom v Vratih.

Route description:
From the parking lot continue along the gravel road closed to public traffic, passing Šlajmerjev dom to quickly reach Aljažev dom v Vratih.
At Aljažev dom turn right towards Škrlatica, Dolkova špica, Stenar, Križ and Kriška stena (straight Triglav, Luknja, Bovški Gamsovec, Pogačnikov dom via Sovatno, Stenar, Križ and Razor) onto the path leading us across the meadow into the forest. The path then ascends first along a gentle cart track, higher up transitioning into a gradually steeper footpath that brings us to the bed of a torrent, which we do not follow for long. Higher up the path temporarily turns right and steeply ascends through the forest, later beginning to turn left, crossing a short scree slope, with the path increasingly approaching the slopes below the mighty Stenar. We quickly reach these slopes and ascend through dwarf pines and past individual larches. Upon leaving the dwarf pine belt we reach a small valley separating Stenar from Križ, ascending it briefly, then the marked path turns right (straight to Stenarska vratca and Križ and Stenar via the mentioned gates).
A short ascent in increasingly high-mountain terrain follows, and about 100 elevation meters higher we arrive at a somewhat larger junction where the path to Škrlatica continues right, while we go left towards the nearby bivouac Na rušju, Križ and Kriška stena.
From the junction only a short easy ascent remains and we reach bivouac Na rušju, also called bivak IV Na rušju.
The marked path bypasses the bivouac on the right side and steeply ascends behind it for a short time, then the steepness eases, with the path leading through karst terrain full of sinkholes, cracks and pits. A beautiful high-mountain path offering nice views especially on the mighty surrounding peaks brings us higher to the next junction.
Continue right towards Škrlatica and Dolkova špica (left Križ, Pogačnikov dom, Razor and Kriška stena) along the path crossing the slopes below the walls of the lesser-known peak Gubno, on this section without major changes in elevation, upon reaching the slopes of Dovški Gamsovec we begin to ascend traversely through scree, upon reaching the slopes of Dolkova špica we begin steeply ascending towards Rdeča škrbina, the notch separating Rogljica and Dolkova špica.
From Rdeča škrbina head right towards Dolkova špica (straight down the marked path leads to Zadnji Dolek from where the path continues towards Škrlatica or towards Bivak na Rušju) along the path that becomes technically more demanding, leading us along the northwest ridge of Dolkova špica.
The difficult spots on the ridge are not secured but are routed through natural passages so that there are no serious difficulties, the summit reached after approximately 15 minutes of walking from Rdeča škrbina.
Starting point - Aljažev dom 0:05, Aljažev dom - Bivak Na rušju 2:55, Bivak na Rušju - Na rušju 0:45, Na rušju - Rdeča škrbina 1:15, Rdeča škrbina - Dolkova špica 0:15.

Along the route: Aljažev dom v Vratih (1001m), Dolinica pod Stenarjem (1829m), Bivak na Rušju (1980m), Na rušju (2218m), Rdeča škrbina (2521m)

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