Aljažev dom v Vratih - Pihavec (via Sovatna)

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

Route description:
The described route has been CLOSED again since 30.7.2016, as the rockfall is active again.
From the large parking lot in Vrata Valley, continue along the gravel road, reaching Aljažev dom v Vratih in a few minutes of walking.
From the hut, continue straight towards Triglav, Stenar and Kriške pode (right Škrlatica) and proceed along the wide tourist path. The path ahead barely ascends through a belt of forest, where we bypass the winter bivouac on the right side, then the forest thins out and after a few more minutes of walking we reach a large wedge (monument dedicated to fallen partisan mountaineers). From the monument, continue straight (left Tominškova pot) along the path that gradually returns to the forest and brings us somewhat higher to a marked junction, where we continue right towards Pogačnikov dom (straight Triglav and Luknja). From the junction onwards, the path begins to ascend more steeply through beech forest (the area is called Bukovlje), which brings us just above 1300 m.a.s.l. to a pleasant spring, which dries up in dry periods. A few more minutes of walking through the forest or higher shrubbery follow, and the path takes us out of the forest at the foot of Sovatna, where a quite overgrown path from Bivak pod Luknjo joins us.
From here onwards, the path becomes increasingly steep and scenic. The path, from which we have beautiful views of the Triglav north face, takes us higher to a short slightly exposed passage, where extra caution is needed especially when wet. The path ahead flattens slightly but continues to ascend relatively steeply. An ascent through scree follows, then the valley narrows and the path takes us to a short rocky jump over which we ascend with the aid of fixed protection.
Above the jump, the slope flattens, and the path ahead leads us across a series of small valleys, where we often spot a herd of chamois. Higher up, the path crosses to the left side of the valley, then transversely ascends across a wide and on a short section slightly exposed ledge. From there, a few dozen more steps of walking follow, and the path brings us to a marked junction at Dovška vrata.
Continue straight towards Pogačnikov dom (left Bovški Gamsovec, right Stenar and Križ). The path ahead begins to descend gradually through increasingly beautiful high mountain terrain. In a slight right bend, we will notice cairns on the left side of the path. Here, an unmarked path branches left, crossing the scree under Bovški Gamsovec, then rejoins the marked path to Pihavec. We continue along the marked path, which continues to descend gently and then brings us to a marked junction. We head left towards Pihavec, the right path continues towards Pogačnikov dom.
After a short ascent, an unmarked path from Dovška vrata joins us from the left. Here the path turns right and first crosses scree, then the path turns slightly left and begins to ascend towards the Čez Kamen saddle. The path through the scree then takes us to a rocky jump, which is also the only difficult section on this part of the path. Here the path ascends vertically via pegs. Helmet use is mandatory as there is a lot of loose rock above the pegs on the path. After climbing the rocky jump with the aid of pegs, a relatively short ascent along a chain follows. Here be very careful not to dislodge rocks. A short ascent to the Čez Kamen saddle (2331 m) follows.
At the saddle, the path turns right and then runs along the south side of Pihavec towards the west. At the end, the path turns slightly right again and a short easy ascent to the summit follows.
Starting point - Aljažev dom 0:05, Aljažev dom - spring in Bukovlje 1:25, spring in Bukovlje - Dovška vrata 2:30, Dovška vrata - Pihavec 1:15.

Along the route: Aljažev dom v Vratih (1001m), Spomenik padlim partizanom gornikom (1020m), V Plazičih (1040m), Izvir v Bukovlju (1317m), Bukovlje (1418m), Dovška vrata (2176m), Čez Kamen (2331m)

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