Hrastnik - Mrzlica (via Blate)

Access to starting point:
We drive into the center of Hrastnik, where in the settlement we notice red hiking signposts for Kal and Mrzlica and a turn-off for the road towards the ski slope Rajska dolina, and park in one of the parking lots in the center of the town.

Path description:
From the parking lot in the center of the town, we head on the path towards Kal and Mrzlica, initially walking on the sidewalk by the road leading towards Kal and the Rajska dolina ski slope. At the end of the parking lot, we turn left onto Cesta Adama Dušaka, and at the first crossroad, we go right in the direction of the marked path that continues along Pot na Kal.
Further, we ascend past a few more houses, and before the last house, the path turns slightly to the left and enters the forest. We continue on the wide path, which ascends diagonally to the right, and soon arrive at a marked crossing where the path splits.
We continue straight in the direction of the path over Blate (left path over Klobuk), and a few minutes later, we return to the asphalt road leading towards Kal and the Rajska dolina ski slope.
On the road, we quickly ascend to the hamlet and saddle Blate, where at the crossroads we keep to the left direction, following the blazes.
Next follows a somewhat longer diagonal ascent on the asphalt road, which leads us along the slopes of the hill Jelenca (794 meters). When the road flattens, we turn slightly left onto a parallel mountain path, which initially continues on a poorer road that ends a few minutes later at the water reservoir.
Beyond the water supply structure, the path crosses a steep avalanche-prone slope, which we ascend diagonally. When the path is damaged, this section is very dangerous for slipping; when the path is in good condition, there are no particular dangers, but some caution is still needed. Beyond the avalanche-prone section, the path widens into a cart track, along which we continue ascending diagonally to the right. Higher up, we turn left from the cart track and ascend steeply for a short time to a nearby macadam road, which we follow to the right. We then walk to a marked crossing at Mali Kal, where the NOB monument is also located.
Here, we continue left in the direction of Kal and Mrzlica (straight to Ostri vrh, Baba, and Zavrate, right to Dol pri Hrastniku, Kopitnik, and Gore). On the asphalt road, we first descend lightly, and after the chapel, we begin ascending again. At a nearby house, there is an inscription box for the NOB path. We continue along the road, which first turns right, then follows a long, scenic left turn. We proceed along the marked road, which has several crossroads, and after a stretch of forest, we arrive at the ski slope Rajska dolina. We cross the ski slope (passage is forbidden and dangerous during its operation, as is passing through the tunnel). After the next NOB memorial, we reach a marked junction where paths via Klobuk and Ravne, both starting in Hrastnik, join from the left.
We continue straight, then the signs lead us right onto grassy slopes, where we steeply ascend straight uphill. Here, beautiful views open up in all directions, particularly striking is the view back toward Kum. The path soon flattens and begins a gentle descent on Kalska planina. A little further, we return to the road and continue to the nearby cottage Planinski dom na Kalu.
We bypass the cottage Planinski dom na Kalu on the left (to the right, before the cottage, are Šmohor, Malič, Gozdnik...), then turn right into the forest on a path toward Mrzlica. The path ahead leads gently through the forest, quickly bringing us to a small junction. We choose the slightly left path, marked by an inscription on a tree for the peak (the right path bypasses the summit of Kalski hrib and is about a minute shorter if continuing toward Mrzlica). Next follows a gentle ascent, and below the summit of Kalski hrib, the path becomes slightly steeper, quickly leading us to the inscription box on Kalski hrib.
From Kalski hrib, we continue northward and begin descending through the forest, soon joining the previously mentioned path that bypasses Kalski vrh. Next follows a moderate descent, where along the path in springtime we notice wild garlic, and then we reach the saddle between Kalski hrib and Mrzlica, where there is also a marked crossroads.
We continue toward Mrzlica, bypassing the kužni stone on the right side. Next follows an ascent over a grassy slope, then we return to the forest, through which we ascend quite steeply. Higher up, the path flattens and leads us to the edge of the forest, where it splits.
We continue slightly to the right, back into the forest (straight ahead leads a shortcut directly to the summit of Mrzlica) and then ascend gently to moderately in a diagonal ascent toward the right. When we leave the forest, only a short walk remains to the mountain hut Planinski dom na Mrzlici, and here we turn left and ascend to the panoramic summit of Mrzlica in less than five minutes of further walking.
Dol pri Hrastniku - Blate 0:40, Blate - Mali Kal 0:40, Planinski dom na Kalu 0:50, Planinski dom na Kalu - Kalski hrib 0:10, Kalski hrib - Mrzlica 0:40.

On the way: Blate (532m), Mali Kal (760m), Planinski dom na Kalu (946m), Kal (Kalski hrib) (985m), Kužni kamen (917m), Planinski dom na Mrzlici (1094m)