MHE Zali potok - Zavetišče na planini Šija

Access to starting point:
We drive to Tržič, then through the Dovžanova soteska gorge and Dolina we drive to Jelendol. In Jelendol at Born's manor we continue straight, then we drive on the main road to the next turn-off of the forest road to the left, which is situated next to MHE Zali potok. We park at an appropriate place at the crossroads.

Path description:
From the main road, we go across Tržiška Bistrica, then past the MHE facility, we continue on a relatively steep forest road. The road further leads along the left side of Zali potok stream, a stream which higher up has two waterfalls. Higher, we arrive at the lower edge of the mountain pasture Zali potok, where the road ends, and we bypass the first cottage on the right side.
The path continues on a cart track, at crossings we choose the wider cart track. After a few minutes, a fairly steep cart track joins us from the left, which bypassed the first cottage on the left side, and we continue on the cart track to the next cottage, which is located on the mountain pasture Zali potok.
We continue straight ahead, and the cart track leads us into a somewhat sparser forest, where it forks. The noticeably wider cart track turns left and leads to and across the stream, while we continue straight on the steeper cart track. A little higher, when the cart track becomes more grassy, we reach the next junction, where a grassy cart track forks sharply to the right (an unmarked path leads along it to Planina Pungrat and Tegoška planina), and we continue straight here too. Higher up, the cart track continues along and through a brook, then on the old and quite eroded cart track traces of motocross bikes are visible. Higher, we ascend transversely across a panoramic slope, at the end of the mentioned section we choose the right cart track, which ascends more steeply. When shortly ahead we enter the forest, the cart track traces end, and the direction is indicated by a well-followable path made by motocross bikes. When the forest thins out, the path turns right, then we steeply ascend through tall grasses and among young spruces to a macadam road.
We follow the road a few steps to the right, then on the left we notice the continuation of the track from the motocross bikes. A short steep ascent follows, then we reach a cart track, which we follow left uphill. The cart track soon forks, and we choose the left one, which descends to a smaller torrent. After that, the cart track turns semicircularly right and gradually begins to disappear. For a short time, we can still follow a poorer path, then we approach the scree of the next forest road, where the path completely disappears, and we steeply ascend to the nearby road in a few steps.
We reach the road on a longer bend, and we continue on the old cart track, which ascends left of a smaller and overgrown quarry. After a short ascent, the cart track turns semicircularly right, then leads us to a panoramic slope, from which a beautiful view opens up. We continue transversely to the right without major elevation changes. On the other side of the larger old clearing, at the smaller junction we continue left, so the path gradually turns left. An ascent follows on the same clearing, only that we continue on an indistinct ridge, and higher it runs along the pasture fence. After crossing the pasture fence, we step onto a macadam road, which we follow to the left (right Planina Pungrat). When we reach the road, we first ascend a bit more, then begin to gently descend to the Zavetišče na planini Šija shelter, about 20 minutes away.
Description and pictures refer to the condition in 2017 (August).

On the way: Planina Zali potok (1032m), Mrzla dolina (1145m)

Trip can be extended to: Planina Spodnja Dolga njiva , Tegoška planina , Planina Pungrat , Planina Ilovica , Dom na Kofcah , Planina Zgornja Dolga njiva , Mala Košuta