Planina Zajzera - Visoki Pipar / Monte Piper
Starting point: Planina Zajzera (1004 m)
Starting point Lat/Lon: 46.4565°N 13.46924°E 
Time of walking: 3 h 40 min
Difficulty: very difficult marked way
Ferrata: B
Difficulty of skiing: no data
Altitude difference: 1065 m
Altitude difference (by path): 1065 m
Map: Julijske Alpe - zahodni del 1:50.000
Access to starting point:
From Kranjska Gora over the border crossing Rateče we drive to Trbiž / Tarvisio. Further, we drive on the old road towards Videm / Udine. Already after few kilometers from Trbiž / Tarvisio, the road into Ovčja vas / Valbruna branches off to the left. Here we turn left and we follow the road all the way to the mountain pasture Zajzera, where we park on a large parking lot.
Path description:
From the parking lot from where there is a very nice view towards the northern wall of Montaž we go on the path 611 on the right side of the chapel. We follow the signs for mountain hut Rifugio Grego and already at the beginning we start relatively steeply ascending through the forest, and later we also few times cross a macadam road which also leads towards the mountain hut Rifugio Grego. After that, the path turns slightly to the right and it brings us on a forested ridge from which a view opens up a little on the northern side. For a better view, we need to step on some of panoramic points on the edge of the ridge and in doing so some caution is needed because the ridge is precipitous on the northern side.
Further, we are still ascending through the forest and occasionally beautiful views opening up towards Montaž and Viš. Such a path we then follow all the way to the mountain hut Rifugio Grego where there is a breathtaking view mainly towards Montaž.
From the mountain hut, we descend a little on a macadam road to a saddle Rudni vrh (Sella di Somdogna) on which runs also an asphalt road from the valley Dunjska dolina. Here we go right on a macadam road which in shorter ascent brings us to the cottage Somdogna.
At the cottage blazes point us through a meadow into the forest through which we are then ascending. The path soon turns a little to the right and starts quite steeply ascending in zig-zags. Steepness doesn't decrease until we come out of the forest onto the mountain pasture from which we can see the peak Poldašnja špica.
We soon come to a crossing near the bivouac Gemona where we go left in the direction of Visoki Pipar (Monte Pipar). To the right, there are only a few tens of meters of ascent to the bivouac Gemona, while straight ahead leads the path towards the summit Poldašnja špica.
So we continue left on path 648 and further, mostly in a gentle ascent, cross the slopes towards the west. Here the slopes are mostly covered with dwarf pines, and from the path, we have a nice view mainly towards the south where Montaž is clearly visible. Such a path then brings us to the beginning of the secured path. At the beginning of the secured path, there is also a sign warning that the use of self-belaying is required.
The initial part of the secured path is short and is followed by an easier crossing alongside dwarf pines. Later, the path, with the help of steel cables, descends and brings us to steeper scree. Next follows the traversing of a relatively steep slope where considerable caution is needed, as the path in this part is not secured, and there is also quite a bit of slippery sand, making it dangerous for slipping. Next follows a diagonal descent on the scree, and the path brings us below the wall of Visoki Pipar where the secured path continues. Here, with the help of steel cables, we start ascending on a steep slope. The path then soon brings us to a ledge where there is a crossing. We continue left, while to the right, a branch of the path splits off, leading to the nearby gully through which the old path ran.
Further, we continue ascending on the secured path, which in some spots becomes even steeper, and numerous stemples are also helpful. Later, the mentioned path through the gully joins from the right, and the path turns slightly to the left. Further, the slope becomes slightly less steep, but the path is still quite demanding and secured with a steel cable. Higher up, the path becomes less demanding and brings us to a slope somewhat more covered with grass and dwarf pines. Further, we then ascend relatively steeply on the mentioned slope, and from the path, we have a very nice view of the surrounding peaks. Higher up, the dwarf pines end, and an ascent follows on a mostly grassy slope to the top.
The description and pictures from the bivouac Gemona to the top refer to the condition in September 2023. Other pictures are older.
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