V Koncu - Štruca (via Kokrsko sedlo)

Access to starting point:
a) We drive to Kamnik, then follow the signs for Kamniška Bistrica and Črnivec pass. In Stahovica at the traffic light intersection we turn left towards Kamniška Bistrica (straight ahead Črnivec pass) and drive to Dom v Kamniški Bistrici. We bypass the mountain hut on the right side. The asphalt ends a little higher up, from there we continue on a gravel road that soon forks. We keep to the lower left road (right leads to a footpath towards Kokrsko sedlo), and at subsequent intersections we follow the signs for Grintovec. We park at the parking lot by the lower station of the freight cable car to Kokrsko sedlo. Driving and parking beyond the freight cable car is prohibited (there is no prohibition sign, but fines of €1,000 are regularly issued). In winter, driving from Koča v Kamniški Bistrici to the parking lot V Koncu is prohibited by a traffic sign, which lengthens the route by almost an hour.
b) From the direction of Gornji Grad we drive to Črnivec pass, then start descending towards Kamnik. When we reach Stahovica, at the traffic light intersection we turn right towards Kamniška Bistrica (straight ahead Kamnik) and drive to Dom v Kamniški Bistrici. We bypass the mountain hut on the right side. The asphalt ends a little higher up, from there we continue on a gravel road that soon forks. We keep to the lower left road (right leads to a footpath towards Kokrsko sedlo), and at subsequent intersections we follow the signs for Grintovec. We park at the parking lot by the lower station of the freight cable car to Kokrsko sedlo. Driving and parking beyond the freight cable car is prohibited (there is no prohibition sign, but fines of €1,000 are regularly issued). In winter, driving from Koča v Kamniški Bistrici to the parking lot V Koncu is prohibited by a traffic sign, which lengthens the route by almost an hour.
c) From Luče we drive to Podvolovljek, then on a steep road we ascend to Volovljek pass (the pass is also known as Kranjski Rak after the inn there). From there we start descending towards Kamnik. Lower down we join the road from Črnivec pass, where we turn right downhill. When we reach Stahovica, at the traffic light intersection we turn right towards Kamniška Bistrica (straight ahead Kamnik) and drive to Dom v Kamniški Bistrici. We bypass the mountain hut on the right side. The asphalt ends a little higher up, from there we continue on a gravel road that soon forks. We keep to the lower left road (right leads to a footpath towards Kokrsko sedlo), and at subsequent intersections we follow the signs for Grintovec. We park at the parking lot by the lower station of the freight cable car to Kokrsko sedlo. Driving and parking beyond the freight cable car is prohibited (there is no prohibition sign, but fines of €1,000 are regularly issued). In winter, driving from Koča v Kamniški Bistrici to the parking lot V Koncu is prohibited by a traffic sign, which lengthens the route by almost an hour.

Route description:
From the parking lot we head left onto the marked footpath towards Cojzova koča on Kokrsko sedlo, Grintovec and Skuta (straight ahead unmarked paths across Gamsov skret and Žmavčarje). The path initially leads along the right side of the freight cable car but soon enters the forest, through which it begins to ascend first moderately, then quite steeply. The well-maintained path higher up leads us to a short, steeper step. Two short cables used to be installed here but have been removed. In dry conditions the passage is not demanding, but more caution is needed especially on the descent and when wet.
Above the steep section we reach a bench where we can take a short rest. The path then continues through the forest for some time. After crossing a torrent we first reach a belt of low trees, then pass under the cliffs of Mali vrh (1915 m), where there is an increased risk of falling rocks especially in spring and after rain.
Further on the path becomes more gravelly and steep, which may require some extra energy. In return we are rewarded with wonderful views of the mountains above the Kamniška Bistrica valley, with the imposing walls of nearby Kalška gora standing out. This is followed by some traversing ascent across scree, after which the rocky path transitions to scenic grassy slopes. Along these we then ascend to Kokrsko sedlo, where we see the mountain hut on the left and straight ahead we get a nice view towards the valley of the river Kokra.
From Kokrsko sedlo we continue right towards Grintovec, Skuta and Kamniško sedlo across Sleme (left Kalška gora, Kalški greben and Krvavec, straight down Kokra and Suhadolnik). We first ascend quite steeply on slopes rising north of the saddle. After ten minutes the gradient eases and we reach a marked junction where we turn right towards Skuta (slightly left Kočna and Grintovec).
The path ahead is initially a little harder to follow as it leads across a grassy section, but higher up it becomes clearer and in a moderate ascent leads us to the picturesque passage across Mala Vratca.
Here or slightly earlier a formerly marked path to Grintovec across Dolge stene branches off to the left, which today is considered more of a pathless approach to Grintovec, but we continue straight on the marked path towards Skuta. After the narrow passage of Malih Vratc the path begins to descend on a steep and occasionally exposed slope. At the end of the descent, where we lose a little more than 50 metres of elevation, some protection is also helpful, followed by crossing a gully. After that we reach the world of high plateaus, across which we then begin to ascend towards Bivak pod Grintovcem or Bivak Pavla Kemperla, which we reach after about half an hour of ascent.
From the bivouac we continue on the marked path, which quickly leads us to a junction where the path splits.
We continue straight towards Grintovec and Skuta (right Kamniško sedlo) on a relatively gentle path that leads us across the karst terrain of Veliki podi to the next junction.
This time we continue right towards Skuta (straight or slightly left Grintovec and Mlinarsko sedlo), which leads us across the karst terrain of Veliki podi to the foot of a moderately steep wall.
Here a path branches off to the left that leads along the foot of the south wall of Dolgi hrbet towards Mlinarsko sedlo, but we follow the marked path towards Skuta, which becomes quite steep. The path ahead is not protected, but numerous natural holds help us for easier progress as we ascend a short wall between Dolgi hrbet on the left and Štruca on the right.
At the top of the wall we continue right (left Dolgi hrbet and Mlinarsko sedlo), then at the point where the marked path begins to descend we leave it and continue right onto pathless terrain (south direction). We continue initially still quite steeply upwards on technically undemanding pathless terrain. In a few minutes of walking we reach the summit; orientation in the final section is not particularly demanding in good weather.

Starting point - Kokrsko sedlo 2:30, Kokrsko sedlo - junction above the saddle 0:10, junction above the saddle - Mala Vratca 0:15, Mala Vratca - Bivak pod Grintovcem 0:50, Bivak pod Grintovcem - Veliki podi 0:25, Veliki podi - under Dolgi hrbet 0:20, under Dolgi hrbet - saddle under Štruca 0:30, saddle under Štruca - Štruca 0:25.

Along the route: Cojzova koča na Kokrskem sedlu mountain hut (1174m), Cojzova koča na Kokrskem sedlu (1793m), Bivak pod Grintovcem (1859m), Mala Vratca (1952m), Pod Dolgimi stenami (1916m), Bivak pod Grintovcem (2100m), Veliki podi (2211m), Pod Dolgim hrbtom (2279m), Sedlo pod Štruco (2408m)

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