Žerjav - Mučevo Gorge (Ferata Mučevo - blue path)

Access to starting point:
A) We drive to Mežica, and then we continue driving in the direction of Črna na Koroškem. A little before the end of the settlement Žerjav at the road sign 8km we will notice a larger macadam parking lot on the right side of the road where we park.
B) From Šoštanj over mountain pass Sleme (mountain pass near which there is Andrejev dom na Slemenu) we drive to Črna na Koroškem, where at the roundabout we take the exit in the direction of Mežica. A little after the end of the settlement Žerjav we will notice a larger macadam parking lot on the left side of the road where we park.
C) From Solčava over mountain pass Spodnje Sleme we drive to Črna na Koroškem, where at the roundabout we take the exit in the direction of Mežica. A little after the end of the settlement Žerjav we will notice a larger macadam parking lot on the left side of the road where we park.

Path description:
From the parking lot, first we carefully cross the main road, then we continue on the sidewalk along the retaining wall in the direction of Mežica. Along the main road we walk approximately 200 meters, then on the right side we notice an information board and a footpath that leads to the secured climbing path Ferata Mučevo.
We head onto the mentioned footpath, which quickly brings us to a marked junction where we turn right over a small bridge, where the signs direct us to the easier variant of the climbing path (marked with blue color). To the left leads the harder variant marked with red color.
From the junction we start to ascend somewhat more steeply, and the path then soon turns left and brings us to the entrance to the secured section of the path.
In the initial section, the secured path ascends steeply along the steel cable, and we are also helped in the ascent by a few stemples. This is followed by a slightly less steep ascent on a partly grassy slope from where a beautiful view opens into the narrow gorge Mučevo where the harder variant of the secured path runs. The path continues along a steep ridge above the gorge and since there are also some stones on the path, we need to take care not to dislodge them. We continue ascending along the secured ridge and higher a footpath joins us from the left, which bypasses the demanding ascent on the harder variant of the path. Here follows a shorter steep ascent where quite a few stemples help us and the path brings us to the logbook box where our path joins the harder red path.
From the logbook box follows the crossing of a somewhat longer bridge and then a shorter less demanding ascent along the ridge. The secured path then ends and the path brings us into the forest where there is also a bench along the path.
In continuation, the path starts to descend and a little before the cart track we come to a junction where the signs direct us right downward onto a narrow footpath. The mentioned footpath is often muddy and can be quite slippery. Especially in the upper section, a rope also helps us. We then follow this path down into the valley all the way to the parking lot.
The described secured climbing path is rated with difficulty level B/C.
To the entrance to the climbing section is approximately 10 minutes of walking. The estimated climbing time is 45 min, for the descent 20 minutes.