| j.27. 08. 2025 18:26:44 |
The path running along the slopes between Rutarski Vršič and below Vrh nad Mužici, i.e., along the slopes of Rušje orographically on the left side of Macesnov graben, I've had in mind for a while and it posed a special challenge for me. Also because of the name Green Hell, as mentioned by Tine Mihelič. Of course, it interested the Professor too, so we decided to join the trail via the narrow gully tongue leading right from the entrance to Macesnov graben upwards towards Siljev rob. The small gully ended with an overhanging barrier, which we bypassed on the right, then a bit along the first and then the second gully to the right to about 1470 m, where we stumbled upon a barely noticeable trail.
Heading towards the ridge, the path (it's a marked trail of course) avoids barriers and gullies. Through increasingly dense bushwhacking, it goes up and down even 20 meters or more. At the third, nice gully carved into the rock, the "Green Hell" begins. The trail and traces disappear several times, about 200 meters of bushwhacking battle awaited us to the next fourth gully under the big green head. We arrived a bit too high, so we had to descend to even enter the gully. The continuation on the opposite side looked like a trace that occasionally disappeared, but we somehow kept the direction. Without major complications, we bypassed the next 200 meters and scrambled into the Big White Gully, after parasitizing for a while on bushy ledges along the exposed edge of the gully. Just an interjection: through overgrown bushwhacking where the path mostly disappears and traces are barely noticeable, you don't move very fast. We needed about an hour for the first 200 meters and just as much for the next.
From here on, there shouldn't be more problems with orientation and bushwhacking, we thought then.
The gully has a drop, which you bypass on the vegetated terrain on the left, so we decided to continue on that terrain. Later we assessed that it might have been better to stick closer to the gully edge or in it. Anyway, under the wall at the top we turned left and continued over the next and then into another (seventh) gully. This one had a demanding and crumbly rocky exit, about 15 meters high, from which rocks flew into the precipitous gully below and it took us some time again. The trail became more visible further on, the next two gullies were passable without major issues. Ahead we spotted a tower with two vegetated summits, steep grass leading to it. It wasn't too bad, just a few-meter traverse on the other side was crumbly and a bit exposed.
A comfortable little trail led to the next gully, where it ended. Period. The map says to cross this and the next gully diagonally left upwards towards the ridge under Vrh nad Mužici. But we couldn't do it there. Crumbly, steep, dangerous, and each of the two gullies had a drop at the end where the story could end unpredictably. Lower down, a green grassy tongue promised passage to the edge. But how to get to it?
The Professor went a bit further up the first gully to check, I was practically pondering right at the end of the path. We debated for quite a while, of course each on his side of the gully. Call 112? Horrible!
The grassy tongue was tempting, but it was about 50 meters lower, and the map showed up... Finally it dawned on us. From the other side of the gully, the Professor spotted much lower down near two larch trees a small passage where it would be possible to get from the first to the second gully. In the first gully there was scree from slightly larger stones. He carefully descended along it to the trees. The sand held despite the steepness and didn't slide over the drop. Crossing to the adjacent gully was tolerable. I followed him, it held for me too.
At the second gully we used the same technique. Just before the drop we turned right onto rocky terrain that safely brought us to the grassy tongue, at the top of which we expected easier terrain and soon the trail from Črlovec. The grasses were very steep, but it went. In a few minutes we were at the edge.
Maybe a tip if anyone else goes there: check if passage is possible left under the tower with two vegetated summits and not over it. Looking back, we sensed direct access there to the grassy tongue, via which it might be possible to easily avoid the rocky gullies.
On the ridge, a great view awaited us left towards Rutarski Vršič and right towards Triglav, only straight ahead wasn't nice at all. After a few tens of meters of exposed ridgelet, a rocky collapse of indeterminate difficulty pressed on the soul. We took a deep breath and tackled it. Technically not too hard, but holds and footholds flew into the depths like in a bet. Mistakes not allowed in such terrain, so slowly. At the end, an exposed traverse left followed, but to the great joy of two already slightly worn parasitic creatures, the crumbly rock was replaced by solid bushy branches. One or two more steps, and we were in the bush belt. We really sighed with relief.
But not for long. Tine's term "Green Hell" was probably meant only for the lower part of the path, but we actually felt its full weight only on this overgrown ridge. Not too tall bushwhacking (about 1.5 m) was densely interwoven in all directions. The path drawn on the map leads along the ridge, right where we were. But there was no sign of it, not even a few meters right, left is precipice anyway. No traces, cut twigs, small depressions from animal or human passage. The path, if it ever existed, disappeared as if buried forever.
Again we spent an hour or more, this time just for 70 or 80 meters of intense thrashing and choking. Finally, from the right appeared a trimmed but poorly trodden hunter's path from Črlovec. Then it disappeared again. To top it off, the summit we hoped was Sleme turned out to be just a fore-summit. Luckily, towards its top in the direction of the path continuation, there were some stone steps in good rock allowing real enjoyable scrambling. We quickly reached the top. I admit, a bit fearful if there's no crumbly notch towards Sleme or something similar. There wasn't. A superb passage right along the ridgelet with excellent white rock brought us to Sleme.
Uhhh!
We were late, so we didn't go down via Cijanica and Smrajka as initially planned, but via the looong path to Mojstrana. That descent drained the most energy from the whole day. How we got from Mojstrana to the car left at the Podkuža parking is another story. I'll tell it on some long winter evening over a beer. Maybe some other adventure from wandering through Green Hell. Like how a whole bunch of larch needles shook out of my clothes at home, and in my vest I found a cone that the bushwhacking put in my pocket. Maybe for luck. Or I'll just stay silent.
Some more pics on Modrina neba.
P.S.: Some pics contributed by Professor. Thanks!
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