Aljažev dom v Vratih - Bovški Gamsovec (via Sovatna)

Access to starting point:
We drive to Mojstrana, then follow the signs for Vrata Valley. Further on we drive along the toll road, which is closed to public traffic in winter, following it to the large parking lot located a few minutes before Aljažev dom v Vratih.

Path description:
From the large parking lot in Vrata Valley continue along the gravel road, reaching Aljažev dom v Vratih in a few minutes' walk.
From the hut continue straight towards Triglav, Stenar and Kriški podi (right Škrlatica) and proceed along the wide tourist path. The path ahead ascends barely noticeably through the forest belt, where we bypass the winter bivouac on the right side, then the forest thins and after a few more minutes of walking we reach the large peg (monument dedicated to fallen partisan climbers). From the monument continue straight (left Tominškova pot) along the path which gradually returns to the forest and leads us somewhat higher to a marked junction, where we continue right towards Pogačnikov dom (straight Triglav and Luknja). From the junction onwards the path begins to ascend more steeply through the beech forest (the area is called Bukovlje), which leads us just above 1300 m a.s.l. to a pleasant spring that dries up in dry periods. A few more minutes of walking through the forest or higher shrubbery follow and the path leads us out of the forest to the foot of Sovatna, where a quite overgrown path from Bivak pod Luknjo joins.
From here the path becomes increasingly steep and panoramic. The path from which beautiful views of the Triglav north face open up leads us higher to a short slightly exposed passage, where greater caution is needed especially when wet. The path ahead flattens slightly but continues to ascend relatively steeply. An ascent through scree follows, then the valley narrows and the path leads us to a short rocky step over which we ascend with the aid of fixed protections.
Above the step the slope flattens, the path ahead leads us across a series of small basins where we often spot a herd of ibex. Higher the path switches to the left side of the valley, where it then ascends transversely across a wide and on a short section slightly exposed ledge. From there follow a dozen or so steps of walking and the path leads us to the marked junction at Dovška vrata.
Continue left towards Bovški Gamsovec, straight leads to Pogačnikov dom, right to Križ and Stenar. From the junction the path first ascends moderately over rocky terrain then veers slightly right and becomes more demanding. Further on we cross quite steep slopes along cables several times, then veer slightly left and ascend steeply with the aid of pegs and cables. Just below the summit the path from Luknja joins from the left and only a short ascent to the panoramic summit remains.
Starting point - Aljažev dom 0:05, Aljažev dom - spring in Bukovlje 1:25, spring in Bukovlje - Dovška vrata 2:30, Dovška vrata - Bovški Gamsovec 0:45.

On the way: Aljažev dom v Vratih (1001m), Spomenik padlim partizanom gornikom (1020m), V Plazičih (1040m), Izvir v Bukovlju (1317m), Bukovlje (1418m), Dovška vrata (2176m)