Aljažev dom v Vratih - Stenar (via Sovatna)

Access to starting point:
We drive to Mojstrana, then follow the signs for Vrata valley. We continue along the toll road, which is closed to public traffic during 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 we continue along the gravel road, reaching Aljažev dom v Vratih in a few minutes' walk.
From the hut we continue straight towards Triglav, Stenar and Kriški podi (right Škrlatica) and proceed along the wide tourist path. The path ahead ascends barely noticeably through a strip of forest, bypassing the winter bivouac on the right, then the forest thins and after a few more minutes we reach the large wedge (monument to fallen partisan mountaineers). From the monument we go straight (left Tominškova pot) along the path that gradually re-enters the forest and higher up leads to a marked junction, where we turn right towards Pogačnikov dom (straight to Triglav and Luknja). From the junction the path steepens through beech forest (area called Bukovlje), leading us just above 1300 m a.s.l. to a pleasant spring that dries up in dry periods. A few more minutes through forest or higher scrub follow, and the path emerges from the forest at the foot of Sovatna, joined by an overgrown path from the bivouac below Luknja.
From here the path becomes steeper and more scenic. Offering fine views of Triglav's north face, it leads higher to a short slightly exposed section requiring extra care when wet. The path then levels slightly but ascends relatively steeply. Scree ascent follows, the valley narrows, and we reach a short rocky step climbed using reliable fixed protection.
Above the step the slope flattens; the path crosses a series of basins where ibex herds are often seen. Higher it switches to the left valley side, traversing a broad shelf slightly exposed in parts. After a few dozen paces we reach a marked junction at Dovška vrata.
We continue right to Stenar and Križ (left Bovški Gamsovec and Pogačnikov dom) on an initially easy then steeper path to the junction below Stenarska vratca.
Right again (left Križ) on a panoramic path, soon joined higher by an unmarked route over Stenarska vratca. We cross scree with views of Triglav, Bovški Gamsovec, Pihavec and Trenta valley to Stenar's steep slopes. The path ascends steeply through sculpted rock, turns sharply left, flattens after some 10 m. Here (or 10 m earlier) an unmarked scramble to Spodnji Stenar branches right; we stay on the marked path steepening again. About 15 minutes on the summit ridge bring us to the 2501 m peak.
Starting point - Aljažev dom 0:05, Aljažev dom - spring in Bukovlje 1:25, spring in Bukovlje - Dovška vrata 2:30, Dovška vrata - Stenarska vratca 0:20, Stenarska vratca - Stenar 0:55.

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), Stenarska vratca (2288m)