Mežica - Koča na Pikovem (old path)

Access to starting point:
From Črna na Koroškem or from Raven na Koroškem, or via the border crossing Holmec or Mežica, we drive to Mežica, where signs for the Mirje cemetery direct us west onto a local road. We continue past the old cemetery and then park at the marked parking area.

Route description:
Warning: The path is officially abandoned! The markings are no longer maintained, so hiking is at your own risk. For a safe ascent, choose the new marked path instead.

From the starting point we continue uphill on the asphalt road; when the road turns left, we leave it and continue straight onto a cart track towards Pikovo. We follow the cart track that ascends along the route of the former ski slope; today we notice the disc golf course Mežica beside the path. At first we can still see Mežica and the surrounding hills looking back, then the path, which has almost no markings, enters a small valley between the 729-metre hill on the left (an unnamed peak on maps) and Štalekarjev vrh on the right. When the valley turns west, a marked cart track branches left from the ski slope, which we follow. The cart track soon turns a little more to the left and then ascends transversely to the ridge, where we continue right towards Koča na Pikovem. For some time the path follows the ridge, then gradually shifts slightly left onto the slopes, over which we mostly ascend transversely. Higher up, on the lower left side, we pass the Jesenik farmstead, where the path leads past the ruins of an old house. A little further we reach a gravel road, which we follow a few steps to the left (straight ahead is the usual marked path to Koča na Pikovem), then we go slightly right onto an initially poorer track where we notice older markings. The path quickly enters the forest and then ascends transversely to the left. A little further we reach a small steep valley, which we ascend steeply; during the ascent we notice numerous motocross tracks. Higher up the path levels out and we join the usual path.
We continue again towards Koča na Pikovem and ascend through the forest to a wooden cross beside which there is already a rather old bench.
We continue straight (left to Pikov vrh) and gradually begin to descend. Where we leave the forest, another path to Pikov vrh branches left; we continue straight to the nearby Pik farmstead, after which the immediate surroundings are named. A few more minutes of walking on the road follow, from which we first get some views towards Peca, then through the forest we reach the church of St. Helena, behind which lies Koča na Pikovem.
The description and photos refer to the situation in 2018 (May).

The trip can be extended to the following destinations: Pikov vrh, Veliki vrh (above Mežiška dolina)

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