Na Razpotju - Krofička (Krofička Ridge)

Access to starting point:
We drive to Luče (to here from Mozirje or over Kranjski rak) and further towards Logarska dolina. Soon after the village of Solčava we come to an intersection, where the road to Logarska dolina branches off to the left. We turn left towards Logarska dolina (toll payment) and drive along the road to the signs for the mountain hut on Klemenča jama. We park on the parking lot near the pension Na Razpotju. In front of the pension, parking is allowed only for guests.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we head onto the forest road in the direction of Klemenča jama. After a few minutes of walking, a wide path branches off to the left towards Klemenča jama. We take this path, which starts to ascend. A fairly steep path soon brings us to steep slopes, where with the help of a steel cable we cross a slightly exposed gully. The path, which continues ascending, soon brings us to the spot where a wall blocks the path. In front of us, we see a nicely made tunnel, where a steel cable assists us. On the other side, along a wide path in a gentle ascent, we cross an exposed ledge. The path ahead goes into the forest and continues ascending steep slopes, which in wet conditions are dangerous for slipping. Further, over a small bridge, we cross another gully, then the path brings us to a less steep section, where the path from the Dom Planincev joins. We continue slightly uphill on a wide path, which soon takes us out of the forest. Only a short ascent on a grassy slope to the mountain hut Koča na Klemenči jami follows.
From the hut, we continue straight towards Ojstrica on the path, which after a few tens of meters enters the forest. The path, which ascends moderately to steeply through the forest, brings us higher below rocky cliffs, which are not overly crumbly. The path then veers right from the cliffs and brings us to a junction, where we continue left towards Ojstrica on the Kopinškova pot (right Škarje). Further, we emerge from the forest onto panoramic slopes overgrown with dwarf pines and individual larches, from which a nice view opens towards the northern wall of Ojstrica. Further on, we pay attention as soon soon to the left, from the marked path to Ojstrica, an unmarked hunting path to Krofička branches off. When we notice a cairn (approximately 10 minutes before the Kopinškova pot crosses to the other side of the ridge), we head left onto a poorly visible track, which over partly rocky and partly grassy slopes surrounded by dwarf pines and individual trees brings us below the foot of the northwestern cliffs of Krofička. Further, we ascend a wide gravelly gully, from which soon at the memorial plaque a secured and exposed passage opens to the right. A short very steep ascent follows, which we overcome with the help of a steel cable, and the path brings us to an initially narrow and exposed ridge. The ridge, which is lightly overgrown with dwarf pines, quickly widens and with the help of some fixed protections brings us to the chimney. With the help of a steel cable, we climb the nearly vertical and exposed chimney, which is about 10 m high. The steepness then eases, and the path brings us to sunny meadows (the slope is called Zadnji travnik), where the path gradually fades. We continue the ascent traversing north to northeast on a gradually steeper slope. We look for passages diagonally upwards, following chamois tracks or traces of our predecessors. If the terrain becomes harder to pass, we move more to the right. We reach the summit via the gully to the right—so southeast—from the main summit, to which only a few meters remain.
We start the descent first for a few meters on the same path by which we ascended. The demanding descent follows along the top of the ridge, then we keep to the right slopes and on steep terrain along the ridge look for passages among grass and dwarf pines to the next saddle below the summit part of Krofička. Here the ridge flattens and is heavily overgrown with dwarf pines. On the left slope of the ridge, we can seek passages among the dwarf pines, which we cannot entirely avoid, or descend a few tens of meters lower to bypass the dwarf pines. This way we reach the next peak in the ridge, Travnik, 2029 m.
Further, we descend along the top of the ridge and seek passages over scree and among dwarf pines. (Over the left slopes a few tens of meters lower below the ridge, there is apparently also a track cut into the dwarf pines, most likely made by hunters.) Over somewhat steeper terrain, we reach a small saddle. To continue, we descend a grassy gully to the right, Robanova stran. When the terrain opens up, we keep left and cross the grassy slope below the rear wall of the Travnik ridge, which we bypass until we return to the saddle of the main ridge, 1929 m. It is wide and grassy. If we go a few tens of meters straight ahead, we reach a nice viewpoint towards Logarska dolina.
The Ut ridge is very demanding, as it becomes ever narrower and very exposed on both sides, with no fixed protections. The dwarf pines disappear, and when climbing we must rely solely on a firm step on bare rock, so only very well-trained climbers should attempt it. We return on the same path to the saddle.
At the saddle, without special difficulties, we descend the transitional slope to Robanova stran. The terrain gradually turns left into an interesting cirque below the overhanging wall of Ut, where Roban's shepherd once lived. Now (September 2009), they are renovating his modest cottage. The cirque is incredibly picturesque, one of the most interesting corners of the Savinja Alps. From the cottage, a well-visible path leads slightly uphill towards steep slopes overgrown with larches. Then we descend and cross steep slopes above Robanov kot. The most demanding part is the crossing above the narrow saddle, where the path is now temporarily secured with a rope. An ascent through Vratni žleb follows, where at the top saddle a view already opens to Strelovec. The difficulties end here; a well-trodden track brings us to Movnik, where we soon join the marked path. Here we turn left, cross the slopes of Ut to Puklovec, and descend to Klemenča jama and into Logarska dolina.

On the way: Koča na Klemenči jami (1208m)

Trip can be extended to: Matkov kot