NC Planica - Kotovo sedlo (via bivak)

Access to starting point:
a) First we drive to Kranjska Gora, then we continue driving towards Rateče. When we arrive at the roundabout near Rateče, we take the exit in the direction of Planica. This is followed by some ascent and we arrive at the large parking lot next to the Nordic Centre Planica, where we park at the paid parking lot. The price for passenger cars is 2.5 euros / day (March 2019).
b) Via the Rateče border crossing we drive into Slovenia, then we soon turn right towards Planica. This is followed by some ascent and we arrive at the large parking lot next to the Nordic Centre Planica, where we park at the paid parking lot. The price for passenger cars is 2.5 euros / day (March 2019).

Path description:
From Planica we continue along the macadam road towards Dom v Tamarju, before the road enters the forest it splits into two parts. We continue along the slightly right road in the direction of the hiking path towards Tamar (slightly left is the drivable road, which is closed to public traffic).
The path ahead leads us along the road, which passes the last parking lot of NC Planica, enters the forest and which in winter is converted into a cross-country ski track. This is followed by an ascent along a gentle road that mostly runs through the forest, when the path leaves the forest, there are viewpoint boards along the path with inscriptions about what can be seen. Higher up the forest thins out several times or we leave it for a while, so beautiful views open up of the mountains rising above Planica and Tamar. When we are already quite close to Dom v Tamarju, a wonderful view of Jalovec opens up, the path splits.
We continue slightly left (slightly right is the spring of Nadiža) and a few minutes later we join the drivable road, along it past a small chapel we arrive at Planinski dom v Tamarju.
We continue along the marked mountain path in the direction of Jalovec and Ponce (left Slemenova špica). The path ahead leads us through the forest, which quickly brings us to the next junction, where the path to Ponce branches off to the right. We continue in the direction of Jalovec and continue the ascent along the path that ascends gently through the forest for a short time. When we come out of the forest we first ascend for some time over extensive, partly overgrown scree fields, then gradually arrive at the scree that continues towards Jalovčev ozebnik. Along the scree we climb to the marked junction, where we continue right in the direction of Jalovec along the path past the bivouac and over Kotovo sedlo (straight ahead Jalovška škrbina and the path to Jalovec, which leads over the scree to Kotovo sedlo).
From the junction onwards the path goes onto steep slopes over which we begin to climb. In the continuation the path leads over some somewhat more difficult sections where we are helped by safety features. Higher up the path turns left and gradually levels out. The path continues along a belt of dwarf pines, and on the right side, about 100 meters away from the marked path we notice the Bivak pod Kotovim sedlom, which is located under a larger boulder (in fog it will be hard to spot where the bivouac is located).
If we want to go right to the bivouac, at this point we leave the marked path and walk over easier pathless terrain to the bivouac.
We continue the path along a moderately steep slope on which we notice a larger number of boulders and larger rocks. Here the previously mentioned path that runs over the scree joins us from the left, we continue straight and after a few minutes of further ascent we arrive at Kotovo sedlo.

Planica - Dom v Tamarju 0:45, Dom v Tamarju - razpotje Mali kot 1:30, razpotje Mali kot - Bivak pod Kotovim sedlom 1:15, Bivak pod Kotovim sedlom - Kotovo sedlo 0:25.

On the way: Dom v Tamarju (1108m), Odcep za Ponce (1119m), Helioport Pod Brkico (1357m), Razpotje Mali kot (1564m), Rob planote (1889m), Bivak pod Kotovim sedlom (1977m), Razpotje Veliki kot (2067m)

Trip can be extended to: Jalovec