NC Planica - Visoka Ponca

Access to starting point:
a) First we drive to Kranjska Gora, then continue our drive towards Rateče. When we reach the roundabout near Rateče, we take the exit in the direction of Planica. This is followed by some more ascent and we arrive at the large parking lot next to the Nordic Centre Planica, where we park in 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 shortly afterwards turn right towards Planica. This is followed by some more ascent and we arrive at the large parking lot next to the Nordic Centre Planica, where we park in 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 the Dom v Tamarju, before the road enters the forest it splits into two parts. We continue on the slightly right road in the direction of the footpath to 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 is converted into a cross-country ski trail in winter. This is followed by an ascent along a gentle road which mostly runs through the forest. When the path leaves the forest, there are viewpoints along the path with inscriptions of what can be seen. Higher up the forest thins out several times or we leave it for a while, so that beautiful views of the mountains rising above Planica and Tamar open up. When we are already quite close to the Dom v Tamarju a wonderful view of Jalovec opens up and the path splits.
We continue slightly left (slightly right to the source of Nadiža) and a few minutes later we join the drivable road, along it past the chapel we arrive at the Planinski dom v Tamarju.
We continue along the marked mountain path in the direction of Jalovec and Ponc (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 mentioned direction (straight Jalovec and Kotovo sedlo) or following the signs for Srednja Ponca, Visoka Ponca.
The path ahead brings us out of the forest and starts ascending to the right of a smaller stream. Higher up the path turns right again and starts ascending through dwarf pine on a fairly steep slope. The path then turns somewhat to the left and brings us past a small cave back into the forest through which we ascend for quite some time. After several steep ascents through the forest the path brings us out of the forest and to the first steel cables on the path. Here the path turns right and ascends steeply. The steepness soon eases and a traverse of the slopes towards the north follows. Towards the end the slopes become quite steep and we are assisted by some steel cables. The path then turns left and starts ascending somewhat more steeply again all the way to the main ridge of Ponc. On the ridge we then turn right (left Zadnja Ponca) and only a few meters of ascent remain to the summit of Srednja Ponca.
From the summit of Srednja Ponca we then descend to the Italian side of the ridge (following the signs for V. Ponca). After a short descent the path brings us to a junction where we turn right, left leads the path towards the Zacchi hut. The path then crosses the slope towards the northeast and brings us to Planiška škrbina (2156 m), where a view to the Slovenian side into the Tamar valley opens up again. At the saddle the path turns left and ascends steeply along a steel cable on a narrow ridge. The path then moves away from the ridge to the southern side and first in a gentle ascent crosses the steep slope towards the northeast, then turns slightly left and ascends steeply on a rocky slope towards the summit. In the last part towards the summit the path is also slightly crumbly.

Planica - Dom v Tamarju 0:45, Dom v Tamarju - Srednja Ponca 3:15, Srednja Ponca - Planiška škrbina 0:15, Planiška škrbina - Visoka Ponca 0:30.

On the way: Dom v Tamarju (1108m), Odcep za Ponce (1119m), Na vrtcu (1971m), Srednja Ponca / Ponza di Mezze (2228m), Planiška škrbina (2152m)