Planina pod Golico (Betel) - Kahlkogel/Golica (winter way)

Access to starting point:
Leave the Gorenjska motorway (Ljubljana–Jesenice) at the Lipce exit (or Hrušica) and follow the road towards Jesenice. In the town, signs for Planina pod Golico direct us right (or left if coming from Hrušica) onto an ascending road (the junction is marked and located near the Jesenice Health Centre). The relatively steep road soon leads to the mentioned village, where in May we can admire the blooming narcissi on the surrounding meadows. From Planina pod Golico continue driving to the next junction with numerous mountain signposts. Turn right towards Golica, then after the end of the settlement drive another good 50 metres to the parking area below the Savske jame.

Route description:
From the parking area we walk back a few dozen steps and head towards Kmečki turizem Betel (if we continue up the road we can reach Golica via the path past Korlnov rov or via Savske jame). A short ascent on the asphalt road follows and we soon reach Kmečki turizem Betel; after it we turn right from the junction towards Golica.
A few minutes higher we reach the hut Pri Fencu (Apartments Pri Fencu); here we watch for the marked path branching right that starts behind the apartments.
We continue on the wide marked path that first climbs across a small meadow, then enters a narrow strip of forest and a little higher a dense forest. About 15 minutes of ascent through the forest follows, guided near a stream, after which we reach a gravel road that we follow to the right. We walk along it to the marked junction at the lower station of the freight cable car leading to Koča na Golici.
Here we join the previously mentioned path that leads past Korlnov rov, but we continue only a little further left towards Koča na Golici and Golica, where the path immediately branches again.
At the lower station of the freight cable car we notice a directional sign reading "zimska pot" that directs us slightly left into the forest (slightly right leads the usual summer path). Our path ascends transversely, then enters a belt of sparse forest where it crosses a short, slightly avalanche-prone slope. We then step into a gully that we follow only briefly, as the markings soon direct us left onto a steep, forest-covered slope. After a few minutes the steepness eases and we reach a side ridge where the path turns right. We ascend the ridge, which later even descends slightly, then leads us to a steep step. We climb straight up to the middle of the step, after which we have two options for continuing: we can head slightly right along an exposed ledge (risk of slipping) or continue straight on steep, partly rocky terrain (both options are exposed to avalanche and slip risk).
Only a little higher the two paths rejoin and lead us over increasingly scenic terrain to Koča na Golici.
From the hut onwards the winter route also usually runs somewhat differently from the summer one. From the hut we ascend northwards on an increasingly steep slope straight up (we avoid the direct ascent to the summit of Golica because of avalanche danger). When we are almost on the main ridge we turn slightly left and in a gentle transverse ascent reach the saddle between Krvavka on the right and Golica on the left. Another approximately 15-minute walk along the exceptionally scenic and in winter often icy ridge follows to the summit of Golica.

Starting point – lower station of the freight cable car 0:35, lower station of the freight cable car – Koča na Golici 1:00, Koča na Golici – Golica 0:45.

Along the route: Koča na Golici (1000m), Apartments pri Fencu (1050m), Sp. postaja tovorne žičnice (1205m), Koča na Golici (1582m)

We recommend: trips from the same starting point, similar trips, panorama, summit register