Planina Zajzera - Visoki Pipar / Monte Piper

Access to starting point:
From Kranjska Gora, through the border crossing at Rateče, we drive to Trbiž / Tarvisio. Further on, we drive on the old road towards Videm / Udine. Already after a few kilometers from Trbiž / Tarvisio, the road into Ovčja vas / Valbruna branches off to the left. Here we turn left and follow the road all the way to the mountain pasture Zajzera, where we park on a large parking lot.

Path description:
From the parking lot from where there is a very nice view towards the northern wall of Montaž, we head onto path 611 on the right side of the chapel. We follow the signs for mountain hut Rifugio Grego and already at the beginning we start relatively steeply ascending through the forest, later also crossing a few times the macadam road which also leads towards the mountain hut Rifugio Grego. The path then turns slightly to the right and brings us to a forested ridge from which some views also open up on the northern side. For a better view, it is necessary to step onto some of the panoramic points on the edge of the ridge, whereby some caution is needed since the ridge is precipitous on the northern side.
Further on, we continue ascending through the forest and occasionally beautiful views open up towards Montaž and Viš. We then follow such a path all the way to the mountain hut Rifugio Grego where there is a wonderful view mainly towards Montaž.
From the mountain hut, we descend a little along the macadam road to the saddle Rudni vrh (Sella di Somdogna) to which an asphalt road from Dunjska dolina also leads. Here we turn right onto the macadam road, which in a short ascent brings us to the hut Somdogna.
At the hut, the markers direct us across a meadow into the forest through which we then ascend. The path soon turns a little to the right and starts quite steeply ascending in zigzags. The steepness does not let up until we come out of the forest onto the mountain pasture from which we can see the peak Poldašnja špica.
We soon come to a junction near the bivouac Gemona where we turn left in the direction of Visoki Pipar (Monte Pipar). To the right, there is only a few tens of meters of ascent to the bivouac Gemona, straight ahead the path leads towards the summit Poldašnja špica.
We therefore continue left on path 648 and further mostly in a gentle ascent we traverse the slopes towards the west. Here the slopes are mostly covered with dwarf pines, from the path we have a nice view mainly towards the south where Montaž is clearly visible. Such a path then brings us to the beginning of the secured path. At the beginning of the secured path there is also a sign warning that the use of self-belaying is required.
The initial part of the secured path is short and is followed by easier traversing alongside dwarf pines. Later, the path also descends with the help of steel cables and brings us to steeper scree. This is followed by traversing a relatively steep slope where considerable caution is needed, since the path in this section is not secured, on the path there is also quite a bit of slippery sand and it is therefore dangerous for slipping. This is followed by a traversing descent over scree and the path brings us below the wall of Visoki Pipar where the secured path continues. Here with the help of steel cables we start ascending the steep slope. The path then soon brings us to a ledge where there is a junction. We continue left, to the right a branch of the path splits off which leads to the nearby gully through which the old path ran.
Further on, we continue ascending the secured path, which in some places becomes even steeper and numerous staples also assist us. Later, the aforementioned path through the gully joins us from the right, the path turns slightly to the left. Further on, the slope becomes a shade less steep, but the path is still quite demanding and secured with a steel cable. Higher up the path becomes less demanding and brings us to a slope somewhat more covered with grass and dwarf pines. Further on, we then ascend quite steeply up the aforementioned slope, from the path we have a very nice view of the surrounding peaks. Higher up the dwarf pines end and a final ascent follows on a mostly grassy slope to the summit.
The description and pictures from the bivouac Gemona to the summit refer to the condition in September 2023. Other pictures are older.

On the way: Rifugio Grego (1389m), Rudni vrh (1398m), Bivak Gemona (1946m)