Podrožca / Rosenbach - Kahlkogel/Golica (via Quadiaalm)

Access to starting point:
A) Through the Karawanks Tunnel, we drive to Austria, and then we leave the highway at the first exit. When we reach the main road, we go left in the direction of the settlement Šentjakob v Rožu / St. Jakob im Rosental. Further, we drive on the road Rosentalstraße, and when we get to Šentjakob v Rožu, on a slightly larger crossroad we continue slightly left in the direction of the settlement Podrožca / Rosenbach. When we get to Podrožca, from the railway station we descend to the stream Rožca / Rosenbach, where a road branches off to the right to Medji dol / Bärental (here are also yellow signposts for paths which lead through the valley), and we continue about 50 more meters further to the next mountain signposts, where the described path begins. Because at the beginning of the described path there are no appropriate parking spots, we have to park somewhere nearby, best somewhere near the railway station.
From the toll station at Hrušica to the starting point is approximately 23 km.
B) Via the Ljubelj border crossing we drive to Austria and follow the main road towards Celovec / Klagenfurt. When we already get into the valley, at the second roundabout, which is situated on the right bank of the river Drava, we turn onto the exit Bistrica v Rožu / Feistritz im Rosental, and then we drive on the main road to the settlement Podgorje / Maria Elend. After the mentioned settlement we turn left towards Podrožca / Rosenbach. Further, the road leads us through the settlement Tale / Tallach, and then we already get to Podrožca. In Podrožca we first drive through the underpass under the railway track, and a little further we already see the first signs for Golica / Kahlkogel, where the described path begins. We can park earlier on an appropriate place by the road, or we drive even a little further and then park near the railway station.
From the Ljubelj border crossing to the starting point is a little less than 35 km.

Route description:
From the asphalt road we continue in the direction of the marked path to Golica / Kahlkogel and mountain pasture Kladje / Quadiaalm, where the path first leads past a house, behind the house we at first continue on a cart track, then on a footpath, on which we quickly arrive at the second cart track, which we only cross. We again continue in the direction of Golica, then on the left side we bypass a water catchment. Higher some junctions follow, where we follow the blazes, then the path flattens and brings us out of the forest onto an overgrown old clearing, where we reach a wider cart track. For a short time we ascend on the mentioned cart track, then signs direct us left onto a path that is usually quite overgrown. After less than 5 minutes we reach another cart track, where a marked path also joins us, which starts on the eastern part of the settlement Podrožca.
On the cart track we moderately ascend for some time, then we arrive at the next marked junction, where from the left a path from the settlement Tale / Tallach also joins us.
We continue in the direction of Golica and the nearby spring, to which we arrive after approximately 5 minutes of further walking.
From the spring, by which there are a signpost and a bench, we continue on the path, which first leads through a small valley, from which the path soon turns sharply left and temporarily steeply ascends. A few minutes of ascent through the forest follow, then the path quickly widens into a macadam road, on which we then ascend for a short time. Higher we leave the road, then a little further we cross it once again, after that we stay on it. When a little further the forest thins, a nice view opens towards Golica, a little further we cross a pasture fence. From crossing the fence a few more minutes of walking on the road follow and we already arrive at mountain pasture Kladje.
From the mountain pasture we continue further on the road, which a little further splits. We continue on the right road (left hunting cottage and mountain pasture Zgornje Kladje), on which in a few minutes we arrive at saddle Kladje, where we leave the road and continue left to the nearby mountain direction signs.
We continue in the direction of Golica and continue the path along a forested ridge, which is at first quite gently sloping, higher narrower and steeper. Somewhat further from the salt lick the ridge becomes quite narrow, the path mainly when wet on a short section dangerous for slipping. After this section the path leaves the ridge and turns somewhat to the left, where it crosses slopes to the left. Further we cross a landslide slope, where due to the torn cable additional caution is needed (June 2017). After the landslide area we walk a few more 10 steps on steep slopes, then the slope becomes somewhat less steep. Further the forest begins to thin, the path becomes increasingly steep. When with nice views we reach the ridge, the path becomes even steeper, so that it very steeply ascends further. For some time we ascend through dwarf pines, then, when the dwarf pines end, we quickly reach the border ridge, where we continue left.
A few minutes of moderate ascent on the panoramic ridge follow and the path brings us to the summit of Golica.
Podrožca - Planina Kladje 2:00, Planina Kladje - Saddle Kladje 10 minutes, Saddle Kladje - Golica 1:25.
Description and pictures refer to the condition in 2017 (June).

Along the route: Hladna voda / Kaltwasser (915m), Quadiaalm (1271m), Sedlo Kladje / Quadia Sattel (1300m)

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