Ruše - Pečke ((partial hiking trail), classic approach)

Access to starting point:
We can drive to Ruše from Maribor as well as from the Koroška side along the Drava Valley. We can leave the car in the settlement or drive a good kilometer further along the well-maintained asphalt road, which we would otherwise have to walk.

Route description:
If we leave the car in the settlement anyway, we continue the approximately half-hour path along the road, ignoring the numerous shortcuts and going only straight until we come to the end of the asphalt on a small saddle, which the locals call Dobnikov križ. A cross with Jesus on it stands by the road. There also stands a signpost covered with a wooden roof for Pečke and numerous other destinations. We cross the saddle and continue walking on a macadam road, which after rain can be muddy. On the lower side of the road there is a large meadow, above which we walk until we arrive in the forest and continue the path to a small parking lot and two houses built together, one of which is a wooden hut, the other brick-built and yellow-painted. On the stone by the house is a trail blaze, nearby a signpost which shows the direction of the further hike. There we make a sharp turn and start walking on a cart track which rises above the macadam on which we walked before. We do not follow the latter anymore, as it leads into the valley past a fierce dog. In any case, we follow the cart track to another signpost, which clearly marks the direction of the path to Pečke and also back to Ruše. We therefore turn left and go along a wide forest path, which turns once and after about 100 meters we reach the junction of the path to Pečke. The sign is small, so we must be careful not to miss the junction. The cart track, which serves as a forest road, otherwise continues far, and it really is not advisable to miss the junction. We recognize it by the fact that it steeply descends into the valley. On this part of the path one must be careful, as it is quite slippery. In winter small crampons are needed here, hiking poles will be useful throughout the year. Fortunately the steepness soon flattens and the narrow forest path leads us along the hillside. In the valley we already hear the murmur of the stream, in winters like the one in (2012/13) we hear it already up at the junction. It is large because of the snow melting higher in the hills. The stream originates below Glažuta. On the path we cross some fallen trees, over which until recently one had to climb, now they are sawn in half. Soon we arrive at the stream, where we can refresh ourselves (the water is potable) and then cross it on a footbridge. We ascend to yet another macadam road, which we cross, and at the signpost continue along the clearly visible wide path towards Pečke. The path is steep, hiking poles are recommended and in winter also crampons here. After approx. 10-15 minutes we arrive at the macadam, beside which there is a small monument to Rudi who passed away here, having frozen in deep snow 10 years ago. The path steeply ascends again, but soon flattens and we arrive at the road. We can follow it or continue the path through the forest. In any case we arrive at the Dom na Pečkah, nearby is also the hunters' shooting range, so do not be frightened by the shots. We are at the goal!
Hint: The path can also be continued to Glažuta and Areh or to Meranovega, where they have good wine.

Along the route: Dobnikov križ (520m)

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