Ruski križ - Škrlatica (via Kriška stena)

Access to starting point:
First, we drive to Kranjska Gora, then we continue driving towards the Vršič pass. Just a little before the 3rd hairpin turn of the Ruska or Vršič road, we will notice Ruski križ on the right side and a smaller parking lot on the left, where we park. Because the parking lot is relatively small and quickly full, we can also park a little higher on a larger parking lot a little above the 4th hairpin turn (in this case, we have to descend a little to our starting point at Ruski križ).
To the starting point, we can also come from the Primorska side through the Vršič pass.

Path description:
Just a little before the 3rd hairpin turn of Ruska cesta, we will notice by the road signposts for the mountain hut Koča v Krnici, which point us slightly left onto a wide cart track that immediately starts moderately descending. After a few minutes of descent through the forest, the path flattens and brings us to the riverbed of Suha Pišnica. Just a little after we cross the mentioned stream, the path turns slightly to the left and brings us out of the forest onto ample grassy slopes of the mountain pasture V Klinu, where on the right we notice a lonely cottage, and on the left a smaller memorial park Mali Tamar. The path ahead entirely flattens, then joins the forest road that comes from the former hotel Erika or the bridge over Velika Pišnica. Here we continue right and follow the relatively steep forest road all the way to the Koča v Krnici, which we reach after approximately 20 minutes of additional walking.
From the hut, where there is pleasant shade, we continue straight in the direction of Kriška stena through the Krnica valley, at first slightly, then steeper and steeper upwards. The path soon comes out of the forest, where a nice view opens up on the nearby walls. Ahead we cross scree that storms bring from the surrounding gullies. The path ahead becomes steeper and still leads in the same direction. The last trees are already behind us, and we slowly transition onto the scree below the walls of Kriška stena. In the upper part of the scree, the path slightly turns to the left to the entrance into Kriška stena. Here the climbing part of the path begins, where we put on our helmets. The path at the beginning of the wall turns left and ascends steeply. In the wall, the path is routed mostly through natural passages, though in places fixed protections help us. On this section we also watch out not to dislodge stones! After just under an hour of climbing the wall, which is locally quite tricky, we exit it. A few steps of walking follow to the junction, where we continue left downwards in the direction of Škrlatica (right Križ). Already after a few minutes' descent, the path brings us to the next junction, where we again continue left (straight to bivouac na Rušju and Vrata valley). Ahead we walk below the walls of Gubno and Dovški Gamsovec almost horizontally for approximately 30 minutes. The path ahead starts to ascend through rubble-strewn terrain towards the steep Rdeča škrbina, located between Dolkova Špica and the less known Rogljica. From the škrbina we continue straight downwards in the direction of Škrlatica (right Dolkova špica 15 minutes). The path ahead crosses a short secured gully, then descends a steep and very dangerous for slipping gully (in early summer possible snowfields). The descent ends 200 elevation meters lower, in the smaller cirque Zadnji Dolek, where we also reach a junction. We continue left upwards in the direction of Škrlatica (straight Vrata valley) and ascend the steep scree. We ascend the scree all the way to the entry into the climbing part of the path to Škrlatica. Here the blazes direct us right, and the path transitions from scree to the rocky part of the path. The path ahead runs along the western wall and is well protected with pitons and steel cables. Soon we reach a tricky but well-secured passage. Our gaze wanders to the almost vertical wall, over which the path runs, protected by pegs and a steel cable. If we have a camera, this is the right spot for photos. Carefully, sometimes one of the pegs turns. Some easier climbing on the secured path follows. In the last part of the difficult section of the path we can notice a window in Škrlatica, which many hikers overlook. Soon after we step onto the ridge, from which we have to the summit only 20 minutes of panoramic, not particularly difficult walking. When we spot the cross, we are almost at the top.
Starting point - Koča v Krnici 45 minutes, Koča v Krnici - vrh Kriške stene 3:30, vrh Kriške stene - Rdeča škrbina 1:15, Rdeča škrbina - Škrlatica 2:00.

On the way: Koča v Krnici mountain hut (1113m), Vrh Kriške stene (2289m), Rdeča škrbina (2500m)

Trip can be extended to: Škrlatica