Srednja vas - Velo polje (Za Ribnico and via Planina Spodnji Tosc)

Access to starting point:
From the Ljubljana-Jesenice motorway, take the Lesce exit and follow the road towards Bled and further towards Bohinjska Bistrica. Just before Bohinjska Bistrica, at the settlement of Bitnje, continue sharply right towards Pokljuka. After a short ascent, the road levels out and quickly brings us into the Upper Bohinj Valley. Here at the junction continue left (right Pokljuka) and follow the road further to Srednja vas. In the second part of the village, notice the signs for the church of St. Martin, which direct us right onto a narrower and quite steep road, along which we then quickly arrive at the church and primary school. Park in a suitable place next to the school or church.

Route description:
From the parking lot by the church, descend a few steps to the primary school, then continue towards the viewpoint at Kres. The path leads further along a narrow asphalt road, along which we quickly reach a larger water reservoir where we notice signs for Uskovnica. Continue along the track into the forest; at the right bend, temporarily exit the forest opening a nice view of Rudnica and part of the Upper Bohinj Valley. Continue along the track through a somewhat narrower passage, then traverse upwards to the point where we reach the road to Uskovnica. We reach the road exactly at the nicely arranged viewpoint at Kres, from which views open to Srednja vas, Upper Bohinj Valley, and Lower Bohinj Mountains in the background, now called Bohinjsko-Tolminske gore. Briefly continue along the road, then at the end of a gentle left bend, signs for Uskovnica direct us right onto a track leading through forest, shrub belt, and higher again through forest. A few minutes higher, reach the gravel road again but immediately leave it, continuing along the footpath to Uskovnica. The track soon forks; take the left one where a mark is visible on the electricity pole. For a while follow along the power line and the marks. Soon a path branches left to Uskovnica via Lom; continue on the path turning slightly right onto steep slopes of the area Za Ribnico (Ribnica stream deep below). Higher, reach a newer track or logging road and follow it right. The newer logging road ends after a few minutes; the path continues traversing slopes to the right. Further on, at a small junction take the left upper path marked for Uskovnica and visibly better trodden. Continue ascending somewhat steeper; higher an unmarked path to Lom branches off (sign reads "cheese, cottage cheese, milk and more").
Resume towards Uskovnica, then in a few minutes reach the gravel road (where it is closed to public traffic) and follow it right. Upon reaching the road, join paths from Stara Fužina, from Srednja vas via Lom, and from Lom starting point/parking. The easy gravel road quickly leads to weekend houses at Uskovnica, then shortly after the water trough leave it left onto track towards Koča na Uskovnici. After about 50 m ascent along the track, reach Koča na Uskovnici.
From the hut continue towards Tosca, Draški vrh, Viševnik, Vodnikov dom, Rudno polje, and Praprotnica along path first crossing pasture fence, then joining gravel road followed right. Road leads between hummocky meadows, then after next fence quickly to junction by chapel of Mary Queen of Peace at Uskovnica.
Past chapel continue left (straight planina Konjščica, right Rudno polje) along flat road across vast Uskovnica meadows, then to forest edge where it becomes initially wide track. Track moderately ascends with junctions; follow towards Vodnikov dom at Velo polje and Triglav. Higher, track through forest becomes footpath leading to pleasant spring under Mesnova glava called Štapce. At spring go straight (right hunters' hut) continuing ascent on easy path to steep slopes. Soon after steep slopes, aids help crossing steep gully. Path continues on relatively steep, slippery when wet slopes. During traverse, path short-steeply ascends and descends multiple times. In final part cross very steep gullies with locally destroyed path (high slip risk). Traverse ends at larger torrent (usually spring) entering softer grassy terrain.
Few minutes easy walk to abandoned planina Spodnji Tosc. Path moderately ascends to small junction; sharply right (straight old partly abandoned path) on well-traceable path. Path steepens from sparse forest belt into bushes turning leftward. Soon flattens to grassy slopes; few minutes to Pokljuka-Triglav path, turn left.
Path traverses south slopes of Tosca, slight descent through short sparse forest to steep Tosca slopes. Further, wide artificial ledge slight descent across precipitous slopes. Wide path no issues (caution falling rocks, rockfall 2008). Precipitous part wide; no difficulties until slope eases, then path from Stara Fužina/Voje valley joins left.
Here slightly left to Velo polje (sharply left Voje, straight Vodnikov dom). Path descends transversely right to unmarked junction.
Take right marked path (left hunters' hut, unmarked shortcut to Planina pod Mišelj vrhom), flattens then traverses below Vodnikov dom. After minutes turns slightly left descending to Malo and Velo polje. Short descent, Voje path joins left; continue right few dozen steps to shepherds' huts at Velo polje.
Srednja vas - Koča na Uskovnici 1:40, Koča na Uskovnici - kapelica na Uskovnici 0:05, kapelica na Uskovnici - Štapce 0:50, Štapce - Planina Spodnji Tosc 1:15, Planina Spodnji Tosc - Planina Zgornji Tosc 0:30, Planina Zgornji Tosc - Na Zagonu 0:20, Na Zagonu - Velo polje 0:20.

Along the route: Razgledišče na Kresu (619m), Koča na Uskovnici (1154m), Kapela Kraljice miru na Uskovnici (1177m), Izvir Štapce (1452m), Planina Spodnji Tosc (1663m), Planina Zgornji Tosc (1849m), Na Zagonu (1819m)

The trip can be extended to the following destinations: Planina pod Mišelj vrhom, Jezerski Stog, Koča na Doliču, Šmarjetna glava

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