Uskovnica (Lom) - Vernar

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. Here in the second part of the village notice the signs for Uskovnica (7 km), which direct us right onto a narrower, initially still asphalt road. Then follow the road, which ascends most of the time, to the "Lom" parking lot, where there is a sign prohibiting further driving (further driving permitted only to landowners).

Traffic regime in the Pokljuka and Uskovnica area from 15.6. to 15.10.

Path description:
From the parking lot continue in the direction of Koča na Uskovnici along the road, after which we quickly emerge from the forest, where we notice signs for cheese, milk and homemade products. A few dozen meters further a short path branches left from the road leading to the nearby Ulčnek dairy, where during grazing season we can buy the aforementioned products, otherwise continue straight to the marked junction a few steps away, where we continue right in the direction of Koča na Uskovnici. The path ahead first leads past a landmark (cross), then continues between pastures. When the pastures on the right end, a marked path from Srednja vas (path "Za Ribnico") joins from the right.
Continue straight, then past weekend cottages arrive at a water trough and a few steps further to the place where signs for the already known hut direct us left onto a cart track. A short ascent on the cart track follows and the path brings us to Koča na Uskovnici.
From the hut continue in the direction of Tosc, Draški vrh, Viševnik, Vodnikov dom, Rudno polje and Praprotnica along the path that first crosses a pasture fence, then quickly joins a gravel road which we follow right. The road then leads between hummocky meadows, then after crossing the next fence we quickly reach a junction or crossroads by the Chapel of Mary Queen of Peace at Uskovnica.
Past the chapel continue left (straight Planina Konjščica, right Rudno polje) along the level road that leads across extensive Uskovnica meadows, then the path brings us to the edge of the forest where it starts changing into an initially wide cart track. The cart track which further begins moderately ascending has some junctions but we follow it in the direction of Vodnikov dom at Velem polju and Triglav. Higher the cart track which mostly runs through forest changes into a footpath which quickly brings us to a pleasant spring below Mesnova glava called Štapce. At the spring continue straight (right hunting hut) and continue ascent on a gentle path that somewhat further brings us to steep slopes. Soon after reaching the steep slopes, fixed protections assist at crossing a steep gully. The path continues on relatively steep slopes especially dangerous for slipping when wet. During crossing the steep slopes the path several times steeply ascends briefly then descends again. In the last part of the crossing we cross several very steep gullies over which the path is locally completely destroyed (high slipping risk). The crossing ends at a larger torrent (usually spring) after which we enter softer grassy terrain.
A few minutes of easy walking follow and the path brings us to abandoned Planina Spodnji Tosc. The path ahead begins moderately ascending and soon brings us to a small junction where we continue sharply right (straight old partly abandoned path) on a well traceable path. The path ahead begins ascending ever more steeply and quickly brings us from belt of sparse forest into dwarf pines where it starts turning increasingly left. The path soon levels and from dwarf pines brings us to grassy slopes across which in a few minutes further walking we ascend to the Pokljuka-Triglav path where we turn left.
The path ahead crosses southern slopes of Tosc then in slight descent crosses short belt of sparse forest after which we reach steep slopes of Tosc. Somewhat further the path on an artificially made wide ledge in slight descent crosses sheer slopes of the same mountain. Since the path is quite wide it poses no difficulties (caution due to falling rocks, rock slide in 2008). The path then rises slightly again bringing us to a junction where we continue right towards Vodnikov dom (sharply left Voje and Stara Fužina, slightly left Velem polje). Another approx. ten minutes walking without major ascents or descents brings us to Vodnikov dom at Velem polju.
At Vodnikov dom turn right towards Bohinjska vrata and Krma (straight Triglav), first ascending past botanical garden then steeply ascending on steep mostly grassy slopes between Vernar on left and Tosc on right. Higher we reach indistinct valley along which in few minutes we ascend to Bohinjska vrata from where nice view opens to Krma.
From Bohinjska vrata continue left on unmarked trail leading up grassy slope. Grassy slope becomes steeper and especially when wet very dangerous for slipping. Follow steep trail running slightly left of ridge all way to grassy forepeak at 2183 m.
From forepeak continue on ridge first steeply descending few meters on rocky slope. Continue on ridge which becomes quite narrow and exposed. Walk mostly left side of ridge direction shown also by some cairns. Followed by few very short climbing spots (I-II grade) and we are at summit of Vernar.
Starting point - Koča na Uskovnici 0:15, Koča na Uskovnici - chapel at Uskovnica 0:05, chapel at Uskovnica - 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 - Vodnikov dom 0:20, Vodnikov dom - Bohinjska vrata 0:25, Bohinjska vrata - Vernar 0:50.

On the way: Koča na Uskovnici (1154m), Kapela Kraljice miru na Uskovnici (1177m), Izvir Štapce (1452m), Planina Spodnji Tosc (1663m), Planina Zgornji Tosc (1849m), Na Zagonu (1819m), Vodnikov dom (1817m), Bohinjska vratca (1975m)