V Koncu - Skuta (via Kokrsko sedlo)

Access to starting point:
a) We drive to Kamnik, then follow the signs for Kamniška Bistrica and the Črnivec pass. In Stahovica at the traffic light intersection we turn left towards Kamniška Bistrica (straight ahead Črnivec pass) and drive to the Dom v Kamniški Bistrici. We bypass the mountain hut on the right side. The asphalt ends a little higher up, from there we continue on a gravel road that soon forks. We keep to the lower left road (right leads to the footpath towards Kokrsko sedlo), and at further intersections we follow the signs for Grintovec. We park at the parking lot by the lower station of the freight cable car to Kokrsko sedlo. Driving and parking beyond the freight cable car is prohibited (there is no prohibition sign, but fines of €1,000 are regularly issued). In winter, driving from the Koča v Kamniški Bistrici to the parking lot V Koncu is prohibited by a traffic sign, which extends the walk by almost an hour.
b) From the direction of Gornji Grad we drive to the Črnivec pass, then start descending towards Kamnik. When we reach Stahovica, at the traffic light intersection we turn right towards Kamniška Bistrica (straight ahead Kamnik) and drive to the Dom v Kamniški Bistrici. We bypass the mountain hut on the right side. The asphalt ends a little higher up, from there we continue on a gravel road that soon forks. We keep to the lower left road (right leads to the footpath towards Kokrsko sedlo), and at further intersections we follow the signs for Grintovec. We park at the parking lot by the lower station of the freight cable car to Kokrsko sedlo. Driving and parking beyond the freight cable car is prohibited (there is no prohibition sign, but fines of €1,000 are regularly issued). In winter, driving from the Koča v Kamniški Bistrici to the parking lot V Koncu is prohibited by a traffic sign, which extends the walk by almost an hour.
c) From Luče we drive to Podvolovljek, then on a steep road we ascend to the Volovljek pass (the pass is also known as Kranjski Rak after the inn there). From there we start descending towards Kamnik. Lower down we join the road from the Črnivec pass, where we turn right downhill. When we reach Stahovica, at the traffic light intersection we turn right towards Kamniška Bistrica (straight ahead Kamnik) and drive to the Dom v Kamniški Bistrici. We bypass the mountain hut on the right side. The asphalt ends a little higher up, from there we continue on a gravel road that soon forks. We keep to the lower left road (right leads to the footpath towards Kokrsko sedlo), and at further intersections we follow the signs for Grintovec. We park at the parking lot by the lower station of the freight cable car to Kokrsko sedlo. Driving and parking beyond the freight cable car is prohibited (there is no prohibition sign, but fines of €1,000 are regularly issued). In winter, driving from the Koča v Kamniški Bistrici to the parking lot V Koncu is prohibited by a traffic sign, which extends the walk by almost an hour.

Route description:
From the parking lot we head left onto the marked footpath towards Cojzova koča on Kokrsko sedlo, Grintovec and Skuta (straight unmarked paths via Gamsov skret and Žmavčarje). The path initially leads along the right side of the freight cableway but soon enters the forest, through which it begins to ascend first moderately, then quite steeply. The well-maintained path higher up brings us to a short, steeper step. Two short cables used to be installed here but have been removed. In dry conditions the passage is not demanding, though a little more caution is needed especially on the descent and when wet.
Above the steep section we reach a bench where we can take a short rest. The path then continues through the forest for some time. After crossing a torrent we first enter a belt of low trees, then pass beneath the cliffs of Mali vrh (1915 m), where there is increased risk of falling rocks especially in spring and after rain.
Further on the path becomes more gravelly and steep, which may cost some extra energy. In return we are rewarded with wonderful views of the mountains above the Kamniška Bistrica valley, with the imposing walls of nearby Kalška gora standing out. A few more transverse ascents across scree follow, after which the rocky path transitions to scenic grassy slopes. Along these we ascend to Kokrsko sedlo, where we see the mountain hut on the left and, straight ahead, a fine view towards the Kokra river valley.
From Kokrsko sedlo we continue right towards Grintovec, Skuta and Kamniško sedlo via Sleme (left Kalška gora, Kalški greben and Krvavec, straight down Kokra and Suhadolnik). We first ascend quite steeply on slopes rising north of the saddle. After ten minutes the gradient eases and we reach a marked junction where we turn right towards Skuta (slightly left Kočna and Grintovec).
The path ahead is initially a little harder to follow as it crosses a grassy section, but higher up it becomes clearer and in a moderate ascent leads us to the picturesque passage across Mala Vratca.
Here or slightly earlier an formerly marked path branches left to Grintovec via Dolge stene, which today is considered more of an unmarked approach to Grintovec; we continue straight on the marked path towards Skuta. After the narrow passage of Mali Vratca the path begins to descend a steep and occasionally exposed slope. At the end of the descent, where we lose a little more than 50 metres of altitude, a few fixed belays help, followed by crossing a gully. After that we enter the world of high plateaus and begin ascending towards Bivak pod Grintovcem or Bivak Pavla Kemperla, which we reach after about half an hour of ascent.
From the bivouac we continue on the marked path, which quickly brings us to a junction where the path splits.
We continue straight towards Grintovec and Skuta (right Kamniško sedlo) on a relatively gentle path that leads across the karst terrain of Veliki podi to the next junction.
This time we turn right towards Skuta (straight or slightly left Grintovec and Mlinarsko sedlo), which takes us across the karst terrain of Veliki podi to the foot of a moderately steep wall.
Here a path branches left that leads along the foot of the south wall of Dolgi hrbet towards Mlinarsko sedlo; we follow the marked path towards Skuta, which becomes quite steep. The path ahead is unprotected, but numerous natural holds help easier progress as we climb a short wall between Dolgi hrbet on the left and Štruca on the right.
At the top of the wall we continue right (left Dolgi hrbet and Mlinarsko sedlo), then in a gentle descent with a few pitons on the left, northern side we bypass the interesting summit of Štruca.
The path ahead brings us to an indistinct saddle between Štruca and Skuta; the slope beyond is not precipitous but rather scree-covered. Another approximately 15 minutes of ascent on the summit slopes of Skuta follow and we reach the fairly spacious summit.

Starting point - Kokrsko sedlo 2:30, Kokrsko sedlo - junction above the saddle 0:10, junction above the saddle - Mala Vratca 0:15, Mala Vratca - Bivak pod Grintovcem 0:50, Bivak pod Grintovcem - Veliki podi 0:25, Veliki podi - below Dolgi hrbet 0:20, below Dolgi hrbet - saddle below Štruca 0:30, saddle below Štruca - Skuta 0:45.

Along the route: Cojzova koča na Kokrskem sedlu mountain hut (1174m), Cojzova koča na Kokrskem sedlu (1793m), Bivak pod Grintovcem (1859m), Mala Vratca (1952m), Pod Dolgimi stenami (1916m), Bivak pod Grintovcem (2100m), Veliki podi (2211m), Pod Dolgim hrbtom (2279m), Sedlo pod Štruco (2408m)

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