Podgora - Sušec (Strahinjščica) (čez Goleš)

Access to starting point:
We reach Croatia via the Gruškovje–Macelj border crossing. It is best to leave the motorway immediately and continue along the »Zagorski magistrala« towards Krapina or Đurmanec. Along the way we will drive through the short tunnels Mali Stog, Veliki Stog and Đurmanec. After the fourth tunnel (Žutnica) we leave the magistrala after approximately 300 metres to the right towards the Krapina toll station. Immediately after the exit we see the Krateks company car park, where we leave the vehicle.

Route description:
From the car park we go through the underpass eastwards into the village of Podgora. In the village we will see the kindergarten »Mali kaj«. Immediately after the kindergarten we turn left, and the markings are visible right after the turn. The path becomes quite steep and climbs through the village on the western slope. In the village there are several junctions, all of which are well marked.
After twenty minutes the path leads us to the Fekonja farm, which is the highest in the village. Here is the entrance to the forest, and the path finally levels out. In the forest we walk for some time on a gentle forest track. We reach a junction where an arrow directs us sharply right (if we continue on the track we will also return to the path).
From the junction our path becomes steep and technically more demanding. At some points it is also quite exposed and on the border of a partially difficult route. In a few zigzags we climb to the next junction, where the path to the summit and viewpoint Slon branches off to the right (5 min), while we continue straight and reach the ridge where the path levels out again and the surface becomes rocky. The ridge begins to descend and leads us to a resting place (if we chose the track, we return to the path here).
From the resting place we go upwards, reach the ridge again and climb gently to moderately for some time to the slopes of the summit Goleš. When we reach below the summit, our path becomes steep again and climbs in a few bends to the summit. Goleš is in the forest and offers only limited views to the north.
From the summit onwards the path is in places very exposed and runs along the ridge. After some time we begin to descend and reach a plateau with a hunting stand. From the plateau we climb again to an unnamed pre-summit, then descend once more. Here the path Jelenja peč (Jelenja Pećina) joins from the right. After a further ten minutes of walking we arrive at the car park in front of the mountain hut. In the hut we can rest and refresh ourselves.
From the car park we continue eastwards towards Dedek and the summit (the supply road brings the path from the village Gornje Jesenje). After entering the forest the path becomes quite steep and quickly leads us to the viewpoint Dedek, from where an exceptional view opens to the south and west.
We continue eastwards along the ridge. After some time the path moves to the southern slope, then returns to the ridge. There are no more difficult or steep sections to the summit. After a few minutes of walking we reach the summit Sušec, on which stands a huge beech tree and the stamp is on the rock. The summit is in the middle of the forest and has no view.

• Podgora–Slon: 35 min
• Slon–Počivališče: 5 min
• Počivališče–Goleš: 40 min
• Goleš–Planinska koča: 30 min
• Planinska koča–Razglednik Dedek: 10 min
• Razglednik Dedek–Vrh Sušec: 30 min

After rain the path is in places very slippery.

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