Podvolovljek (Petkov graben) - Bivak na Kalu (via Lepenatka)
Starting point: Podvolovljek (Petkov graben) (715 m)
Lat/Lon: | 46,3041°N 14,7026°E |
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Name of path: via Lepenatka
Time of walking: 2 h 30 min
Difficulty: easy unmarked way, easy marked way
Altitude difference: 570 m
Altitude difference po putu: 720 m
Map: Kamniške in Savinjske Alpe 1:50.000
Recommended equipment (summer):
Recommended equipment (winter): ice axe, crampons
Views: 696
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Access to the starting point:
a) First, drive to Kamnik, then continue driving towards the Črnivec Pass. Just a few 100 m before the pass, you will see signs for Kranjski Rak, which direct you sharp left onto a narrow and initially quite steep road. The road is higher and then leads to the Volovljek Pass, from where we start descending towards Podvolovljek. After crossing Petkov graben, you will see the 8. km road sign on the right and a suitable parking space on the left side of the road.
b) From Gornji Grad, drive towards Kamnik, and then a few 100 m after the Črnivec pass, continue right in the direction of Kranjski Rak. Continue as described above.
c) From the Savinjska valley, first drive to Luce, then continue towards Kamnik. When the road starts to climb steeply towards the Volovljek Pass, pay attention to the road signs. When you reach the 8 km road marker, park in a suitable place along the road.
Path description:
At the 8 km marker, a forest road branches off the main road to the east and we start our journey. First, we cross the road that leads us up the slope of Ker Hill (895 m). At the part where the road makes a long right turn, we get a transient view towards Raduha, Maly Rogatec and Kunšperski vrh. At a few crossroads we continue along the "main" road, which increasingly offers beautiful views of the peaks of the Dleskovská plateau. Higher up, at the junction of two more "equal" roads, continue to the left, and from this junction follow the road to the first cart track turn-off to the right. Cart track turns sharp right off the road, and we follow it for a few minutes ascending the slope to the right, then joining the marked Kranjska reber - Lepenatka path, which we follow to the left.
Continue briefly on cart track, then bear slightly right onto the waymarked footpath. The path immediately starts to climb steeply, but soon turns slightly to the right, where it crosses over a steeper slope. The path continues to climb steeply, occasionally leading over a short exposed section, where greater care is needed, especially in wet and snowy conditions. Higher up, the slope gradually flattens out and the path turns right to lead to the ridge to the east of Kunšperski vrh (aka Brezovec).
On reaching the ridge, continue right (left Kunšperski vrh, 5 minutes of easy tracklessness) along the marked path, which continues along the occasionally scenic ridge. Continue climbing gently to moderately along or slightly to the left of the ridge. Higher up, the path leads over a grazing fence, beyond which you enter the top grassy slopes of Lepenatka. A few minutes of moderate climbing follows, along a path from which beautiful views open up from the nearby Velika Rogatec, via Raduha and Olševa, to the highest peaks of Kamnik Savinja Alps and already reaching the grassy summit of Lepenatka.
From the top of Lepenatka, continue along the ridge for a few 10 steps, and then at the marked crossroads turn left down towards the Kal saddle and Velika Rogatec. There follows about 15 minutes of moderate downhill on an initially quite scenic grassy slope, and then you arrive at the Kal saddle, where there is a marked crossroads. From the crossroads, continue left, where after a minute of further walking you will reach Bivouac na Kalu.
Podvolovljek - Lepenatka 2:15, Lepenatka - Bivak na Kalu 15 minutes.
Description and pictures refer to the situation in 2015 (December).
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