The Kot Valley - Visoka Vrbanova špica (Lojze Rekar route)

Access to the starting point:
Leave the Gorenjska motorway at the Hrušica exit and follow the road towards Kranjska Gora. Just before the village of Dovje, the road branches off to the left and leads to Mojstrana (Vrata, Kot and Krma). Follow the road in the direction of the village of Radovna and the valleys of Krma and Kot. The relatively steep road then leads us past the TNP signboard, after which the road soon lays down and leads us to a crossroads where a dirt road branches off to the right into the Kot valley (straight ahead to Radovna and Krma). This sometimes slightly worse road is then followed to a parking area, where you will also see mountain signs.

Path description:
From the starting point, continue along the worse road, which after a few minutes leads to a turning point (parking here is not recommended). The path ahead turns slightly left and crosses a torrent. On the other side of the torrent, we climb steeply through the forest for some time. After half an hour's walk, the path starts to climb. There are a few dozen steps of walking on a steep path, where we are helped by wedges, which are not strictly necessary in dry conditions. The steepness then eases and the path leads us to a small spring (which dries up in the dry season) at 1340m. Here an unmarked path branches off to the left to Macesnovec, and we continue on the marked path that crosses the torrent. There is a short steep section where we are helped by a rope ladder (not difficult). The path then crosses the lane of dwarf pines and climbs higher up on rockier slopes, where we see the Thick Stone (a large boulder visible at the top of the slope). We climb up to the Thick Stone on a rubble path surrounded by dwarf pines. Next, the path climbs up along a small scree slope and turns slightly higher to the right, where it leads to a crossroads, where we turn right to follow the markings Visoka Vrbanova špica (left Staničev dom). After a few metres, the path turns right again and then, with the help of a couple of rope ropes and crampons, we cross the steep rocky slopes below the Vrbanovi spices. Then turn left and cross the still quite steep slopes in a slight ascent. Shortly afterwards, turn left again and, with the help of some fixed safety gear, start climbing steeply up a slope partly covered with grass and dwarf pines. The path then turns slightly to the right and leads us to a ridge where we get a view of Cmir. Turn left here and, with the help of stemples and steel cables, start climbing up the steep and narrow ridge, which son leads to a crossroads. At the crossroads, turn left and, with the help of a few crampons and pegs, reach the top of Spodnje Vrbanove Špice. The summit also has a stamp and a registration book.
From the top, go back to the crossroads and follow the signs for Staničev dom. The trail then goes around the Spodnja Vrbanova špica peak in a slight downhill on the north side and leads us along a fairly wide ledge to the ridge again. From here we have only a few metres to Plesišče (2244m), which is not a marked trail, but is well marked with cairns. Plesišče is a large flat plateau from which there is a magnificent view of the Lower and Visoka Vrbanova špica, Rjavina and Cmir. Plesišče is also interesting because in the middle of the narrow and precipitous ridge of Vrbanovi Spice no one would expect such a large flat plate. The trail then follows the ridge, first climbing slightly and then descending with the help of ropes and wedges to a small natural window through which you can see Cmir. From here, the cairn is climbed with the help of cairns over the slightly overhanging chimney, followed by a descent, which is also slightly overhanging in a short part. We then climb up a steep rock face, which leads us to another window via a well-protected narrow and exposed ledge. Here we start climbing again, this time on slightly more numerous scree. Then we climb with the help of ropes over the broken rocks to the grassy slope below the summit. From here it is only a few minutes of easy walking to the top.

On the way: Spodnja Vrbanova špica (2299m), Plesišče (2244m)

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