Pause for a moment in front of Aljažev dom (1,015 m) to view the spectacular Triglav North Face before setting out for the hike through the Vrata valley. The deep, U-shaped Vrata valley is a typical glacial valley. Start at the road that runs through the bottom of the valley to the north-east. Walk past the parking area, then through the wood and around the edge of Turkov Rovt, a small glade in the middle of the wood. Continue along the level road through the valley, which gradually narrows. At the next glade, known as Poldov Rovt (approx. 2 km, 25 min), the route branches off to the right onto a dirt track, which runs above the Triglavska Bistrica stream. The dirt track gives way to a forest track, which leads across an area known as Galerije. The path then descends slightly and gives way to a pastoral track. Follow the track past overgrown meadows and a hayloft to reach the tarmac Mojstrana - Aljažev dom road (30 min). The Triglavska Bistrica stream runs far below this point and rising above it is the rock face of Cmir. Continue walking along the road, which turns to the right, and climb down the steep Kreda slope. The inclination of the slope is up to 25 degrees at places. After a 20-minute walk, you will reach Koča pri Peričniku. 1h 15 min from Aljažev dom. A detour to view the Peričnik waterfall (a 15-minute walk) is warmly recommended. Follow the signposts. The Peričnik waterfall consists of two falls. The Spodnji (lower) fall is the taller of the two (52 m) and cascades over an overhanging wall, which makes it possible to walk behind the thundering curtain of water. A secured path leads to the Zgornji (upper) fall. The Via Alpina route follows the road for a few minutes then turns right and crosses an iron footbridge onto the right bank of the Bistrica stream. The route continues down a gently declining and shady track. At the bridge over the Bistrica, turn off the track (which continues along the stream's right bank) and follow the path marks across the bridge back to the road. Walk past a small glade, known as Pri Rosu, and the houses by the road. The steep, wooded slope to the right is Črna gora (1,378), which separates two large Alpine valleys - Vrata and Kot. Continue walking along the road until you reach a large wooden illustrated chart with information on the Triglav National Park. From here, the road descends all the way to the village of Mojstrana. 1h. Walk along the road through the village, passing the shop to the left. The road crossing the bridge at the end of the village takes a sharp left turn and follows the stream, whilst the route runs up a tarmac track towards the main Jesenice -Kranjska Gora road. 15 min. The stage ends at the bus station next to the monument to clergyman Jakob Aljaž, one of the foremost figures in the history of the Julian Alps. The hike from Koča pri Peričniku takes 1h 15 min.
Source: Dobnik, Jože; Slovenska planinska pot: planinski vodnik, Planinska zveza Slovenije, Založba PZS, Ljubljana 1998; Mihelič, Tine; Julijske Alpe: planinski vodnik, Planinska zveza Slovenije, Založba PZS, Ljubljana 1998; Atlas Slovenije, 3. izpopolnjena in razširjena izdaja, Mladinska knjiga in Geodetski zavod Slovenije (GZS), Ljubljana 1996; Julijske Alpe - vzhodni del, 1:50.000 GZS, Planinska založba PZS, Ljubljana 2003 Gorenjska, izletniška karta1:50.000, GZS, Ljubljana 1998
(Peter Šilak)

There is a good view of Triglav's Northern Rock Face just a short distance from the Aljaž hut, next to the memorial chapel and the monument to mountaineers killed during the Second World War. Because of its sheer height (1,200 m), it is considered one of the greatest rock faces in the Alps. Its magnificence is enhanced by its breadth (3 km) and the inclination of its slopes (an average of 45 degrees). The rock face, which symbolises Slovene mountaineering, was first climbed in 1890 along what later came to be known as the Slovene Route. Because of the rivalry between Slovene and German alpinists, it became one of the most climbed rock faces in Austria-Hungary. To date, it has been climbed along several routes, the most appreciated of which are the Čop and the Sphynx routes. Tone Svetina wrote a literary monument to Triglav's Northern Rock Face in his book 'The Rock Face'.
Peričnik is the common name for the two waterfalls in the Vrata valley. A receding Pleistocene glacier carved out the lateral gully of the Peričnik stream above the valley of the Bistrica stream. Originally, it fell in single column over the 70 metre-tall conglomerate rock, but eventually split into two columns due to the corrosion of softer rock upstream. Zgornji Peričnik (Upper Peričnik) receded from its original position until it reached harder and more resistant rock, creating a 16-metre fall. Spodnji Peričnik (Lower Peričnik) is 52 m tall and shifted position several times after separating from Zgornji Peričnik. The waterfall freezes in the cold of winter, creating a column of huge icicles, which is very popular with extreme climbers.
Mojstrana is a nucleate settlement at the confluence of the Sava Dolinka and the Bistrica rivers along the main Jesenice-Rateče road. A railway line running from Jesenice to Trbiž was built in 1870 (discontinued in 1966), encouraging employment and the development of tourism, which remains the most important activity today. The succursal church built in 1640 stands on the site of an older wooden church on the spot where, according to tradition, Sts. Cyril and Methodius spent a night on their way to Rome. The Slavic apostles were taking the bones of St. Clement, after whom the church is named, to the Pope. On the opposite side of the Sava River is Dovje, where Jakob Aljaž served as the “Triglav priest”. His monument stands just below the village next to the main road. He was laid to rest in the Dovje cemetery, as were many alpinists who lost their young lives to the mountains, including philosopher and mountaineer Klement Jug (1898 – 1924).
Bibliography: Svetina, T. (1980). Stena. Ljubljana. http://www.sigov.si/tnp/ Lukan Klavžer, T. (2003). Mojstrana. Kulturni in naravni spomeniki Slovenije 2003. Ljubljana.
(Mimi Urbanc)