Follow the path marks from the Tržič bus station towards Kriška gora, whose slopes rise up from the east of Tržič. Climb up the concrete steps past the Church of Sv. Jožef (St. Joseph) and turn right onto the forestry road. The path soon turns left onto a steep slope. Climb up through the woods in stages to the scenic Mala mizica (764 m), a 40 minute walk. There is a view of the valley below, including the old part of Tržič and the Mošenik valley in the direction of Ljubelj. Continue climbing up the steep slope in stages through woods, eventually reaching a poor, rocky path. The path soon improves but continues climbing steeply through a pleasant wood. There is glade from which there is a good view of the valley and the village of Križe, as well as the Gorenjska plain and, in the background, the Jelovica tableland and the Julian Alps. Continue walking along the ridge to the junction with the path from Križe. The route continues along the ridge through a wood, which eventually thins out and gives way to grassy slopes. Caution is advised while walking along the narrow path because of the danger of slipping. A 25 minute walk from the junction brings you to Koča na Kriški gori (1,471 m). 2h 30min. The hut stands on a sunny meadow on the western side of the Kriška gora ridge. Continue walking along the comfortable path through a beech wood to the Vrata outcrop (15 min), the highest point on the Kriška gora ridge (1,591 m). The route is approaching Tolsti vrh, which can be reached by a steep path running through mountain pine on the western side of the slope. 1h 15min. Tolsti vrh (1,715 m) is the highest peak on Kriška gora and offers a very good view. Kriška gora is mostly covered by forest. It has a grassy southern slope and a rocky northern slope with sheer cliffs. It hosts a rich variety of mountain flora. There is a view from here of the towering Storžič. Climb down the eastern slope of Tolsti vrh towards the M. Poljana pasture. Path marks lead to the southern slopes, which are covered in mountain pine, and to the junction where the path branches off towards the village of Gozd. Walk through the woods across the eastern slope to the stream at Mala Poljana (1,325 m). 45 min. Several paths cross at this point. Follow the directions on the signposts towards Dom pod Storžičem. Alternative: Experienced hikers may take an alternative route from the junction to Psica to Storžič (2,132 m), and from the peak via Žrelo to the hut. This is a very difficult route (protected with steel cables and pins) and caution is advised. The VA descends from Mala Poljana through a pine forest across numerous ditches along the north-western foot of Storžič to the junction at the Jesenje pasture. Walk to Dom pod Storžičem (1,123 m) a few minutes away. 1h. 3h from Koča na Kriški gori. The hut stands on the edge of the Jesenje pasture overlooking Lomska dolina valley.
Source: Dobnik, Jože; Slovenska planinska pot: planinski vodnik, Planinska zveza Slovenije, Založba PZS, 1998; Klinar, Stanko; Karavanke: planinski vodnik, Planinska zveza Slovenije, Založba PZS, 1997; Atlas Slovenije, 3. izpopolnjena in razširjena izdaja, Mladinska knjiga in Geodetski zavod Slovenije (GZS), Ljubljana 1996; Karavanke, 1:50.000 GZS, Planinska založba PZS št. 149, Ljubljana 1995 Gorenjska, izletniška karta1:50.000, GZS, Ljubljana 1998
(Peter Šilak)

From Dom pod Storžičem, go north along the marked path. The slightly inclined path leads to steep meadows known as Srpiči. From here, climb up the steep dirt track that runs from the valley. Higher up, the dirt track gives way to a footpath, which climbs up the steep slope to the Javornik pass (1,465 m). 30 minutes. From the pass, the route turns slightly downwards in a northeast direction. When it levels out, there will be a dirt track that slowly descends through a forest and across small clearings, and leads you to Planina Javornik, which once had a well-kept ski lodge. The elevation overlooking you on the right is Veliki Javornik (1,715 m). 30 minutes. Continue walking east along the road. When you reach a road junction, turn right. Very soon, the road enters into a series of turns and ends not very far ahead. Turn off the footpath here and go into the forest. You will go through a series of ascents and descents but you must hold your original direction towards Stegovnik, whose rocky face is clearly visible along the way. The path will bring you to a pass lying on the southern face of Stegovnik. 45 minutes. Follow the path to the steep rock face which has three openings - natural arches. Two of the arches will lead you onto the other side of the rock face, where you will have to make a short descent down a gravelly and overgrown gully. Climb up the gully to the small pass then turn left to the southern peak of Stegovnik. From here, walk along the airy but gently inclined ridge to the main peak (1,692 m). 45 minutes. Continue walking along the ridge right up to its edge a few minutes away. Descend from the ridge in a northeast direction until you reach the abandoned and overgrown Fevča meadow (1,486 m). From there, turn right to face the west. The steep path through the forest leads to the Močnik pass, where one path branches off towards Spodnje Jezersko. 45 minutes. The route continues on the right side and passes through Dol, which lies next to a stream, and left past Rezman. Select the path to the left. This path leads through the forest to the Močnik pass and down the other side in the same direction. You will cross a few glades in the forest and eventually emerge at the Rezman farmstead. From here, take the macadam road into the valley. Lower down, a path branches off the road and runs through the valley to the Kanonir inn. The Via Alpina route goes ahead along the road. As you approach the Kokra river valley, follow the marked path that branches off and runs through a forest into the valley. It will lead you to the bridge at the confluence of the Kokra and Jezernica rivers. You will have reached the settlement of Spodnje Jezersko (770 m). 1h. The goal is now close by. Follow the main road up the Jezernica stream valley. When you reach a steep barrier and the road enters into a series of hairpin bends, take a shortcut along the path across the bends, then follow the road on the other side into the centre of the settlement of Zgornje Jezersko. 25 minutes. The entire stage takes 4h 35 minutes.
Source: Klinar, Stanko. (1997). Karavanke. Planinski vodnik. Planinska zveza Slovenije. Ljubljana: PZS. Atlas Slovenije. (1996). 3. izpopolnjena in razširjena izdaja. Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga in Geodetski zavod Slovenije (GZS). Karavanke. (1995). 1:50.000. GZS. Ljubljana: Planinska založba (PZS), št. 149. Gorenjska. (1998). Izletniška karta. 1:50.000. GZS. Ljubljana: Planinska založba. Kamniško - Savinjske Alpe. (2000). 1:50.000. GZS. Ljubljana: Planinska Založba PZS.
(Peter Šilak)

Dom pod Storžičem is a theme spot along the "Konšca" trail within the scope of the Ecos Ouverture project, which is entirely funded by the European Commission. In addition to preserving a highlands lifestyle (highland farmsteads, Alpine grazing, charcoal-burning), it also displays the geological, geographical and biological characteristics of the region lying between the Kamnik-Savinja Alps to the south and the Karawanken to the north.
Jezersko is the common name for a glacial Alpine basin between the Karawanken and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. A receding glacier created a large lake, after which this area is named, during the Ice Age. Only a small part of the lake remained by the late 14th century, and by the 15th century, the lake had been drained and converted into farmland and pastures. The lake bed remains moist and therefore inundations are common. Up to the First World War, the border between the historical regions of Carinthia (Koroška) and Carniola (Kranjska) ran south of Jezersko, which lay in Carinthia. This can still be felt in the affiliation of the older generations and in their accent. Traditional commercial activities: forestry, stock farming (including the indigenous Jezersko-Solčavska sheep) and tourism have been losing ground for several decades. Health resort activities were also abandoned with the closure of the hospital for eye ailments and nervous disorders in 1981. Tourism started picking up again recently. It is mainly due to individual efforts that Jezersko is slowly regaining its pre-First World War reputation as a destination for Alpine tourism.
Spodnje Jezersko lies at the confluence of the Jezernica and Kokra rivers. 2 km west of the settlement, in the Komatevra valley, is one of the richest deposits of tufa in Slovenia. The 20 m-thick layers hold interesting structures formed by petrified moss, leaves, etc. Tufa is used for construction, mainly as a façade material.
The 24 km-long Kokra River, which originates in the Karawanken at an altitude of 825 m, carved a deep valley between the Karawanken and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. At first, the Kokra runs through a valley created during the Ice Age by the Jezersko Glacier, the biggest glacier in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. The uneven valley floor is sparsely populated with a few hamlets, isolated farmsteads lie higher up on the terrace slopes, whilst the mountain belt is mainly uninhabited. The valley runs transversely across several strata of rock, creating a very picturesque landscape. Kokra's gradient created numerous rapids along the river's course.

(Mimi Urbanc)