Juliana SkiTour 1a - Kotovo Saddle (2300 m), a noble classic in a magnificent setting

From the parking lot in Planica (960 m) to the Mountain Hut in Tamar, we follow the gravel road (3.4 km) – in winter, when there is snow in the valley, a cross-country ski trail is prepared on this road and you can go on skis. From March onwards, when the snow melts, you have to go on foot with skis on your backpack.

Immediately after the mountain hut, we follow the signs of the summer path. If the signs are not visible, we look for the direction through the beech forest towards the right edge of the valley. After twenty minutes we are already on snowfields above the tree line.

We continue up the ever-narrower valley under the cliffs of Šit, where the slope steepens and the passage narrows. This section is often icy, crampons and microspikes are essential equipment that must at least be in your backpack.

Through a gully, we ascend under the summit massif of Jalovec, where the slope noticeably levels off. Good skiers can continue straight up through Jalovec's snowfield in good conditions; our route turns right uphill under the cliffs to a huge boulder.

The tired can finish the ascent at the boulder, while the less tired continue across open pastures to the right uphill, to a subtle shoulder on the ridge (2300 m), just below the start of the rocky cliffs. These additional 200 meters of elevation from the boulder are definitely worth the effort, as they open views over the steep ridges of Šit, Travnik, and Mojstrovke to the central Julian Alps on one side and to Mangart on the other. Especially rewarding are the beautiful ski slopes down which we zigzag back into the valley.

We ski in the direction of ascent; the slopes are wide enough to choose the passages freely, narrowing only in the gully under Šit, where it can be hard and requires greater caution.

We return all the way to the threshold of the mountain hut. If there is snow in the valley, you can continue skiing further; otherwise, we return to the parking lot on foot.

In spring, if there is no longer snow on the gravel road to the mountain hut in Tamar, access can be made easier with a mountain bike.