Kredarica 2515 m: below the summit of Slovenia’s highest mountain

As the forest starts to thin, the valley floor ascent is interrupted by three successive flats — Pleša, Vrtača, and Polje. At Polje, the largest of these open areas, the valley broadens and divides. Continuing straight upward beneath the walls would lead to Bohinjska Vratca, the notch between Tosc and Vernar, but our route turns right into Travna dolina, a larch-covered valley. We do not follow Travna dolina far — approximately halfway along its gentler initial section, we turn left upward over a steeper step to the shepherd’s hut Prgarce on the pasture of Zgornja Krma (1720 m).

From the shepherd’s hut, continue again upward to the right, passing around Arnova glava. On its far side, find the most suitable passage upward across another steeper section, which leads to the lower edge of the broad Ržki podi plateau.

Once the terrain opens up, we are at around 2000 m, with just over 500 vertical meters remaining to the destination. High on the right rises the rocky ridge of Rž, while on the left towers Mali Triglav. Between them stands the distinct rocky summit of Vrh Snežne konte, behind which lies the continuation of the Kalvarija ridge that leads directly to our goal.

Head toward the prominent gully on the right/eastern side of Vrh Snežne konte and continue through it — in avalanche-prone snow conditions, use its safer right edge — all the way to the steeper upper section, where you can traverse left without major difficulty onto the Kalvarija ridge.

Only about 100 vertical meters of climbing remain along this ridge, and around the final corner the long-awaited Triglav Lodge at Kredarica (2515 m) appears.

The vastness of the area offers several different descent options. These variants can be safely explored if you know the terrain well; for a first visit, however, the safest choice is to return via the ascent route. All skiing options are rewarding and similarly beautiful.

From Kredarica, ski down along the ascent route through the magnificent gully, at times somewhat steeper around Arnova glava, and continue downward across Zgornja Krma pasture to Polje — the flat area where, on the ascent, we turned off from the main valley toward Kredarica. From here onward — IMPORTANT — do not continue along the ascent route. Instead, ski straight across the flat, through larches and hollowed terrain onto the broad scree and avalanche slopes beneath the northern walls of the Draški vrh peaks. This more than 2 km long diagonal descent will almost entirely spare you the less enjoyable maneuvering through forest.

At the end of this traverse, ski down into the forest and back to the valley floor. Following the morning skin track, you can comfortably glide the remaining distance back to the parking area, or to the snow line in later spring conditions.

From Mojstrana: In the center of the village, turn left toward Radovna. In Upper Radovna, take the right turn through Kurja Vas and continue toward Kovinarska Hut in the Krma Valley. Park at the small parking area below the hut. If the road is not plowed, park near the last houses in Kurja Vas. In that case, the walking approach is extended by approximately 3 km. From Mojstrana to Kovinarska Hut is 7.8 km.