Olseva from Sv. Duh

Overview

On the ridge

This is the most popular route on the main summit of Olševa, coming up from the SW side. Before reaching the main summit, we visit also the well known Potočka zijalka, which is a small landmark by itself. Then in the upper part we have two options: The direct one crosses the slopes towards the highest summit, the ridge variant visits first the summit of Obel kamen and then follows the main ridge (or goes just below it). It is some 30 minutes longer and for ordinary hikers a bit harder. In summer you need from gear only good shoes and poles.

Times and difficulties of sections:

> Sv Duh church (or Rogar farm) - Potočka zijalka: 1 h 30 min. T2. (by the Swiss scale for hiking tours)
> Potočka zijalka - Main summit (direct variant): 1 h. T3.
> Potočka zijalka - Obel kamen - Main summit: 1 h 30 min: T3/T4.


The Route Description chapter below handles route sections 1a to 1f. Please enlarge the map to see them in detail!

Getting There

See the parent page how to get by car to Podolševa - Sv. Duh church, 1250 m. The approaches are from the south (Solčava), from the east (Črna) or from the west (over Pavličevo sedlo). You park either by the church or a bit more towards the east, below Rogar farm.

Route Description

Ascent. If you start below Rogar farm, you follow the marks by the farm towards the north. If you start by Sv. Duh church, you can either go towards the NE to Rogar farm or follow a mountain road towards the NW. From Rogar you follow a cart road and thean a mountain road towards the north. First you go through the woods, later the path leads you towards the NW to the main ridge - the border between Slovenia and Austria. This is the shortest way to get to this point. If starting a bit higher, at Sv. Duh church, you can also follow a mountain road, which however goes a bit towards the NW. After some 20 minutes the marked path deters from the road right and in another 10 minutes you gain the forrested main ridge - the border between Slovenia and Austria. There is the crossroad - from the other side a path from St. Leonhard comes up. We turn right and follow the main ridge - first over the undistinct Strevčev vrh, 1466 m, then further towards the NE to the point where the path from Rogar farm comes up. Now the joint marked path goes a bit steeper uphills. On the right we see steep cliffs, but our path avoits them by left. In a few turns we ascend above the cliffs and later through the woods again till the point where from the left, across the border, another path comes. This is the Austrian path from Felsentore/Vrata. We are not far from Potočka zijalka. At first the path crosses the slopes, then it ascends up to the entrance into the big cave, 1700 m.

Sv. Duh church

Gangolf Haub - Getting to Potočka zijalka

After seeing the cave, we continue eastwards and up. The first rocks are steep, so the path overcomes them by a bit more narrow passage, which is secured by a steel rope (T3). Above the passage the path continues again more comfortably - at first in a few turns up, then towards the right, passing a distinct rock tower. So we reach a grassy and rocky side rib in the slope, where there is another crossroads. The direct variant goes around the edge, crossing the slopes, while the ascent on Obel kamen goes steeply left up.

Reaching the crossroads above Potočka zijalka

On the crossroads

a. Direct variant. The path comfortably crosses the grassy slopes towards the east. In the continuation you will gain only a little altitude, because a long crossing awaits you. Above and below the path you will enjoy in the views on interesting limestone walls and towers. The last ones above us, before gaining the main ridge, are called Visoka peč, and are most picturesque. After passing them, the path does a few turns up and gains the main ridge on a notch, where from the other side the path through Mrzli dol. On the ridge we turn right and continue more or less comfortably on the main summit.

Crossing the southern slopes

On the summit ridge

flow - approaching Govca

b. Over Obel kamen. This variant is some 30 min longer. On the rib above Potočka zijalka the path deters sharp left up. It is narrow and at first goes quite steeply up. In many turns we avoid some rocky sections, above them broader, but still steep grassy slopes bring us on the main ridge. One side summit is towards the left, the main summit of Obel kamen is towards the right (good 15 min from the crossroads). In continuation we go towards the east in the vicinity of the main ridge. The path crosses a few ridge bumps and is on many places steep, requiring a safe step. Still, no passage has difficulties higher than T3. But before reaching the rocks of Visoka peč, the path must avoid its rocks by the southern side. There we first descend right down - that passage is a bit exposed and requires on some places to grab the lose rock, taking care of a safe step. That's a short T4 difficulty, which soon turns into a normal descent by a narrow path. It goes just below the cliffs of Visoka peč. After passing them we are already on the broader direct path by which we gain the main ridge and the main summit.

On Obel kamen

Gangolf Haub - the exposed descent

Along the ridge

Below the rocks of Visoka peč

Descent. You can return by the same route, doing on the upper part a small round tour (combining variants a and b. Or, you can descend by other routes towards the south or east.