Old military mule trail – an elegant connecting trail from the Razor Mountain pasture to the village of Rut and beyond. This mule trail is also an integral part of the E7 European Footpath.
moderate
Distance 17.3 km
Duration5:00 h
Ascent1,019 m
Descent1,388 m
Highest point1,341 m
Lowest point756 m
The mule trail between the Močila watering hole (to be exact) and the village of Rut is an extremely well-routed trail beneath the summits of Mt. Žabiški Kuk, Mt. Šija and Mt. Rodica and a genuine monument of technical heritage. Except for the Huda stopnja section beneath Mt. Rodica, which is the most exposed to storms, this trail is still well-preserved. Besides the continuously emerging splendid views of the summits and the valley you can also admire the masterly constructed retaining walls, clever passages and well-calculated inclines. This trail even includes a genuine tunnel.
Author’s recommendation
An appropriate alternative for the times when the higher summits become hard to reach.
This tour is not appropriate in winter conditions, or at least requires plenty of caution. Frozen passages across leaf covered ravines can be especially dangerous.
Start
Parking lot in front of the Kuk Mountain pasture (1,125 m)
Coordinates:
DD
46.210469, 13.788002
DMS
46°12'37.7"N 13°47'16.8"E
UTM
33T 406508 5118146
w3w
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Destination
Old linden tree in the centre of the village of Rut
Turn-by-turn directions
From the parking lot in front of the Kuk Mountain pasture you walk for approximately 20 minutes until you reach the Močila watering hole (top of the slope where the road turns to the left towards the Razor Mountain pasture) and turn right right at the last bend – sign Rut and E7. Directions are simple, the trail is relatively well-preserved, easy to follow and traceable, and only includes few junctions.
From the Močila watering hole walk past the former Italian military barracks and continue to the ravine beneath Mt. Žabiški Kuk. The trail gradually ascends along the ridges above the steep slopes above the village of Kneške Ravne and later descends to the Prodi Mountain pasture, gable end beneath Mt. Šija and to the end of the valley of the Knežica Creek. Here, you find a lovely hunting lodge (with the toilet).
Continue your ascend from the hunting lodge through the beech forest to the edge of the tree-line and further across the exposed outskirts beneath Mt. Šija and Mt. Rodica to the unmistakeable Huda stopnja section of the trail where the mule trail was swept away. Initially you cross the ravine over two bridges. Later, you cross the 10-metre passage secured with a wire-rope and pitons leading back to the mule trail. Immediately after the bend you find the register book of the Tolmin Alpine Society and the tunnel. After you pass the tunnel you encounter two short, worn-out sections secured with a wire-rope which take you back to the mule trail leading to the top of the former hay-fields above the village of Grant.
Continue on more or less flat terrain to the forest road beneath Mt. Rodica which descends to the village of Rut.
Note
all notes on protected areas
Public transport
There is no public transportation available.
Getting there
From the town of Tolmin or the village of Kneža to the village of Ljubinj and along the narrow mountain road across the Stador and Lom Mountain pastures to the parking lot in front of the Kuk Mountain pasture.
Parking
Well-arranged parking lot in front of the Kuk Mountain pasture – starting point to the Razor Mountain pasture and the nearby peaks.
Coordinates
DD
46.210469, 13.788002
DMS
46°12'37.7"N 13°47'16.8"E
UTM
33T 406508 5118146
w3w
///lyrical.elapse.treehouse
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Book recommendation by the author
Sidarta: Julijske Alpe, Triglavski narodni park, 1:50.000.
Author’s map recommendations
Sidarta: Julijske Alpe, Triglavski narodni park, 1:50.000.
Book recommendations for this region:
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Equipment
Usual hiking equipment. If you unexpectedly encounter winter conditions along the trail, crampons and the ice-axe represent indispensible winter tools.
recommended route
Sunrise behind Mt. PorezenPhoto: Janko Humar, Turizem Dolina Soce
Questions and answers
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