Jalovec

Jalovec (2,645 m) is for many the most beautiful mountain in Slovenia — its pointed silhouette adorns the emblem of the Slovenian Alpine Association. The view of its north face from the Tamar valley is one of the most magnificent sights in the Julian Alps, and the ascent ranks among the most serious marked tours in the country.

The classic route starts from Tamar in Planica (park at the Planica ski-jumping centre; 30 minutes’ walk to the Tamar hut). Via the Kotovo sedlo saddle or the Ozebnik, the route climbs into a high-alpine world of scree and scrambling: cables protect several exposed sections, and a via-ferrata kit and helmet are mandatory. The steep couloir below the summit hides snow late into summer, raising the stakes further.

From the top, the view stretches from Mangart and the Adriatic to Triglav. This tour is reserved for very experienced mountaineers; everyone else should hire a mountain guide — or take the wonderful, easy walk to the Tamar hut, from where Jalovec looks its finest.