Krek's Hut on Ratitovec – 1,642 m

The hut stands just below Gladki Vrh (1,667 m) on the summit ridge of Ratitovec, the easternmost extension of the Julian Alps. The first hut was built by the Selška branch of the SPD and opened on August 9, 1925; it was named Krekova koča after Dr. Janez Krek (1865–1917). In 1990, a winter room with beds was set up in the bivouac on the saddle, 200 m below the hut. The hut has electricity. In recent years, the hut has been thoroughly renovated and modernized. The hut is open year-round from the first weekend in June to the last weekend in September, and otherwise on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The four dining areas have 100 seats and a bar counter; 12 beds in 3 rooms, and 12 beds in a shared dormitory; a restroom with cold water; the first dining area is heated by a wood-burning stove; running water, electricity, cell phone service. View: There is a sweeping view from in front of the hut, and an even better one from Gladki Vrh. To the east, we can see the Križnogorsko ridge and the lower part of the Selška Valley nearby; to the southeast are the peaks of Lubnik, Stari and Mladi vrh, and Koprivnik, while behind them we see the Sorško polje and the Ljubljana Basin, followed by the Posavje Hills; beyond Koprivnik, we can see Snežnik in the distance; to the south is Blegoš, with Javornik behind it; on the southwest side, we can see the villages of Torka and Ravne on the Ratitovec slope, the elongated Davča on the other side of the Selška Valley, Porezen above it, and the Trnovski Forest in the background; on the western side is the chain of the Lower Bohinj Mountains with Črna prst, Rodica, and Vogl, and Matajur in the distance; to the northwest, the view extends across Jelovica and Pokljuka to the Julian Alps with Triglav; to the north, we see the Karawanks and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. The Krekova Hut on Ratitovec is open on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Outside of the hut’s operating hours, you can find shelter in the nearby winter room, which has two beds and a few blankets. Photo: Matej Ogorevc Notable hikes: Altemaver (1,678 m), the highest peak of Ratitovec, 20 minutes; Kremant (1,658 m), 45 minutes; Kosmati vrh (1,643 m), 1 hour; Dražgoše (853 m), 3 hours; Pečana Mountain Pasture 30 minutes; Klom Mountain Pasture 1 hour. By car:

• Take the local road from Češnjica (the new settlement of Železnikov) to the village of Prtovč (1011 m), through the Razor Valley—1 hour 30 minutes.
• Take the local road from Češnjica (the new settlement of Železnikov) to the village of Prtovč (1,011 m), over the Povden Pass—1 hour 30 minutes.
• Take the local road from Češnjica via Rovtarica to Bohinjska Bistrica to the forest road junction at Rastoke (1,122 m), then follow it to the Ledine mountain pasture (3 km), across the Klom mountain pasture – 2 hours.
• Follow the regional road from Bohinjska Bistrica to Sorica to the Bohinj Pass (Soriška Planina), to the hut – 3 hours.

  Cover photo: Aleš Glavnik