Climb down from Koča na Dobrči (1,487) and cross to the other side of the Podgorska meadow, where you will find a forest. Walk along the pleasant forest path and after 15 minutes you will come to a crossroads where one path branches off towards Dobrča peak. The path to the right, which runs through a valley to the hamlet of Brezje, is the Slovene balcony trail (No. »1«). Continue walking straight ahead for another 15 minutes until you reach Lešanska planina meadow, where there is a well-kept shepherd's hut. There is a view of the next two stages of the Via Alpina from the front side of the hut. To the east is the rocky peak of Stegovnik (1,692), and to the right the two-thousander Storžič (2,132). In the foreground is the ridge of Kriška gora (1,715) and the long ridge to the left is Košuta. 30 minutes from the hut. Climb down the steep slope from the hut, cross the meadow and enter the forest, then climb over the wooden fence. There will be several forest paths to cross along the way, so pay attention to the signs. The path gives way to an improved dirt track. Turn right here. There is another crossroads about 200 m ahead, where you will make a sharp left turn. Continue walking down the gently sloping forest path and you will find a spring with drinking water to your left. After another 100 m, turn left off the road and follow the track to Bistriška planina (1,080). 45 minutes. Turn right and cross to the opposite side of the meadow and follow the forest road along the left side of the meadow. Enter the forest and climb up to a small clearing on the pass. On the pass, turn left onto a path leading into the forest. Cross the peak and begin the descent. At a crossroads, a balcony trail branches off to the right into the forest. Continue for another 50 m straight ahead until you reach a road which runs past a house on a small clearing. When the road turns right, follow the path in front of you into the forest. The path begins a steep descent and leads you past the western slope towards the valley. Climb down the meadow on the other side of the forest to reach a farm. Follow the macadam road past the stable and climb down to the main road for Ljubelj. Follow the road running parallel to the main road. It leads to a bridge across a road from which you can see the tunnel to the right. Climb down to Tržič from here. The macadam is replaced by a tarmac road, which leads to a junction. Turn left here and go through an estate of apartment blocks. Cross the pedestrian crossing and walk along the pavement on the right and cross the Tržiška Bistrica stream. The road then turns right through the old part of Tržič and joins another road running through Tržič. Continue walking past the church to the road junction. On the other side of the road are stone stairs which are part of the next stage. The hike from Bistriška planina takes 1h 15 min, the entire stage takes 2h 30 min.
Source: Dobnik, Jože; (1998). Slovenska planinska pot. Planinski vodnik. Publisher PZS. Klinar, Stanko. (1997). Karavanke. Planinski vodnik. Založba PZS. Atlas Slovenije. (1996). 3. izpopolnjena in razširjena izdaja. Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga in Geodetski zavod Slovenije (GZS). Karavanke. (1995). 1:50.000. GZS. Planinska založba (PZS). No. 149 Gorenjska. (1998). Izletniška karta. 1:50.000. Ljubljana: GZS.
(Peter Šilak)

The area’s culinary heritage has also been influenced by alpine grazing. Masovnik, also known as 'maselnik', 'maslovnik' and 'masovnek' is a mushy dish made from dairy products. This simple, heavy and filling dish was made by herdsmen, for whom milk and dairy products were almost the only source of nourishment. It remains a compulsory part of the menu on cattle pastures, especially in the vicinity of Tržič. There are several variants of the dish; it is usually made from different types of cream but sometimes butter or milk are used instead. It is made by mixing a tablespoon of wheat, corn or buckwheat flour with hot cream then cooked until it becomes a thick cream, oozing with butter. A pinch of salt and an egg are sometimes added to improve the taste.
Tržič, an industrial town (population: 3,894) and seat of the municipality, is wedged into the valley of the Tržiška Bistrica River. It developed along the busy traffic road through the Ljubelj Pass. Tržič was first mentioned in 1337: it was granted a market charter in 1492 and a town charter in 1926. It was ravaged by fires in 1689, 1809 and 1811. Hydro power, ample forests and iron ore deposits encouraged iron working, blacksmithing and other trades, which served as the basis for the development of the textile, footwear and metal processing industries in the 19th century, which today employ almost two-thirds of the active population. Tržič is one of the most industrialised towns in Slovenia. The picturesque town centre and market street, which runs up the hill to the medieval Castle, was declared a cultural and historical monument in 1985. The town holds several renowned events each year, such as 'Šuštarska nedelja' ('Cobblers' Sunday'), the ethnographically-flavoured shoemaker's fair, and the minerals and fossils exhibition.
The nearby Dolžan gorge is a world renowned fossil site dating from the Permian Period (last period of the Palæozoic Era). The mineral deposits and interesting geological structure of the Karawanken, as well as their geographical location, lying between the Central and Southern Alps, have been attracting geologists to this territory since the mid-19th century. The idea of a trail connecting geological points in Slovenia first emerged in 1903 at a geological congress in Vienna, but was only realised 80 years later. The trail has 31 observation points, a high concentration of which are in the Dolžan gorge, where 81 species of brachiopod, as well as fusulinides and vrinoids, have been found. Of the former, the most renowned is Schwagerina carniolica, which was first discovered here.

Bibliography: Buser, S. (1991). Sovenska geološka pot = Slovenian geological route = Geologischer Wanderweg Sloweniens. Vodnik po slovenski geološki poti. Ljubljana. http://www.trzic.si/

(Mimi Urbanc)