Rinka (plural: Rinke) is the center of the range, the water divide. To the N, below the Savinja saddle, the Vellach (Bela in Slovene) flows towards the Drau (Drava). To the E, we find the Savinja source; to the S, the Kamniska Bistrica source, and to the W, the Kokra (via Jezernica) gathers the Rinka waters.
There are four Rinkas: Kranjska Rinka, Kriz (Koroska Rinka), Stajerska Rinka and Mala Rinka. These four summits are related by a circling ridge above a craterlike basin.
The E and the S faces of Kranjska Rinka (2453m) fall upon the Mali Podi karstic grounds. The NW and the N wall drop upon the Ledine plateau above Jezersko; the beautiful Rinka-Skuta ridge making the link westward.
The W, NW and N walls of Kriz (Koroska Rinka) (2433m) rise above the Ledine glacial basin and the N ridge leaves us off at the Savinja saddle. The E and NE walls are at the upper end of the Logarska Dolina valley, above the Okreselj basin.
Stajerska Rinka (2374m), with its N, NE and E face, most captures one's attention above Okreselj, the meadow at the upper end of the Savinja valley. The magnificent buttress is 600m tall.
The N, NE and SE walls of Mala Rinka (2289m) are the eastwardsmost of the Rinka group. The famous Turski Zleb ravine which comes down to Okreselj from the Mali Podi grounds separates Mala Rinka from Turska Gora to the E.
The heights were of course copied from a map; some publications differ.
GETTING THERE
Mountain-hiking routes to the summit(s), scrambles and one famous climb may be found in the left column, in the route section.
At the bottom of the column, in the related section, one may find huts and trailheads concerning these routes.
Specific huts, hut access and trailhead information may be found on each route page.
The Bivouac on Mali Podi (2070m) finely promotes winter alpine ascents in the Kranjska Rinka S face, and supports mountaineers, skiers, climbers and scramblers. It stands on the south brink of the Mali Podi plateau. We discover it as we arrive at the end of the ascent along the Crossing Zmavcarji route, or following the cairns from the marked paths on the Mali Podi grounds. It has 10 beds, blankets, a bench and a table (S approach: from the Kamniska Bistrica trailhead Hut, Crossing Zmavcarji or even Crossing Gamsov skret. N approach: from the Okreselj hut via Turski zleb. E approach: crossing Turska gora).
Maps:
Grintovci 1:25000
Kamnisko-Savinjske Alpe 1:50000
Steiner Alpen 1:50000
Steiner Alpen 1:50000
Red Tape
Unless expressly signalized (barrier, signpost), and upon your own responsibility, macadamized roads are allowed and visible on maps (these roads are mainly maintained for lumbering and hut cable station access purposes).
Fishing & hunting is regulated.
Wild camping and open fires are not allowed.
The Kamnik-Savinja Alps are part of the Natura 2000 program.
The Vellacher Kotschna is a Nature Conservation Area.
The Logar valley (Logarska dolina) is a Landscape Parc and there is a reasonable fee for the road up the valley, in the summer months during the daytime.
Camping
Kamnik
Luce
Ljubljana
Trzic
Voelkermarkt
Images
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