Struska / Baerentaler Kotchna

In Slovenian language č, š and ž are pronounced like ch, sh, and zh. Our mountain is written Struška.

What's New On This Page?

Bor - Struška in winter

> Jan 29th, 2021: Interactive map-guidebook embedded.
> Nov 9th, 2019: Geology chapter added.
> Jan 24th, 2019: Design corrections.
> Dec 25th, 2008: Map updated, more info about ski tours, the new road mentioned.
> Dec 30th, 2007: The chapter of Mačenski vrh added, more routes and pictures.
> Jan 10th, 2005: Pictures added, attached, detached to sections.
> Dec 26th, 2004: Initial page setup.

Overview

Early summer on the summit

For SummitPost purposes, it's best to describe small groups of Karawanks summits, rather than each distinct summit. This is also the case with Struška, a nice mountain shoulder, consisting of a few less important peaks.

Geographical Outline

In Struška region, the main crest of Karawanks is running in the NW-SE direction. The massif starts on Sedlo Suha / Maria-Ellend Sattel (saddle), 1439 m, where it is attached to Golica / Kahlkogel massif. The fist summit E of the saddle is Ptičji vrh / Kotschna, 1551 m. Austrian names here are a bit confused, namely, Kočna is the original name of the next broad saddle, cca 1500 m. This is a funny one. The southern, Slovenian side is a gentle, nice pasture, but when we step on the edge, suddenly a deep drop opens below us. The Austrian side is rocky and wild, very picturesque. SE of Kočna saddle the real Struška massif begins. The first summit in it is Korenščica, 1764 m, then a broad summit plateau continues to the highest point - Veliki vrh / Baerentaler Kotschna, 1944 m. Also further towards the SE this plateau continues; there's one more summit: Zijalke, 1875 m, after which the slopes of Struška massif lower on Medvedjak / Baerensattel, 1698 m, where the Stol / Hochstuhl subgroup already begins.

While the southern side of the mountain is opened, towards the north some more less important summits stand. The ridge from Struška's highest point, which goes towards the N, carries first the summit of Špičasti vrh / Grintoutz, 1653 m, still more towards the N stands the panoramic Mačenski vrh / Matschacher Gupf, 1691 m. On the southern side of the summit plateau there's a nice alpine meadow, called Belška planina, 1680 m, where a private hut stands (not open for public).

Geological Outline

The summit part of Struška range is all made of late Triassic limestone (Dachstein limest), the formation, which stretches over the highest summits of Karawanks further eastwards. The lower parts of the southern and northern side are more or less made of younger debris, intermitted with older Triassic limestones. On the northern side these are building the summit rocks of Špičasti vrh / Grintoutz. Matschacher Gupf / Mačenski vrh is however a whole different story. The recent agreement of scholars says that the famous Periadriatic Lineament cuts the rocks on its southern slopes, that is why the 60 m thick patch of Wetterstein limestone on the summit reveals it belongs to the Nothern chain of Karawanks. But otherwise the picture of this mountain rocks is very distorted.

What To Do There?

As the whole Karawanks range also Struška is ideal for hiking. Especially nice is traversing the whole massif. In winter and spring, there are excellent slopes for tour skiing. In recent years, since the road on Belška planina is made, the ski tour from Struška is becoming one of the most popular in Karawanks. If the road above Javorniški rovt is cleaned, the tour can be done in half a day. And, as the whole Karawanks range, also Struška offers a great panorama, especially towards the south, where the whole Julian Alps group can be seen.

There's one more special attraction of these hills. Mid May, when snow is already away, and grenery covers these hills, suddenly all these slopes turn into white again. It's daffodils blossom time. Although in the past, when these meadows were cut regularly, the density of daffodils was even bigger, also nowadays every visitor is surprised, seeing flower by flower, wherever you turn around. This is a big attraction of these hills and every mid May a feast is organised on Planina pod Golico.

Matschacher Gupf / Mačenski vrh, 1691 m

Mačenski vrh / Matchacher Gupf from the main summit

Quite remote from the main summit of Struška, far towards the north above Drau / Drava valley, the summit of Matschacher Gupf / Mačenski vrh rises. It is actually the westernmost high summit of the northern chain of Karawanks, but as for now it will not get its own page, I'll describe it here. Steep and crumbly on the western side, and on the upper 200 meters also steep on the southern side, with a broad clearing on top it is a perfect panorama summit. Let the pictures below talk!

Hochalmspitze

East views

Drau/Drava valley

Summit Panorama

As every high summit of Karawanks, also Struška offers a great panorama on all sides. Here are just some examples.

Getting There

Bor - Winter time below Struška

For the general overview, see the Karawvanks GROUP page!

From the south, we start ascending Struška from the main Sava valley. From Jesenice town, two good roads ascend towards the north.

The western one goes to Planina pod Golico and further towards Savske jame and up towards Markljev rovt (pasture) and Pusti rovt (pasture). These forest roads are build further and further every year, but some end sections are closed for public traffic. You can now park on altitudes around 1200m.

The eastern road goes from Jesenice towards Javorniški rovt and further towards Struška. You can park around the mountain hut on the altitude of some 1000m or, if you drive on, higher, on some 1200m.

From the north the most suitable option is the ascent from Baerental. You enter this valley in Feistritz in Kaernten and can drive up to the mountain hut on the altitude of 960m.

You can see a detailed map on: http://www.austrianmap.at/.
Classical map: Planinska zveza Slovenije: Karavanke, 1:50000.

Pusti rovt

Plavc farm

Haubi - Pusti rovt

Routes Overview

See full screen

In summer 1. From the S, through Medji dol. Medji dol is a broad valley, covered with forest, coming to the saddle between Struška massif and Stol massif from the SW. The valley can be reached either from Javornik (from near the power station and its lake, or from the mountain hut), or from the NW, from one of the forrest roads. Medji dol brings us to Medvedjak saddle and from there we hike to the summit. Easy hike, also a nice ski tour. From Javornik 3 h.   2. From the NW, from Kočna saddle. We can reach Kočna pastures either by the main crest (from Suha saddle and below Ptičji vrh) or from one of the two alpine pastures below - from Markljev rovt or from Pusti rovt. From Kočna saddle we first go by the marked path towards the south. There we reach an open, grassy ridge (we step over the fence), where we decide whether to prolongate horizontally to Belška planina (pasture) and from there to the summit or directly by the ridge up, by Korenščica summit and then over the summit plateau to the highest peak. The first variant is marked till the hut, further on, there's also a good path.

Kočna saddle

The direct variant by the W ridge is harder to find. The beginning is obvious. An ex frontiers path takes us up and when the ridge gets covered with dwarf pines in avoids a rocky bump by the right side. Above it goes by the main ridge all the time. Keep left as much as possible, just by the edge. Then you cross anice plateau. Above it, you will have to turn right. Following animal paths you get out of dwarf pines on the southern side and proceed there on top. Very nice hiking, especially when spring is on mountains. By this route you can also do a ski tour. Altogether an easy hike, some steep grassy slopes. From the road 3 h.

In recent years, from Pusti rovt a new mountain road was build on Belska planina. This means of course a serious deterioration of nature. More and more people are coming on Struška, in summer and in winter. The road shortens the approach, because we don't need to go on Kočna saddle any more. Because of this road recently Struška became one of the most popular summits for tour skiing. In normal conditions, the tour can be done in half a day.

3. From the E, from Baerental. From the parking place near the Stouhuette (hut) we follow the marked path towards the SW. Over some nice meadows and through some steeper forest sections we reach Medvedjak saddle. There we turn right and in the NW direction ascend the summit. 3 h.

4. From Plavc farm. Above Baerental/Rute there's a nice and old Plavc farm, 1143 m, where we can park. A marked path goes from there towards the SW, first over the Plavc meadow, then further towards the main summit. Getting below it, we avoid the steepest part towards the right and reach the main ridge west of the main summit. 2 h 15 min from the farm.

5. Through Mala Suha valley. We first go some 45 min by the marked route towards Gipssattel / Mrzla raven, then continue right towards the south. In the upper part the tiny path goes towards the right and reaches the main ridge far on the west, above Kočna saddle. Then by the main ridge on top. 3 h 30 min from the main valley, not marked, difficulkt orientation!

Nice ski slopes above Belška planina

Ski tours

1. Through Medji dol (like #1 of the above summer tours). The finest terrains are in the upper part.

2. Western slopes (like #2 of the above summer tours). The passage below Korenscica is narrow, but in good conditions (a lot of snow) possible. The upper plateau is quite flat for skiing. Today, as said almost everybody is skiing from Belska planina down by the new road, or, cutting the part just above Pusti rovt by a flat valley, cleared of trees.

3. Ski tours towards the north and east are not described, but should be possible in good conditions (if enough snow).

Red Tape

Early summer on Struška

Sunbathing

No limitations. For Karavanke tunnel you must pay toll.

When To Climb

Struška can be ascended any time of the year.

Mountain Huts

> Dom Pristava, 975 m, parking place,
> Stouhuette, 960 m, parking place. Rieder Margarethe, Bärental 7, A-9181 Feistritz im Rosental, tel.: 04228/2590.

Your Help Needed

• Do you have experience and pictures from the northern ascents?
• Any fun picture from the summit plateau skiing?