Kotovo sedlo or Jalovčev Ozebnik is currently the only downhill tour in Slovenia where you start the tour with your skis right at the car.
The area through which the cross-country trail runs in normal winter is quite icy, but somehow with a little ingenuity it is possible to get to the House in Tamarje without taking off your skis and your skins grip well. The road intended for mountaineers is useless for skiers, as it is covered with sand from Planica to the home
From home onwards through the forest, the snow cover thickens and moving on skis becomes easier and faster. When moving to open areas, however, we currently encounter the first problems, as Tuesday's rain has created a completely icy layer here. Walking with dogs is very difficult due to sliding, so don't delay with serenades.
Persistence is quickly rewarded, however, as the conditions at the first major slopes, somewhere below the Šit wall, completely change and the snow becomes friendlier. Apparently, the snow line was somewhere around here. Continuing to the top is easiest and safest with crampons and ice ax in hand.
The top of the saddle brought us quite a bit of wind today, so we didn't hang around there much. The start of the descent is quite icy. On the slopes below Ozebnik, the snow quickly becomes more beautiful and very favorable for skiing, of course for the current conditions and this year's winter. Everything changes again when we reach the forest area, as here we return to a completely frozen surface. Caution is not superfluous here, and progress slows down a bit. However, you can get to the House without any major problems, of course you have to dodge rocks and roots, but there is no tiresome taking off and putting on your skis.
From Dom to Planica, it is best to go on foot, as the previously mentioned road is strewn with stones and it is better to save it for skis.
The summary of the tour is, of course, strongly related to this year's winter, which has not yet brought us much joy from the snow. But it is nice to see that even with such conditions, in our Julian Alps, there are still tours and peaks that offer us the pleasure of going up and down with skis, even if the access higher up is a little more difficult.
