1500 Mountain Lovers in Bohinjska Bistrica

On Saturday, June 14, 2014, Bohinjska Bistrica and its surroundings were the scene of numerous mountaineering experiences and a true mountaineering celebration. On the Day of Slovenian Mountaineers or Day of Slovenian Mountaineering Experiences, around 1500 mountaineers of all ages and regions of Slovenia gathered under the peaks in Bohinj to celebrate the 120th anniversary of Orožnova koča (the first hut of the Slovenian Alpine Association), undeterred by the rainy weather forecast and rewarded with a beautiful day. At the same time, we opened the summer mountaineering season, as mountain huts open their doors during this time.



The Alpine Association of Slovenia has been organizing the Day of Slovenian Mountaineers for more than 30 years. In the last three years, however, it has enriched and modified the program with diverse events throughout the day (from hikes, excursions, tours to creative workshops and hikes for the youngest mountaineers, GRS workshops, mountain bike tours ...) for all age groups – from the youngest to adult mountaineers. In addition to the main organizer, the Alpine Association of Slovenia, co-organizers were PD Bohinjska Bistrica and PD Srednja vas v Bohinju, as well as Turizem Bohinj, and the Municipality of Bohinj supported the event. This year's all-Slovenian mountaineering event was dedicated to the 120th anniversary of Orožnova koča – the first hut of the Slovenian Alpine Association (whose successor is PZS). The Bohinj residents opened the exhibition Orožnova koča through time on the evening before the Slovenian mountaineers' holiday, and you can view the exhibition until the end of June in the Cultural Center Joža Ažman in Bohinjska Bistrica. This year's novelty was the option to arrive in Bohinjska Bistrica by train from Ljubljana and Nova Gorica.



The morning events took place at several event venues and on various excursions, strolls, hikes, and bike tours – participants chose their participation according to their wishes, and participation was free everywhere. The Alpine Association of Slovenia, together with the co-organizers, emphasized quality mass participation and, in caring for the environment, invited mountaineers and mountain lovers to various paths around Bohinjska Bistrica and its surroundings – of different difficulties and lengths, and also provided transport to the starting points and back using public transport. With PZS guides and mountain bike guides from the Mountaineering Associations Srednja vas v Bohinju and Bohinjska Bistrica, mountain lovers and pleasant group socializing set off to Orožnova koča on Planina za Liscem, to Rudnica, Vodnikov razglednik, Planina Zajamniki, some viewed Bohinjska Bistrica and its surroundings, while pedal and mountain enthusiasts headed to the southern Bohinj hills.

Young and youngest mountaineers participated in two guided family excursions – to the source of the Bistrica River and to Rudnica. In front of the Danica Hall in Bohinjska Bistrica, they enjoyed social games, mountain-themed workshops (music and mountains, creating with stones, mountain rescue service workshop), as well as climbing on the PZS climbing tower and riding the mountain rescue service cable car.

For all participants who came from near and far, primarily to be together with friends, socialize, and experience mountaineering as a way of life, refreshments (food and drink) were also provided.



At the ceremonial event in Danica Hall in Bohinjska Bistrica, the speakers in the cultural program – Mayor of the Municipality of Bohinj Franc Kramar, PZS President Bojan Rotovnik, President of PD Srednja vas v Bohinju Janez Korošec, and President of PD Bohinjska Bistrica Damjan Gašperin – emphasized the importance and popularity of mountaineering in Slovenia, where its importance for tourism is still not recognized everywhere, but mountaineering is tourism, and Bohinj is well aware of this. Bohinj is practically the cradle of mountaineering, as four brave men first climbed Triglav from here. It also has the oldest hut of the Slovenian Alpine Association (whose successor is PZS) on the Bohinj end – Orožnova koča on Planina za Liscem. PZS President Rotovnik presented the book Slovenian Mountaineering to President of PD Srednja vas v Bohinju Janez Korošec and former (long-time) President of PD Bohinjska Bistrica Janko Lapajne in gratitude for their long-term and dedicated work in mountaineering.

The cultural program was enriched by the Male Choir Franc Urbanc, the Bohinj Wind Band, and the Nalet Ensemble, which took the numerous gathered mountaineers, mountain lovers, and participants into a sociable afternoon.



To the participants of this all-Slovenian mountaineering holiday, we presented the work and activities of PZS, editions of the PZS Mountaineering Publishing House, Planinski vestnik, mountaineering equipment, 2014 Alpine Driving Rules, activities of Triglav National Park, and the Bohinj mountain rescue service station at the event venue. They also viewed the exhibitions of the Alpine Association of Slovenia and the exhibition Orožnova koča through time in the Cultural Center Joža Ažman in Bohinjska Bistrica.



Along with the day of Slovenian mountaineering experiences, the 3rd gathering of mountaineering association standard bearers also took place, with 50 standard bearers from mountaineering associations across Slovenia participating, who gave the ceremonial event additional solemn character with a procession accompanied by the band. At the gathering, discussions were held on the adopted Instructions for the Use of the Emblem, Flag, and Anthem of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, and on possible proposals for amendments or additions to the Regulations on Flags, Standard Bearers, and Procedures; they exchanged experiences and examples of good practices in the field of standard bearers' work in PDs, and the Inter-Association Committee of Mountaineering Associations of Carinthia also presented their PD standard bearer uniform.



On this day, we also celebrated the 60th anniversary of PD Bohinjska Bistrica with the Bohinj residents, but the celebration is not over yet, as it will continue on July 13 with the day of Bohinj mountaineers, on August 3 with the day of alpine guides, and on September 7 with the day of the Bohinj Mountaineering Trail.