A Multitude of Mountaineers at the All-Slovenian Mountaineering Gathering on Janče

A multitude of mountaineers at the all-Slovenian mountaineering gathering on Janče.

Around 1300 mountaineers from all over Slovenia and the border regions gathered on 1 June at the Slovenian Mountaineers’ Day on Janče. In the jubilee year of the 130th anniversary of Planinski vestnik and Aljaž Tower, the 120th anniversary of the Litija Mountaineering Club and the 50th anniversary of the European long-distance path E6, the all-day mountaineering atmosphere was marked, besides socialising, by mountaineering hikes, a touring cycling trip, climbing on the climbing tower, campfire, demonstrations of the work of trail markers and mountain rescuers, protection of mountain nature, and other experiences for mountaineers of all generations. On Janče, they also announced the best mountaineering trail 2025 – the trail from Logarska dolina via Okrešlj to Kamniško sedlo will be renovated.

The traditional Slovenian Mountaineers’ Day 2025 was jointly organised at the start of the summer mountaineering season by the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) and the Mountaineering Club (PD) Litija, which is celebrating 120 years this year. 2025 is also a jubilee year for the 130-year-old Planinski vestnik, the oldest still-published Slovenian magazine; this year marks 130 years since the erection of Aljaž Tower on the summit of Triglav and 180 years since the birth of Jakob Aljaž; the European long-distance path E6 is also celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Mountaineers from near and far set out for Janče from Litija, Jevnica and Laze, where many arrived by train; touring cyclists rode to the Mountaineering Home on Janče along the Slovenian Touring Cycling Path from Šmartno pri Litiji; disabled mountaineers also reached the highest point of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. Young and adult mountaineers were thrilled by the campfire of the PZS Youth Commission with roasting treats, the ever-attractive climbing on the climbing tower, workshops on mountain nature protection and painting trail markings, demonstrations of mountain rescuers’ equipment, and presentations of 120 years of PD Litija, 50 years of the European long-distance path E6, and local providers of the Fruit Road.

On Janče, the central event was solemnly opened by the arrival of flag-bearers from 46 mountaineering clubs to the mountaineering anthem Oj, Triglav, moj dom performed by baritone Darko Vidic, a member of the Slovenian Octet. The cultural programme was also enriched with song and recitation by pupils of the Janče Branch Primary School. “The homeliness on Janče is always shared, like bread, like a song that goes among people,” nodded the crowd of 1300 mountaineers from near and far to the young performers.

With great satisfaction, the president of the Alpine Association of Slovenia Jože Rovan greeted the crowd of mountaineers, as always topical in his address: “The foundation of our work remains volunteering, for which we rightly reap recognition in the eyes of both the sporting and wider public. It is good that many, though stretched between numerous duties, always find time again for work in the mountaineering organisation. Unfortunately, our enthusiasm is not enough for the further development of mountaineering. There are ever more of us on the mountaineering trails, both domestic and foreign mountaineers, for which we can be happy and proud. Yet our infrastructure – mountaineering trails, huts and natural climbing sites – groans under the burden of ever-greater mountain visits. Our huts operate in incomparably more difficult conditions than tourist facilities in the valley; in the short summer season they barely cover current maintenance costs, and funds are always lacking for ecological and energy upgrades. Maintenance unfortunately rests largely on the shoulders of dedicated club workers and the modest means of mountaineering clubs, so the PZS leadership persistently strives to secure a permanent source of funding for hut modernisation, similar to that for mountaineering trails.”

On 5 August 1905 the Litija branch of the Slovenian Mountaineering Society was founded, and its successor, PD Litija, is among the most active mountaineering clubs in Slovenia. “We can be proud as a club that lives and works well and offers members a wide range of activities. We are aware that good work with youth is a guarantee for active work in the club, as they are the future generation of guides, trail markers, and ultimately active members in the mountaineering organisation,” emphasised Alma Jere, president of PD Litija. Glad that mountaineering knows no borders and that Janče is a hill that connects were also the mayors of the municipalities of Litija Franci Rokavec and Šmartno pri Litiji Blaž Izlakar, who also congratulated PD Litija on its venerable jubilee.

The all-Slovenian mountaineering holiday on Janče was also the day of Zasavje mountaineers and the day of the Zasavje Mountaineering Trail. Mountaineers along the Sava from Litija to the Croatian border and partly in the lower Savinja valley are united in the Inter-Club Committee of Zasavje Mountaineering Clubs, led by Jože Prah, also president of the Commission for European Long-Distance Paths in Slovenia, “paths that connect in love for fellow human beings and nature”. The president of PZS Rovan and Litija mayor Rokavec signed the charter of mayors of municipalities where E6 runs in Slovenia and in larger places across Europe, which this year celebrates half a century. Prah also awarded recognitions for the best photographs in the competition Zasavska planinska pot ima tri obraze, received by Majda Zupan, Jože Hvala, Miro Četrtič and Vinko Šeško.

At the event they announced the winner of the Best Mountaineering Trail 2025 selection. This title, together with funds for renovation from Zavarovalnica Triglav, this year went to the demanding mountaineering trail from Logarska dolina via Okrešlj to Kamniško sedlo, cared for by PD Celje Matica. On Siol.net the selection for the best mountaineering hut has been running for the eleventh year, in which mountain visitors can vote until 10 September for their favourite among 147 Slovenian mountaineering huts. At the popular Mountaineering Home on Janče, the all-Slovenian mountaineering gathering continued long into the afternoon to the sounds of the ensemble Osvajalci.