Bivouacs Exclusively as Emergency Shelters

Bivouacs exclusively as emergency shelters, also the new bivouac Za Akom.

As part of the project Bivaki za bele vrhove, the new Bivak III Za Akom above Gozd-Martuljek in the Julian Alps opened this autumn. The Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) emphasizes that these simply equipped mountain shelters are intended exclusively as emergency refuges or as starting points for alpine and more demanding mountain tours, and warns about the peculiarities of autumn mountain visits.

Bivak III stands just above the Za Akom cirque below Široka peč in the Martuljek mountains. The new bivouac was erected this year on the same foundations as the previous one from 1946 and is identical in design and size to the original. The bivouac structure and cladding are made of aluminium, while the interior is lined with wood. The bivouac offers space for up to five people on simple beds and one bed on a bench, has a small table and a stove. The bivouac is permanently open, and is maintained by the Alpine Section of the Jesenice Mountaineering Club. Access to the bivouac is from Gozd-Martuljek along the mountain path to the lower part of the Za Akom cirque. Below the cirque is a steep step, over which the demanding path is secured with a steel cable, and above this step an unmarked beaten path leads to the bivouac.

Bivouacs are small, simply equipped mountain shelters for four to ten people. They usually stand in high mountains where there are no mountain huts nearby. They are permanently open, though in some cases a key must be obtained from the caretaker. They are intended exclusively as emergency refuges or starting points for alpine tours. There is no catering in a bivouac – no staff, no food, usually no heating and no drinking water; there are typically only sleeping surfaces, a few blankets and a table. Always leave the bivouac tidy and clean, do not smoke in it, and take all your equipment and rubbish back down to the valley. Reservations are not possible, and visitors should behave respectfully, tolerantly and in solidarity towards others. Never enter the bivouac wearing crampons, and be very careful and responsible when using stoves or candles, as stated by the Alpine Association of Slovenia in the bivouac usage instructions. In most cases, demanding off-trail terrain and unmarked mountain paths lead to and from bivouacs, and walking off-trail requires an experienced individual with knowledge of orientation and the use of appropriate equipment. Bivouacs are simple yet exceptional architectural and cultural heritage, so we maintain a respectful attitude towards them. There are 17 bivouacs and 159 mountain huts in Slovenia.

“At the Alpine Association of Slovenia, we warmly welcome the construction of the new bivouac, which represents an important contribution to safer and more sustainable mountain visits. It is not just an object, but a symbol of cooperation, responsibility and care for the mountain environment. We thank Pivovarna Laško Union as the initiator of the project and partners SloPak, Talum, Impol and Kolektor KOV for their contribution to realising the initiative, which will serve generations of visitors,” said Jože Rovan, president of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, and emphasised that bivouacs differ significantly from mountain huts as they are not serviced: “Bivouacs are small and simply equipped mountain shelters intended exclusively as emergency refuges – in the event of sudden weather deterioration, exhaustion, injury or darkness. They often also serve as starting points for alpine and more demanding mountain tours. They are not free holiday facilities, nor hotels or glamping facilities, and are not intended for multi-day stays, comfortable overnight accommodation or private gatherings, but represent part of the basic infrastructure for safer movement in the mountain world.”



The Alpine Association therefore calls on visitors to respect the purpose of bivouacs and to behave responsibly in the mountains. “Although high-mountain huts have already closed their doors, mid-altitude and lower-lying huts remain open, enabling safe and pleasant mountain visits even in the colder part of the year. During autumn tours, shorter days, a higher likelihood of fog, the possibility of sudden weather deterioration with snowfall and slippery paths often covered with leaves must be taken into account. Thoughtful route planning and checking current information on terrain conditions are key. Unfortunately, accidents never rest, and everyone involved in the Bivaki za bele vrhove project was deeply shaken by the news that, after the final work on erecting the new bivouac, Anže Mrak, director of Kolektor KOV d.o.o. and member of the Žirovnica Mountaineering Club, suffered a fatal accident during the descent. With deep respect, we preserve the memory of his expertise and dedication,” added PZS president Jože Rovan.

The Bivaki za bele vrhove project, initiated by the Laško Union brewery, officially began in April 2024 with the ambitious goal of creating a new bivouac in the Slovenian mountains from waste aluminium cans. Between May and September, volunteers, mountaineers and mountain visitors collected cans at 14 of the most visited mountain starting points in Slovenia – two tonnes were collected, or approximately 117,000 waste cans. In October, SloPak prepared the collected cans for recycling, while Talum melted the aluminium in November and December and remelted it into high-quality raw material. In early 2025, Impol rolled the aluminium raw material into sheets intended for bivouac production, and Kolektor KOV shaped and assembled the structure from these sheets between March and June. After completion, the Alpine Association of Slovenia obtained all necessary permits for the erection of the first bivouac in the project between June and July 2025, replacing the existing Bivak III Za Akom. The erection of the new bivouac represents the symbolic conclusion of the circular project, connecting sustainability, community and a responsible attitude towards the mountain environment.