Everyone into nature with summer novelties...

Everyone into nature with PZS Alpine Publishing House summer novelties.



The PZS Alpine Publishing House presented novelties in the first summer days, relevant for adults and the youngest visitors to the mountain world: encyclopedic guides Julian Alps: Mangart Group and Jalovec Group (Jože Drab) and Western Julian Alps (Klemen Janša), updated edition of the climbing guide Repov Kot, Kamniška Bela (Tone Golnar, Silvij Morojna, Bojan Pollak), the first three laminated alpine maps (Triglav National Park, Kamnik-Savinja Alps and Karawanks – central part), Hiking Fun Book for young hikers and calendar for 2016. At the press conference on 30 June 2015 in Ljubljana, the Network of Non-Governmental Organizations for Recreation in Nature – Everyone into Nature also presented its activities, efforts to make fiscal cash registers not mandatory for smaller sports associations and associations in the public interest, inclusion of people with disabilities in sports and the importance of networking in sports.

The Alpine Association of Slovenia has started publishing a series of guides to the Julian Alps, which, like a true little encyclopedia, systematically describe everything in a given area, from the simplest marked trails to demanding off-trail paths and even easier climbing routes. They are suitable for hikers taking their first steps into the mountains as well as the most experienced trail followers and enthusiasts of off-trail paths and normal approaches to remote peaks. They are distinguished by their systematic approach and renewed graphic design, taking into account the modern user, with added GPS coordinates of all important points and illustrative photos to aid orientation.



The guide Julian Alps: Mangart Group and Jalovec Group focuses on the northwestern part of the Eastern Julian Alps with descriptions of the most famous Slovenian peaks, as well as some of the most valued spots for seekers of mountain solitude. Mangart and Jalovec are joined by panoramic Mojstrovke, the ridges of Bavški Grintavec and rocky Ponce, the forgotten Predelski Vršiči overgrown into wilderness, the Remšendol mountains and Ciprnik group, solitary Pelci, Pihavci and the mysterious slopes of Loška Stena. "The guide describes 124 peaks, as many as there are in the Mangart and Jalovec group, with more than 200 paths leading to them, from very popular marked ones through those that still need to be found, to paths of the second climbing grade. For easier orientation, 21 black-and-white images with drawn-in paths are added. The guide is intended for lovers of popular paths as well as true mountaineering connoisseurs who seek solitude in the mountains," said author Jože Drab.



Klemen Janša's guide to the Western Julian Alps brings descriptions of the enticing western part of the Julians, which are mostly on the Italian side of the border and do not even have such a detailed description in Italian. "The guide covers hills that are increasingly popular among Slovenians, besides well-visited peaks in the Kanin, Viš and Montaž groups, also some lesser-known areas, presented in Slovenian for the first time in such detail: rugged Naborje Mountains above the Dunja Valley, Muzec Ridge, long Stol and Karman Ridge, and forgotten peaks west of Strma Peč," highlighted editor Mojca Stritar Kučuk on the content.



Many mountain lovers venture above the Kamniška Bistrica Valley, so they will be pleased with the third, updated and corrected edition of the climbing guide Repov Kot, Kamniška Bela by authors Tone Golnar, Silvij Morojna and Bojan Pollak, published after 22 years. The walls have not changed substantially, but in the meantime alpinists have climbed more than fifty new routes and repeated many difficult ones free. Some alpinistic ski descents on demanding steep slopes have also been made. "The greatest progress is in the technical sense; we have included updated sketches, better photos and a more accurate map in the guide. Around 300 climbing routes are described, over 60 of them new, around 100 ascents in crags, ski touring descents have also been added," emphasized co-author Tone Golnar.



In cooperation with the Geodetic Society, the PZS Alpine Publishing House has issued the first three in a series of laminated alpine maps at 1:50,000 scale, namely Triglav National Park, Kamnik-Savinja Alps and Karawanks – central part, based on the latest status from the PZS hiking trails cadastre. These maps are more durable than paper ones, do not tear during use, folding is simple, you can write on them and erase what is written, the greatest advantage is their insensitivity to moisture and sun, but due to creases when folding, orientation from the top is more difficult with them, so the alpine association remains with classic paper maps as well. "PZS maps are prepared in a modern way and we regularly update them. Our goal is to renew the entire range of alpine maps in the next three years, including those that are commercially less interesting or cover less visited parts of Slovenia. It is worth emphasizing that by purchasing all PZS maps, we also contribute to collecting funds for the renewal of hiking trails and maintenance of the hiking trails cadastre," highlighted PZS General Secretary Matej Planko, announcing for this year the release of updated maps of Grintovci, Bohinj, Stol and Triglav at 1:25,000 scale. He also presented the 2016 alpine calendar, which again relies on quality photography and practicality.



For this summer season, the PZS Alpine Publishing House has prepared a long-awaited novelty for users who are often forgotten. The youngest mountain visitors will be delighted during holidays by the Hiking Fun Book, a workbook about mountains with tasks for fun, creativity, learning and education, prepared by Urška Stritar, Karmen Usar, Natalija Marovt and Mojca Stritar Kučuk, with illustrations by Petra Grmek. "It is intended for children aged 4 to 9, introducing them to the alpine world through three difficulty levels with play, creativity and mental challenges in a friendly way," said co-author Mojca Stritar Kučuk. Diverse tasks bring young hikers closer to numerous areas of alpinism in a fun yet educational way – alpine equipment, mountain plants and animals, dangers in the mountains, history, nature conservation, alpine organization and huts...



The novelties of the PZS Alpine Publishing House are a eloquent invitation to nature, where sports activities are also promoted by the Network of Non-Governmental Organizations for Recreation in Nature – Everyone into Nature, which started operating in 2014 as part of a project co-financed by the European Social Fund and the Ministry of Public Administration of RS. The partnership consists of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, the Olympic Committee of Slovenia and the Slovenian Disabled Sports Association, with other organizations also included in the network. "In the framework of previous activities, we have devoted the most attention to collaboration in shaping appropriate legislation, strengthening sports associations and direct support to interested associations in solving concrete challenges," emphasized project leader Damjan Omerzu.



PZS General Secretary Matej Planko shed light on joint efforts regarding the emerging law on invoice verification for the non-mandatory use of fiscal cash registers for smaller sports associations and associations in the public interest: "We propose that the final version of the law adds an exception that fiscal cash registers are not mandatory for associations with public interest status that do not exceed 20,000 euros in annual profit revenues. It seems to us that legislation must be practical, otherwise we fear a decline in the activities of associations that have numerous positive effects."



The NGO Network wants to make recreation in nature more accessible also to people with disabilities and other persons with special needs. "We want to emphasize that disability and disabled sports are not taboos, but that difference just needs to be accepted. It is valuable that people with disabilities can integrate into society through sports, which represents an important socialization bridge for them," said Damijan Lazar, President of the Slovenian Disabled Sports Association – Paralympic Committee.



Project participants have recognized the importance of networking and cooperation of various organizations. "Together we try to ensure better conditions for the operation of associations, inclusion of people with disabilities in sports and influence legislative decisions, as mutual cooperation is the foundation for developing sports through a project co-financed by European funds," concluded the press conference Aleš Šolar, Head of EU Projects at the Olympic Committee of Slovenia, who presented the importance of networking non-governmental organizations in various projects, issues and dialogue with public administration.