Good attendance and numerous improvements in mountain huts

The Economic Commission of the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) conducted an assessment of the performance of mountain hut operations in the middle of the 2016 summer alpine season based on a questionnaire. There are 179 mountain huts, shelters, and bivouacs in Slovenia, of which 164 are serviced mountain huts. The weather, which significantly affects visits to the mountains and mountain huts, was variable and not the most favorable in May and June, while clearer July weather attracted more visitors to the mountains. According to the current assessment, the season in the mountain huts is approximately equal to the average of the last five years.



"According to the assessment, about three-quarters of the mountain huts have approximately the same number of visitors in the first half of the season as the five-year average. Some huts record better attendance, some worse. Both in the number of overnights and in the number of overnights by foreign guests, two-thirds of the huts are at the five-year average level, while among the remaining huts, slightly more record fewer overnights, though some still have more overnights. In terms of total revenue, half of the huts estimate that revenue is equal to the average of the last five years. Comparatively, the 2015 season was very good, 2014 was distinctly poor, and the 2016 season is somewhere in the average or comparable to 2012 and 2013," summarized Dušan Prašnikar, PZS expert collaborator for the Economic Commission.



The main achievement for a large number of mountain huts in 2016 is the installation of functioning internet and fiscal cash registers, which legislation requires for all mountain huts without exception. In addition, several improvements were made in the mountain huts before the season, such as sewage treatment plants, landscaping, kitchen renovations, water supply, water tanks, facades, and replacement of roof coverings and gutters.



Alpine associations face various problems due to increasingly difficult conditions for labor in the huts. "Due to stricter legislation that allows no exceptions, it is harder to recruit staff for mountain huts and it is also more expensive for alpine associations. At lower-lying huts and mid-mountain huts, the trend of less interest in overnight stays continues. Huts also face problems such as water supply, accessibility to the hut, obtaining documentation, and staff issues," explains Prašnikar, adding that the PZS Economic Commission conducted the first trainings for mountain hut keepers in April, which were very well received by participants and will continue in the future.



Among high-altitude huts, Triglavski dom na Kredarici (2515 m, PD Ljubljana - Matica) boasts an excellent season; it is celebrating 120 years these days. Due to its location and historical significance, it has become the central hut in the Triglav range and is today Slovenia's largest mountain hut in terms of capacity and actual overnights. "This season is above average, though not record-breaking like last year. We are doing well, and the hut is almost fully occupied; weekends are booked until early September. If the weather is suitable for high-mountain visits, it will be busy during the week too," said Herman Uranič, confirming significant foreign visits: "So far, around 65 percent have been foreigners; in August, more Slovenian hikers visit us, so I expect a 50-50 ratio. Among foreign visitors, there are mostly Germans, Austrians, Czechs, French, Dutch, and English." Uranič, who was the keeper of Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih for several years, also praises the equipment of hikers, which improves year by year, and as a novelty, the hut offers rental of self-belay kits, helmets, and climbing harnesses for a symbolic fee or deposit. The new keeper team has also expanded the menu, offering a truly wide choice; cooking at Slovenia's highest mountain hut is based on fresh vegetables and home preparation.



Nika and Tone Čop, keepers of Prešernova koča na Stolu (2174 m, PD Javornik – Koroška Bela), are also satisfied with the attendance. "Until June 20, the weather was exceptionally bad, so there were almost no visitors; later, attendance improved and was very good in July. If stable weather continues into the second half of summer, it looks like we'll have more overnights this year than last. Slovenian hikers are mostly day visitors here, while foreigners on longer tours more often overnight. There are mostly Croats, Czechs, Dutch, also Belgians, Germans, French; we've also been visited by Americans, Israelis, even a New Zealander and a Singaporean," says Čop, adding that they adapt the offer to the hut's capabilities, which depend on rainwater for water and mostly on wind and solar cells for electricity; they cook on a wood stove and gas stove, but hikers can count on good alpine stew, struklji, sausages, and more. In August, the hut celebrates a major addition – tanks for heating water for household use.



"Attendance this year is much better than last year, even though the weather was nice then too, so we are really surprised. In twenty years, we have tripled the revenue in the hut," boasts Alojz Lotrič, president of PD za Selško dolino Železniki, which manages Krekova koča na Ratitovcu (1642 m): "We are best known for flancati, like Trojane for donuts, which attracts hikers from near and far. In recent years, visits by young families have increased here, there are also many other visitors from all over Slovenia, foreigners about the same as last year." The hut, located on the summit ridge of Ratitovec, is most often chosen by day visitors, with few overnights, only for hikers on longer tours toward Triglav and families. About 40 individuals from the alpine association are active in servicing the hut, rotating throughout the year, and in summer, they alternately assist keeper Anica Lotrič on weekends. They focus on alpine stews; besides flancati, they offer ocvirkovka and pehtranova potica. In recent years, they have installed a sewage treatment plant, new sanitary facilities, a water reservoir, and renovated part of the hut, which proved to be a very good investment, Lotrič emphasizes.



Among the larger visible investments in Slovenian mountain huts is the new exterior of Dom na Menini planini (1453 m, PD Gornji Grad), which attracts admiration with its larch facade; they also have a larch terrace, and a new sewage treatment plant. Branka Ermenc is the keeper for the first year but assesses this year's attendance as good: "In July and the first days of August, we had good attendance. Menina planina is not a starting point but an alpine destination, so most return to the valley, and we have few overnights; but because it is easily accessible from both the Savinja and Tuhinj valleys, we are visited by hikers, cyclists, and tourists who come to enjoy the beauties and alpine delicacies." The new keeper has preserved the tradition of ciganski golaž on Menina planina and attracts visitors with locally flavored delicacies such as air-dried homemade žlikrofi, Zgornjesavinjski želodec, homemade cheese, apple strudel, curd slice, and occasionally sour milk.



Among the lower-lying huts in northeast Slovenia, Planinski dom na Boču (658 m, PD Poljčane), recipient of the family-friendly mountain hut certificate since last year, which attracts many young hikers, rejoices in good attendance. "This season is classic; overnights are fully booked, mostly within school, extracurricular, and kindergarten activities, as we are popular due to our lower elevation and easy accessibility, even for hikers from Prekmurje, Prlekija, Ptuj, for whom Boč is the first higher hill. During holidays, grandparents with grandchildren visit us a lot to escape to cooler areas; on weekends, families and groups also come for celebrations," says long-time keeper Bojan Kamenšek. Štajerski Triglav, as Boč's nickname has stuck, attracts in all seasons with the viewpoint tower, and in spring also with Easter flowers growing not far from the alpine home, where besides other alpine dishes, one can enjoy bočki lonec.



At the peak of the summer alpine season, which lasts from mid-July to mid-September, the Alpine Association of Slovenia emphasizes that everyone should choose a tour for which they are appropriately physically and mentally prepared and have the suitable equipment they know how to use. Before heading to the mountains, visitors should check the weather forecast, trail conditions, and hut openings; booking accommodation and using one's own bedding is also recommended.