Good attendance at Slovenian mountain huts

The first half of the 2018 summer mountaineering season in Slovenian mountain huts has been successful, with the peak expected in the coming days and all the way to the end of August. Hut keepers are observing an ever-increasing number of foreigners, making the mountains, along with the network of mountain trails and huts, one of Slovenia's most important tourist products. To avoid excessive burden on the Triglav range in the summer months, the mountaineering organization is striving to disperse visitors across all mountainous and hilly areas of the country, aided by the Slovenian Mountain Trail and the Slovenian Mountain Biking Trail.



According to the latest data, Slovenian mountains are visited annually by 1.7 million visitors, for whom there are 180 mountain huts, shelters, and bivouacs with nearly 7,400 beds and more than 10,000 seats available. "The first half of the mountaineering season up to the end of July is comparable to the multi-year average. At the start of summer, attendance at mountain huts across Slovenia was quite poor due to unstable and unfavorable weather, but the last weeks show a much better picture. If this weather continues until the end of August, we can already speak of a very good mountaineering season. Some mountain huts in the Julian Alps are already recording exceptionally good results now. The network of mountain trails and huts is dispersed throughout Slovenia, and typically, in huts outside the high mountains, the main attendance is outside summer and most visitors are domestic. But mid-altitude and lower-lying mountain huts are also becoming attractive to foreign tourists and are recording a slight increase in foreign guests," provides the assessment of mountain hut attendance Dušan Prašnikar, professional associate of PZS for the Economic Commission sector, who also illuminates the great tourist significance of mountaineering infrastructure in Slovenia: "The share of foreigners who have overnighted in huts around Triglav so far is around 70 percent. Foreigners usually set off for the mountains even with poor weather forecasts. The increasing attendance of the Slovenian mountain world by foreigners also coincides with the general increase in foreign guests in Slovenia, who typically seek what Slovenia promotes - green, active, healthy. More and more tourists who do not regularly venture there are also heading to the mountains. Thus, the mountains together with the network of mountain trails and huts are becoming one of Slovenia's most important tourist products."



Dom Valentina Staniča below Triglav (2332 m, PD Javornik - Koroška Bela) is recording lower attendance than last year so far, but the peak of the mountaineering season is still coming. "Due to the weather or poor forecasts, even though there wasn't that much rain, we have about a third less attendance than last year so far, but better weather is already noticeable and the peak is approaching, which we expect from the end of this week all the way to the end of August. Foreigners predominate, who make up at least 80 percent in summer, mostly Croats and Germans, many Belgians and Dutch, this year we were visited by Finns, Romanians, Russians, Swedes, Swiss, Bosnians, French, Serbs, Israelis, Spaniards, Italians ... an extremely colorful crowd. Their main goal is of course the ascent to Triglav, and many visitors also walk the Slovenian Mountain Trail," says hut keeper Branimir Huzjak and adds that visitors make the hut staff's work "much easier if they reserve accommodation, which happens in 80 percent of cases, there are some cancellations due to weather, some don't notify that they won't come, usually Slovenians. It's hard when you have it booked and can't accept other hikers, then those with reservations don't show up. We always try to ensure everyone has a roof over their head." In the popular hut in the Julian Alps, they have installed a new dry toilet this year, some minor renovation works were done in and around the hut, and new additions are also hot water and a gas tank.



To avoid excessive burden on the Triglav range in the summer months, the mountaineering organization has been striving for more than twenty years to disperse attendance across all mountainous and hilly areas in Slovenia and encourages visiting also outside the main summer mountaineering season, of course with appropriate equipment and suitable psychophysical preparedness. Likewise, the development of new mountaineering activities such as sport climbing and mountain biking contributes to relieving the most visited peaks in the Julian and Kamnik-Savinja Alps. A special invitation for overnighting in mountain huts is also the Slovenian Mountain Trail, the oldest long-distance trail in the world and the most popular in Slovenia, and the Slovenian Mountain Biking Trail, the longest such trail in Europe.



The climbing area in the northwest face of Krofička with 30 bolted multi-pitch routes is attracting more and more alpinists to the Koča na Klemenči jami below Ojstrica (1208 m, PD Solčava), which is also gladly visited by hikers and tourists. This year at the hut, located not far from Slovenia's thickest larch tree, they have set up an outdoor grill, new swings, and even more accommodation options for visitors in front of the hut. "The first part of summer was disastrous due to rain, which was reflected in the drop in Slovenian attendance, but there were still quite a few foreigners despite that. Since the weather stabilized, the season is quite good, maybe even better than last year," assesses hut keeper Rado Novak: "During the week, there are about 70 percent foreigners, this year Belgians predominate, many Dutch, Germans, Czechs, and Poles also come, but on weekends there are mostly Slovenians. We are definitely visited by more foreigners every year, strong promotion from Logarska Dolina where they are accommodated helps us, and they come to Klemenča jama for an excursion. There are many tourists who come only to the hut, but also many hikers, for whom the most desired peak is of course Ojstrica." Since the fire destroyed Kocbekov dom on Korošica and Dom planincev in Logarska Dolina is closed this year, Koča na Klemenči jami and Frischaufov dom on Okrešelj are the only serviced huts in this part of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps this summer.



The Slovenian Mountain Biking Trail, which visits 52 lower-lying mountain huts, also leads to Planinski dom pri Gospodični on Gorjanci (828 m, PD Krka Novo mesto), which has been shaped by the Mrhar family for three decades. "Last year's season was record-breaking, unfortunately this year it hasn't repeated, mainly due to numerous showers and thunderstorms that often stopped locals who also visit us in the afternoons. Attendance here depends on the weather, when it's sunny the hut is maximally visited, at the beginning of summer there were significantly fewer visitors due to the weather, but looking at the whole, attendance is about ten percent lower than last year," explains tenant Blaž Mrhar, who would like to attract more foreign guests to Gorjanci, among whom Croats now lead. He emphasizes that foreigners' demands in more accessible mountain huts are higher, both regarding accommodation and food. In addition to hiking in the heart of Gorjanci and the famous Gospodična spring, about which Janez Trdina also wrote, the showpiece of the hut, known as one of the best maintained in Slovenian hills, remains the rich culinary offer: "Our guests know they eat very well here. We always have six different types of stews available, game goulash in a bread bowl and mushroom minestra are not missing, blueberry strudel is also very popular."



Mountain huts are connected by a network of more than ten thousand kilometers of mountain trails that crisscross practically the entire country. "In my opinion, Slovenian mountain trails are among the most beautiful in Europe, if not the world! They are well maintained and clearly marked, especially on more popular sections, they are also excellent if you seek peace and quiet, as even in summer they are mostly rarely overcrowded. The views are breathtaking in places and there are various difficulties for differently experienced hikers," is satisfied Briton Alex Jordan, who this summer is walking the Slovenian Mountain Trail from Maribor to Debeleg Rtič to raise funds for the charity project Botrstvo, so he is a regular visitor to mountain homes: "Slovenian mountain huts have often exceeded my expectations. All that I visited offered comfortable accommodation, tasty food - I am a fan of dishes like bográč, goulash, jota, ričet - and affordable prices for mountaineering association members. What enthused me most was the warm and friendly welcome from the staff in almost all huts. I really appreciate their kindness, as during my walk on the Slovenian Mountain Trail for Botrstvo I received so much help and support from all. I must particularly highlight the keepers of Dom Zorka Jelinčiča on Črna prst, who really went out of their way for me, so thank you Dejan and Nives."



At the peak of the summer mountaineering season, the Alpine Association of Slovenia emphasizes that everyone should choose a tour for which they are appropriately psychophysically prepared and have the suitable equipment that they know how to use. Before heading to the mountains, visitors should check the weather forecast, the condition of mountain trails, and the opening of mountain huts; reservation of accommodation and use of personal bedding are also recommended.