International Day of Mountains 2016: mountaineering culture

On Sunday, December 11, we celebrate the International Day of Mountains, observed since 2003 when, following the successful International Year of Mountains 2002, the UN General Assembly proclaimed this day a special day dedicated to mountains. Each year it is devoted to a selected theme, and this year it places mountaineering cultures at the center of attention through the prism of celebrating diversity and strengthening identity. The Alpine Association of Slovenia traditionally prepares a message, this year penned by PZS Vice-President Miro Eržen, focusing on the importance of the Slovenian Mountaineering Museum, Planinski vestnik, and Aljaž Tower as pillars of Slovenian mountaineering culture.



The Alpine Association of Slovenia and its membership are closely connected to the cultural dimension of mountain areas in Slovenia and beyond its borders. The field of mountaineering culture was strongly expressed already at the founding of the Slovenian Alpine Society. The basic purpose of its establishment, besides visiting mountains, was precisely to preserve the "Slovenian character of Slovenian mountains," which includes preserving Slovenian mountain names and, of course, discovering and emphasizing the need to preserve specific habits and customs of life of the inhabitants in mountain regions, which stemmed from survival needs in the mountain world. All this, along with experienced literary contributions on hiking in mountains, travelogues, and other fascinating contributions about the beauties of the mountain world, was published in the Planinski vestnik magazine established in 1895, which, besides numerous national-awakening and cultural events, was the most visible and credible chronicler and content companion of the cultural activities of the SPD. It was precisely at that time that mountaineering was recognized, due to its broad national-awakening and ethical influence on the spiritual experience of nature, not merely as a sports-recreational activity, but also as an important part of Slovenian identity and culture. It is particularly worth highlighting mountaineering as a valuable part of the cultural activities of our compatriots abroad, which served as an important pillar in preserving Slovenian identity during the times of greatest denationalizing pressures.



Although opinions on the so-called common Alpine culture in the Alpine region are divided, there is no doubt that common denominators exist in the awareness of mountain area inhabitants, which are more or less characteristic of the entire region and are largely captured in the Alpine Convention, of which Slovenia is also a signatory. Among these, efforts to preserve the Alps and mountain area settlement, limiting traffic, and sustainable tourism and recreation development can undoubtedly be included. Of course, numerous ethnological and linguistic peculiarities of the Alpine population must not be overlooked, which enrich this space and keep it unique in a globalized world. Awareness of its importance in the cultural field is evidenced by the inclusion of the Dolomites under UNESCO cultural heritage auspices and the efforts of Chamonix inhabitants to include traditional mountaineering in this world collection of cultural landmarks.



Slovenian mountaineering and alpinism, besides important contributions in core areas of activity (huts, trails, map publishing, education, alpinism, mountain rescue, hiking...), has contributed numerous works in literature, painting, film, and not least the Aljaž Tower on Triglav summit—as one of the most recognizable symbols of Slovenian identity—to the Slovenian cultural treasury. With persistent publication of Planinski vestnik and financial, above all content, contributions to the construction and operation of the Slovenian Mountaineering Museum, besides numerous activities carried out in associations, it continues to enrich the culture of people under Triglav. Most activities are performed voluntarily by mountaineers, which uniquely reflects the culture of mountaineers' relationship to the heritage of past generations and serves as a guide for young generations' work. With the emergence of numerous activities viewing the mountain world merely as an arena for their execution, the culture of relationship to nature will face severe trials in the future. Preserving Triglav National Park with its original mission while enabling harmonious development of its inhabitants will be a challenge not only for mountaineers but also for the state, which does not show a particularly responsible and respectful attitude toward mountaineering and its most prominent cultural symbols (Slovenian Mountaineering Museum, Planinski vestnik, and Aljaž Tower).



Miro Eržen, Vice-President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia