Klemenča Jama Hut best high-mountain...

Klemenča Jama Hut best high-mountain and Valvasor Hut best mountain hut 2018.



Mountain visitors in the summer campaign of the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) and digital media Siol.net Best Mountain Hut 2018, in which 158 Slovenian huts participated, crowned the Hut on Klemenča Jama under Ojstrica as the best high-mountain hut, and the Valvasor Hut under Stol can boast the title of best mountain hut for the third time. The selected huts are a positive example for the rest, as PZS wants to raise the attitude towards visitors and the service to a higher quality level in all mountain huts.



The traditional summer selection of the most popular mountain hut has this year been upgraded with a separate category for 29 high-mountain huts that deserve it due to more demanding working conditions and more difficult access, and this year all serviced huts participated for the first time. Mountaineers and readers of www.siol.net thus selected among 158 mountain huts in the first round of voting that strive for the well-being and warm shelter of mountain visitors, advancing a top ten to the final and thus showing that they appreciate the efforts of the caretakers and the hospitality of the mountain huts.



The flattering title of best high-mountain hut 2018 has been earned by the Hut on Klemenča Jama under Ojstrica, which at 1208 meters dominates over the Logar Valley and is managed by the Mountaineering Association (PD) Solčava. "Being selected as the best high-mountain hut is huge praise for us after so many years of work and effort. I couldn't wish for a better recognition, and besides, it's one of the best promotions, given that our hut is not on the Slovenian Mountain Trail and is therefore less visited. But that's actually our added value, as despite the growing number of visitors there is no big rush and you can devote yourself to each guest, talk to them about mountain trails, other huts, inform them about everything they are interested in or need to know," summarized the first impressions of the surprised caretaker Rado Novak, who has been breathing with the post under Ojstrica for seven years.



The Hut on Klemenča Jama, starting point for ascents to Krofička, Strelovec, Ojstrica and Planjava, not far from it reigns the thickest larch in Slovenia, attracts not only mountaineers and more and more tourists, but also alpinists due to the nearby climbing area in the wall of Krofička, and every visitor remembers the wooden swing shaped like a mountain eagle. "Klemenča Jama has a very special atmosphere. From here opens a fantastic view of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, from Krofička, Ojstrica and Planjava to Brana, Turska gora, Rinka and Mrzla gora, on the other side the Karawanks ridge appears. Everyone who comes here for the first time has their eyes and mouth open for a while, then starts talking and orders something," vividly describes Novak and explains what makes a good head of a mountain hut: "You have to be a caretaker with soul and body, while you work, nothing else exists but the hut and the guests, who are of course first. You have to be friendly and go along with them, adapt to them reciprocally. Good offer is important - both tasty food and cold drinks that must not run out, clean rooms, tidy toilets, general hygiene play an equally important role. Accessibility of the hut, maintained paths and tidy surroundings, promotion in the valley, cooperation with the mountaineering association add a lot... If you connect it all into a complete whole, success is guaranteed."



The best mountain hut has become the Valvasor Hut under Stol for the third time, which celebrated in 2014 and 2016 and thus continues the victorious campaign of PD Radovljica, as last year the Roblek Hut on Begunjščica managed by the same association won the award. "The third title of best mountain hut is just confirmation that the good attendance, which is rising again last year and this year, is no coincidence - and vice versa, that the title is no coincidence given the good attendance. Everyone likes to go where they feel good, where they know they will eat something good, where they will meet a positive team... and thus good reputation spreads," emphasizes Aleš Štefe, who has been head of the caretaker team in paradise under Stol for six years: "A single caretaker in a hut like Valvasor Hut can't do anything alone, he needs a good team behind him, and also understanding from the closest ones, who are often deprived of joint moments due to work in the hut that is open every day of the year. Despite some free days, I am involved in work every day, this title means that with the whole team we are still thinking and working in the right direction."



The Valvasor Hut nestled in the Karawanks, located at 1181 meters, is the starting point for mountain hikes to Stol, Ajdno and Vajnež, walks towards Breška, Potoška and Žirovniška planina, hikes to Prešeren Hut on Stol, Roblek Hut on Begunjščica, Mountain Hut on Zelenica, Hut at the Source of Završnica, Pristava Lodge in Javorniški Rovt and Tinček Hunter's Hut. "Unlike some huts, Valvasor Hut cannot boast a view as we are in the mid-mountains, so we have to try differently to make visitors come gladly. We emphasize quality cuisine and good feeling both in the hut and its surroundings. In winter it's easier, as many other huts are closed, in summer you have to do more to attract guests and be successful in traffic both in personal satisfaction and in the satisfaction of the mountaineering association. There are many regular visitors, as well as those who do not go to the high mountains, families with children come for a few-day vacation," adds the caretaker of the modernly equipped and renovated hut, which is a proud holder of certificates for family and environmentally friendly mountain hut, which testifies to its hospitality towards children and their parents and environmentally friendly and energy-efficient management.



The joyful response of voters, who cast a total of 45 thousand votes, shows that mountain visitors in Slovenia and readers of the digital media Siol.net took the selection as their own, the choice of winners shows that mountaineers have again recognized and rewarded the authentic caretaker approach and excellent offer, which is an example of good work of employees at both winning huts and in the mountaineering associations managing them. "The Alpine Association of Slovenia in cooperation with Siol.net strives for the entire campaign to raise the quality of the offer and the general attitude of managers and employees in mountain huts towards visitors. Since Slovenia is becoming more and more a tourist country, we want to contribute to having stations in the mountains that can satisfy both Slovenian and foreign guests with their service and offer. The selected huts are a positive example for the others, as we want to raise the attitude towards visitors and the service to a higher quality level in all huts," illuminates the broader picture of the selection by PZS Vice President Miro Eržen.