Kranj-Tržič victory at the 33rd Mladina in gore competition

The proud primary school national champions at the 33rd Mladina in gore competition became members of the Fearless Mountain Scholars team (PD Kranj) on January 21 in Postojna, ahead of the second-placed Proud Hikers (PD Bled) and Smrkci (PD Litija) in third place. The high school honors were shared by the winners Gorski kuri (PD Tržič) ahead of the duo Gorska čačota (PD Tržič) in second and Geeks (PD Litija) in third place.

Primary School Miroslav Vilhar Postojna hosted young mountaineers and their mentors at the 33rd national Mladina in gore (MIG) competition, the most established mountaineering challenge for youth testing knowledge, skills, and experiences from all areas and forms of mountaineering activities, which for over three decades has been preparing primary school students for safer and more independent visits to the mountains, and this year high school students demonstrated their mountaineering knowledge for the sixth time.

Mladina in gore is not just a competition, but also an opportunity for socializing and acquiring lifelong mountaineering knowledge. In the town of last year's winners, where the Saturday atmosphere was set by admirable mountaineering knowledge and good spirits of more than 100 competitors, the 33rd national MIG competition was organized by the Alpine Association of Slovenia, PZS Youth Commission, Republic of Slovenia Sports Institute Planica, Mountaineering Association Postojna, and Primary School Miroslav Vilhar Postojna.

The youth were addressed by PZS Vice President Roman Ponebšek, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Postojna Andrej Berginc, principal of the host primary school Gvido Cigale, president of Mountaineering Association Postojna Neva Šemrov, and president of the Youth Council of Slovenia Eva Kotnik. The progress of the 33rd national competition was explained to the young competitors and their mentors by competition coordinator and leader Brigita Čeh and PZS Youth Commission leader Ana Skledar. Before the final, the young mountaineers were lectured and wished plenty of knowledge by the surprise guest Silvo Karo, alpinist and recipient of the prestigious Piolet d'Or Lifetime Achievement Award.


Three- and four-member primary school teams and two-member high school teams started the competition in the morning with tests of mountaineering knowledge acquired in mountaineering clubs and through mountaineering activities. Seven best teams qualified for the final round of the national primary school competition, where they answered questions from the Mountaineering School and additional material on the centenary of the Knafelc trail markings in a quiz format. They also had to manage practical tasks in first aid and mountaineering knots.

Twenty teams competed for the national champions title in the primary school category, with the top seven advancing to the final. The victory was celebrated by the Fearless Mountain Scholars team (PD Kranj) ahead of the second-placed Proud Hikers (PD Bled) and Smrkci (PD Litija) in third place. Fourth place went to Nanoški gamsi (PD Podnanos), fifth to Gorske podmornice (PD Litija), sixth to Planike (PD Medvode), and seventh to Sitarjeve mukice (PD Litija).



Primary school national champions Klara Svetelj, Gaj Strelec, Urh Markun, and Miha Kuhar, who named themselves Fearless Mountain Scholars, were extremely happy with their success; last year they placed second. "We really tried hard, but we also had fun. We learned everything that was needed and had a great time. We will gladly participate in the competition next year too." Their mentor was Mara Sirše.

At the seventh Mladina in gore competition for high school students, fourteen high school teams competed in Postojna. Victory was celebrated by Gorski kuri (PD Tržič), ahead of the duo Gorska čačota (PD Tržič) in second and Geeks (PD Litija) in third place. Fourth was Pastwjnski duo (PD Postojna), fifth Hlevišarja (PD Idrija), and sixth Javorniška gada (PD Idrija).

The Gorski kuri team, consisting of Neža Kočevar and Tinkara Košir from PD Tržič, were winners last year and again this year. They summed up their thoughts: "We liked the introductory test page adapted for high school students, the food (but not the way there), and the final execution. We also praise the organizers for replacing regular water bottles with tea, juice, and mandarins. Overall, we liked the entire competition execution, the atmosphere was competitive but in a good way. Everything went very pleasantly. How did we prepare? We read most of our topics once." They cheekily added that Neža read the additional material twice, while Tinkara provided moral support. Their mentor was Gorazd Čerilec.

In the art competition titled With Head in Nature, the awarded were Nuša Bernik (Primary School dr. Janez Mencinger, Bohinjska Bistrica), Nejc Rauter (Primary School Hoče), and Mark Dvorščak (Primary School Hoče).


The logo for the 33rd national Mladina in gore competition was drawn by 9th-grade student Eva Hiti from Primary School Miroslav Vilhar Postojna.



Sincere congratulations to the young competitors and their mentors!