Lively mountaineering atmosphere in front of the Kal Mountain Hut

On Saturday, June 10, it was cheerful in front of the Kal Mountain Hut. The Alpine Association of Slovenia, in collaboration with PD Hrastnik, organized a large mountaineering event called the Day of Slovenian Mountaineers. On the scenic meadow in front of the hut, twelve hundred smiling adults, youths, and youngest mountaineers, touring cyclists, climbers, and other mountain and nature lovers from all over Slovenia gathered.

Slovenia is known for its thousands of hiking trails, and hiking is one of the most popular leisure activities among Slovenians. Several hiking trails led to the scenic meadow in front of the Kal Mountain Hut on that sunny Saturday, where the Alpine Association of Slovenia, PD Hrastnik, Kal Mountain Hut, and the Municipality of Hrastnik joined forces for the organization of the Day of Slovenian Mountaineers.


The Hrastnik Mountaineering Association has a long tradition of activity and is celebrating 75 years of existence this year. On Saturday, mountaineers had six guided excursions, a guided touring bike trip, and an organized mountain run available. Participants came from all over Slovenia.


On the meadow, diverse experiences thrilled both young and old. It was lively at the climbing wall as well as at the creative workshops prepared by the Youth Commission of the Alpine Association of Slovenia.

Mountaineers also stopped with interest at the stalls where the following presented themselves: Alpine Association of Slovenia, PD Hrastnik, Mountaineering for the Disabled/OPP Committee of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, Commission for the Protection of Mountain Nature of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, Slovenia Forest Service, Fishing Association of Slovenia, Tourist Association of Slovenia TD Trbovlje, Tourist Society Hrastnik, Association of Farm Women and Girls Hrastnik, Hunting Association of Slovenia, and various local providers of artistic products. Mountain rescuers and Slovenian police also presented their work.

Before the ceremonial part of the event, members of the Simi duo, blind Simona and Miha Jakopin, warmed up the mountaineers with their own compositions.

The mountaineering anthem Oj, Triglav, moj dom performed by Riki Majcen sounded as an introduction to the main program. The all-Slovenian mountaineering holiday was honored by flag bearers of mountaineering associations in a solemn procession.

Welcome was extended to the crowd of mountaineers from near and far by the President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, Jože Rovan, proud that so many mountaineers gathered at the Slovenian mountaineering holiday, united by their love for nature and mountains. He highlighted the new campaign of the Commission for the Protection of Mountain Nature Walking from the Valleys to the Heights, aimed at encouraging mountaineers and mountain visitors to use public passenger transport and other nature-friendly ways of visiting the mountains to a greater extent. He also highlighted the funds allocated by the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport this year for the renovation of hiking trails. Trail markers have finally received state support for their work as well.


The crowd of good-humored mountaineers was greeted in their local environment by PD Hrastnik President Vojko Zupančič and Hrastnik Municipality Mayor Marko Funkl.


"The idea for organizing an all-Slovenian mountaineering event was born three years ago and matured last year when we applied for the call. The Kal Mountain Hut is a very popular spot among Zasavje mountaineers, and we are glad that so many mountaineers visited our mountaineering spot today. The organization is really a big undertaking, and in the last 14 days, our core team of members dealt with it every day," said Vojko Zupančič.

Hrastnik Municipality Mayor Marko Funkl added: "I am glad that today's event at this important tourist location was honored by such a number of people with their attendance. This is certainly one of the biggest events of this year in our municipality. It is recognition for our diligent association, which has made great changes at this location. Personally, I believe that hiking is the best therapy for the fast pace of life, and I use it often myself."

The keynote speaker was alpinist and publicist Viki Grošelj, who also emphasized the importance of walking and activity for quality of life. "I am glad that walking has experienced a renaissance in recent years and is often an escape from the hysterical world. The faster we rush, the less time we have. Walking always slows me down. While walking, I think more easily and it relaxes me. Walking is the best response to the madness of the modern world. Although I have climbed the highest peaks of the continents and stood on the highest peaks of the Himalayas, today at 71 years old I am on Kal for the first time. Thank you organizers for inviting me." At the end, he shared a well-known thought: "If you don't care when you arrive, you'll never be late, and if you don't care where you are, you'll never get lost."

After the speakers, a short concert by the Zasavje group Orleki followed, and after them, the ensemble Navihani muzikanti lured to the dance floor.

Good food and drinks were provided by the tenant of the Kal Mountain Hut, Rok Pader, who with his wife has been taking care of hospitality at the hut for five years. "My wife and I strive to have a good catering offer and for our mountain hut to be interesting for various mountaineers as well as tourists. We are glad that such a big event is organized right here, and I hope they will come to visit many more times later."


Mountains have a special place in Slovenian hearts, just like the unique Slovenian Mountain Trail, which is celebrating 70 years this year. In front of the hut, there was a special "traveling" exhibition created specifically for this year's anniversary. It is the result of collaboration between the Alpine Association of Slovenia and the Slovenian Mountaineering Museum.

Opposite it was the Zasavje Mountain Trail exhibition, which connects the entire Posavje and Zasavje area, from Bizeljsko in the east to Janče in the west. A great promoter of the connecting trail is the President of the Intermunicipal Association of Associations (MDO) Zasavje, Jože Prah: "Our committee connects 18 associations with a strong mountaineering tradition; currently, we have over three thousand mountaineers enrolled in the associations. We want to attract not only Zasavje but also all-Slovenian and Croatian mountaineers to the Zasavje Mountain Trail, which includes 11 mountain huts and 19 stamps. The 200 kilometers of trail is an important connecting link for municipalities in this part of Slovenia."

The Day of Slovenian Mountaineers traditionally also marks the start of the main mountaineering season. Until mid-September, it attracts the most visitors to the mountains, also thanks to hospitable mountain huts, most of which are already open, while the remaining high-altitude ones will open by the beginning of July. The pulse of the summer months will be shaped by the selection for the best mountain hut 2023 on the Siol.net web portal.