Multitude of Mountaineers with a Heart for Črna na Koroškem

Whoever works with heart, the path will sooner or later lead them to Črna na Koroškem, was the guiding principle for around a thousand mountaineers from all over Slovenia and beyond the border, when they gathered on June 15 for the day of Slovenian mountaineers and thus also symbolically supported the locals and tourism in the areas hardest hit by last year's floods. The all-day mountaineering atmosphere, besides socializing, was marked by mountaineering hikes, via ferrata climbing, ski touring bike excursion, climbing on the climbing tower, demonstration of the work of path markers and mountain rescuers, and other experiences for young mountaineers, families, and adults. In Koroška, they also announced the best mountaineering trail 2024, which became the Koželjeva pot along the Kamniška Bistrica, and funds for reconstruction will also be received by the trail from Topla Cave to Mala Peč in Koroška.

The mountaineering community has shown that even a year after the devastating disasters, it has not forgotten Koroška, and symbolically - with a visit - supported their tourism. Koroška is safe to visit again, most mountaineering trails are maintained, and mountain huts with open doors await visitors. The traditional day of Slovenian mountaineers 2024, at the start of the summer mountaineering season, was jointly organized hand in hand by the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) and the Mountaineering Association (PD) Črna na Koroškem, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

Mountaineers from near and far set off from Črna to Pikovo vrh and Navrški vrh, from Koprivna to the Church of St. Ana with the famous Črna Marija, and from Dom na Smrekovcu to Črna, while mountaineers also visited the Bistra energy park. Great interest was sparked by climbing the Mučevo and Olimpline via ferratas and the descent on Olimplin, the longest cable in this part of Europe. Ski touring cyclists pedaled to Najevska lipa, the mother of all lindens. Young mountaineers were thrilled by the adventure park, mini K-24 for the youngest, demonstration of path markers' work, mountain rescuers of GRS Koroška and the Slovenian Army, creative workshops, and climbing on the climbing tower; Vesela planinska šola entertainingly presented nature conservation in the mountains to all generations. In Črna, famous for its excellent cuisine, the mountaineers' stomachs were pampered by Črjanska košta. Mountaineers also stopped with interest at the stalls where the mountaineering association and the broader local community presented themselves, and in the Week of Lifelong Learning, also the PZS Committee for Mountaineering for the Disabled/OPP.

In Črna na Koroškem, the main event was magnificently opened by the arrival of flag bearers from 49 mountaineering associations and the mountaineering anthem Oj, Triglav, moj dom performed by the Ajda sextet, which also enriched the continuation of the cultural program. With great satisfaction, PZS President Jože Rovan greeted the crowd of mountaineers: "We don't go to the mountains just because of our love for nature and mountains; for many of us, socializing is also very important, on the trails, in the evenings in mountain huts, at camps, and on occasions like today's in Črna. We came from everywhere to shake hands again and wish for as many beautiful sunny days in the mountains as possible. And by coming to Črna, after the tragic disaster these areas experienced last August, we also want to express moral support to the locals. Last autumn, we encouraged our mountaineering associations to plan excursions to these areas this year and thus contribute at least a little to reviving tourism."

Sincerely happy about the mountaineering bustle was also the Mayor of the Municipality of Črna, Romana Lesjak, a mountaineering enthusiast herself, who invited all the sturdy ones to the August K24 ultra trail and paid tribute to the multitude of volunteers: "Thanks to PD Črna na Koroškem, MDO PD Koroška, and Črjanska košta, thanks to all who dedicatedly care for mountaineering associations, path markers for maintained trails, congratulations to the flag bearers. We can pay tribute to all who voluntarily work with heart for the mountains and mountaineering; today we all together with heart for Črna."

Andreja Senica, President of the Inter-Association Committee of Mountaineering Associations (MDO PD) Koroška, invited the gathered to the picturesque 230-kilometer Koroška Mountaineering Trail, which connects the foothills of Pohorje, Kozjak, part of the Karawanks, and part of the Savinja Alps. "From all associations in Koroška, we joined together and showed that we are connected. We wanted to help Črna and its residents after last year's disaster, instill hope that they are not alone and that life goes on, so that they can start a new, better life as soon as possible. Whoever works with heart, the path will sooner or later lead them to Črna na Koroškem, with a red heart," she emphasized, and guardians of mountain nature gifted the sturdy and heartfelt Črnjans with a hotel for wild bees and bumblebees, which pollinate at least two-thirds of the food we consume.

"Together we are spending the day of Slovenian mountaineers in the heart of Koroška hills, and just a few steps from the village center are needed to attract us with beautiful alpine valleys rich in wildlife and flora, surrounded by green forests and hills, above which loom mighty Peca, Raduha, Olševa, and Uršlja gora. The people who live there invite us to come to them and thus support Koroška, as in last year's floods, besides the damage, they also suffered a heavy blow from a bad season," was happy about the massive visit President of PD Črna na Koroškem Virginija Špeh. That "it's never too late to fulfill our dreams," was laid on the hearts of the gathered mountaineers by Koroška alpinist Andrej Gradišnik, the oldest Slovene to climb Mt. Everest. Students of Osnovna šola Črna thrilled with a mountaineering sketch and singing performance, and for mountaineering fun, a Koroška trio with Nik Kogelnik took care.


In the selection of the Best Mountaineering Trail, which has been running for seven years under the umbrella of the Očistimo naše gore campaign in collaboration with PZS, this year they gave special emphasis to mountaineering trails that were heavily damaged in last year's disasters, so they symbolically announced the voting results in Črna na Koroškem. By winning the title of best mountaineering trail 2024, funds for reconstruction under the Očistimo naše gore campaign will be received by the picturesque Koželjeva pot along Kamniška Bistrica (PD Kamnik). "During the floods and storms in Slovenia in the summer of 2023, which caused historically high damage, it turned out how vulnerable we are. In Zavarovalnica Triglav, in caring for nature and the broader community, we recognized the need to, as part of the Best Mountaineering Trail campaign, through which we also support path markers' work, reconstruct one of the mountaineering trails that storms, avalanches, and windfalls did not spare. Since the announcement of the best mountaineering trail is taking place right in Koroška, which was severely affected by last year's floods, we decided to, with the support of PD Mežica, also help with the reconstruction of the mountaineering trail from Jama Topla to Mala Peč," said Tonja Vinkl Vončina, head of the Slovenj Gradec business unit at Zavarovalnica Triglav, at the handover of the check at the event.