New environmentally and family-friendly mountain huts

Slovenian mountaineering associations manage 179 mountain huts, shelters, and bivouacs, of which 164 are serviced mountain huts that serve as hospitable stops for hikers mostly in the warmer months, more than three-quarters, especially the lower-lying and more accessible ones, are open permanently or occasionally even in winter. To encourage less environmental impact on the mountain world and to attract children and parents to the huts, the Alpine Association of Slovenia awards the eco-friendly certificate (since 2012) and family-friendly mountain hut certificate (since 2013), with which a total of 47 Slovenian huts can already boast, including newcomers who received the certificates in February at the 6th conference on mountaineering management.



Mountain huts with their operations also represent a burden on the environment, so a compromise is needed between comfort and environmental care, as showers, heated rooms, and a wide selection of meals generate more waste and larger amounts of wastewater, energy consumption, and the need for transport. The goal of the Eco-friendly mountain hut project is to ensure environmentally friendly and energy-efficient hut management, while the Family-friendly mountain hut project aims to attract children and their parents to the huts and ensure they feel good and want to return. Visiting the mountains with children is also an opportunity for safer introduction of the youngest to the mountain world, and for adults, a different experience of the mountains.



To obtain the eco-friendly mountain hut certificate, mountain lodges prove themselves and commit to careful and holistic management of the sensitive mountain environment. Since most mountain huts in Slovenia are located in uninhabited, naturally sensitive areas, and also with the aim of increasing hut visits due to higher and regulated environmental standards, PZS has introduced a special certificate for huts that have as little negative impact as possible on the environment with their operations, and the certificate tells visitors that the mountaineering association indirectly through the caretaker or manager strives to ensure that the hut's impacts on the pristine nature around it and beyond are as little disturbing as possible. The staff of family-friendly mountain huts strives to the greatest possible extent and continuously to make the stay at the hut a pleasant and unforgettable experience for the youngest hikers and their parents. To obtain the certificate, the readiness of the hut staff to accept families with the youngest guests with all attention and understanding for their specific needs is evaluated; child-adapted hut equipment (children's high chairs, boosters, guards, children's corner with toys, etc.) and adapted children's portions; the location of the hut that allows families relatively easy access; properly maintained mountain trails and parking lots at starting points; suitable surroundings of the hut for undisturbed activity of children and family; peculiarities in the hut's surroundings that are also interesting for children, and possibly their own program at the hut for families.



The eco-friendly mountain hut certificate with a validity of four years was received at the beginning of February at the 6th conference on mountaineering management at the Natour Alpe-Adria fair in Ljubljana by Dom dr. Klementa Juga v Lepeni (PD Nova Gorica), Dom na Menini planini (PD Gornji Grad), Planinski dom na Boču (PD Poljčane), Planinski dom Košenjak (PD Dravograd), Planinski dom pri Krnskih jezerih (PD Nova Gorica), and Tumova koča na Slavniku (OPD Koper); the validity was extended for the next four-year period for eight huts four years after receiving the certificate. Nine mountain lodges can newly boast the family-friendly mountain hut certificate for a period of four years: Dom na Peci (PD Mežica), Dom na Šmohorju (PD Laško), Dom na Uršlji gori (PD Prevalje), Dom na Kofcah (PD Tržič), Planinski dom Košenjak (PD Dravograd), Planinski dom na Uštah (PD Moravče), Dom pod Storžičem (PD Tržič), Planinski dom v Gorah (PD Dol pri Hrastniku), and Tumova koča na Slavniku (OPD Koper). >>> The list of all huts, recipients of the certificates, is published on the PZS website.



The Mountaineering Association Tržič already knows the added value of the certificates, as Planinski dom na Zelenici was among the first to obtain both certificates, and this year two more of their stops managed by the association have been entered among the family-friendly mountain huts: Dom na Kofcah (1488 m) and Dom pod Storžičem (1123 m). "We perceive the certificates as additional promotion, families often decide where to go on a trip based on this - and our mission is always to adapt to visitors," emphasizes the president of PD Tržič Uroš Ahačič: "In addition to playgrounds, a children's corner, and meals adapted for the youngest, we have dedicated a special wall to children at Dom pod Storžičem where they can draw and express their imagination. Dom na Kofcah has traditionally been a very popular family destination, so we have ensured the standards for obtaining the family-friendly mountain hut certificate." The path to the Tržič huts is snowy these days but normally passable, no special equipment is needed for access. They will be open during the holidays if the weather and snow conditions allow, Ahačič recommends that hikers check the opening status at the huts or their social media before visiting.



Tumova koča na Slavniku (1018 m) is a newcomer in this group, which has officially become both environmentally and family-friendly mountain hut this year. "Since the mountain hut is a disturbing element in nature, we want to minimize this impact, we try to have as responsible an attitude as possible towards the natural environment, while also striving to make visitors feel good with us, as Slavnik is popular among families, we also want to ensure that children have fun, because walking alone is not always enough," says the president of OPD Koper Aldo Zubin and describes the efforts to obtain both certificates: "First, we built a sewage treatment plant in 2015 and updated the internal installation, with which we could ensure normal hygienic standards. Since we only have dripping water, we still save water to the maximum. We also updated the kitchen and installed a gas storage, thereby increasing safety and avoiding frequent transport of gas cylinders from the valley. We also use environmentally friendly cleaners, save energy, use energy-saving bulbs, have sensors in the toilets ... We arranged both the surroundings of the hut - installed new tables and benches - and the interior of the hut, especially the day room, where part is dedicated to children. For them, we arranged a play corner and fun accessories in the hut and playgrounds outside, there is a changing area available, we installed stoves in the rooms so they can overnight warmly even in the cold part of the year, we adapted the menus and provided smaller portions." Since it is easily accessible from various starting points, Tumova koča na Slavniku is well visited all year round, but snow attracts the most visitors, which is not the most common on Slavnik. The January shipment has already melted, so the current conditions are ideal for walking, and the views are phenomenal, Zubin invites further. The hut is principally open on weekends, but also on some weekdays if a larger group announces.



Planinski dom Košenjak (1169 m), managed by PD Dravograd, has also obtained both certificates. "We are constantly striving to create a pleasant environment for children and families at the hut, last year we took care of installing outdoor playgrounds, we also run the Ciciban planinec and Mladi planinec programs at the hut. From all this, the idea was born to meet the conditions for obtaining the family-friendly mountain hut certificate. We have more visits in the summer season, when we see an opportunity for families to also decide to spend holidays at our hut. It is very important to us that visitors feel pleasant in our environment, where we can offer them walking paths and pristine nature, as Košenjak was a closed area during Yugoslavia. Precisely because of the fairly pristine nature, we are aware that we must leave the environment to our descendants as we received it. Therefore, three years ago we decided to build a small biological sewage treatment plant, which is the highest-lying sewage treatment plant in the municipality of Dravograd. Because hikers must take care of a clean and healthy environment! In addition, we have taken care to reduce water consumption, use energy-saving bulbs in the hut, and in the long term, we also foresee obtaining energy from solar collectors," explains the president of PD Dravograd Marjan Epšek. In winter, the hut is open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, in the summer season from Wednesday to Sunday, and by agreement for announced groups. It is reachable by road, which is regularly plowed and salted, while the ascent on footpaths from Dravograd takes three hours, and from the hut to the top of Košenjak another hour of walking.



Among the 164 serviced huts, 121 are permanently or occasionally open in the winter months, mostly lower-lying and more accessible ones - 58 are permanently open, of which 25 every day of the week, the other 33 huts every day except Mondays and/or Tuesdays. In winter, 11 high-mountain huts are also open, more information is published on the website of the Alpine Association of Slovenia. Before heading to the mountains, visitors should check the hut openings on the website www.koce.pzs.si and inquire about conditions on the paths to the huts.



In winter, when especially higher-lying mountain huts are closed, days are shorter, temperatures lower, and snow conditions variable, equipment and mountaineering goals must be adapted accordingly. "Go on tours that you have grown up to and do not be misled by posts on social media. Good preparation is key to a successful tour. We go to the mountains only with appropriate equipment that we also know how to use. Essential accessories are still the ice axe and crampons as well as the avalanche triplet (avalanche transceiver, aluminum shovel, and probe), a helmet goes on the head," warns mountain rescuer Matjaž Šerkezi, who describes the current conditions in the mountains: "In the mid-mountains and high mountains, there is between 30 and 180 centimeters of snow. The danger of avalanche release on the European five-level scale is moderate or level two, the most problematic from the perspective of safety in the mountains, as most hikers conclude that no danger exists. Caution is advised, especially with the upcoming weekend when warming is expected. Wind slabs, hard snow deposited by wind, pose the greatest danger to hikers, as they can release even under minor load and cause accidents." As he adds, there have been quite a few cases in the last month of individuals who got injured abroad and did not have appropriate insurance for mountain rescue: "Take care of insurance, as their rescue costs were at least 6000 euros. Quality insurance is already included in the membership fee of the Alpine Association of Slovenia - for abroad we recommend membership A, as membership B includes only 3000 euros for rescue costs in foreign mountains, but we also advise concluding additional tourist insurance Coris, which is half price for PZS members."