PZS Recommendations during the Easing of Measures...

PZS Recommendations during the Easing of Measures due to the Coronavirus Epidemic.



Recommendations of the Slovenian Mountaineering Association for walking on mountain paths, secured climbing paths, touring cycling, touring skiing, alpinism, sport climbing in climbing areas and on boulders, and other activities in the mountain world during the easing of measures due to the coronavirus epidemic. The recommendations are valid from April 30, 2020, until changed.







Upon the declaration of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, we at the Slovenian Mountaineering Association called on all mountain visitors to refrain from activities in the mountains for known reasons, except for light walks near home and in the company of family members. We must commend mountain visitors for adhering to the recommendations, and there have been minimal interventions by mountain rescuers in the mountains from the declaration of the epidemic until today (April 30, 2020).







On April 18, 2020, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia began gradual easing of measures and allowing some sports activities, and on April 30, 2020, the government decree on the prohibition of crossing municipal boundaries was revoked.







WARNING:

An individual can, while maintaining a safe distance from other persons, engage in individual recreational sports activities outdoors or in open public places in the municipality of residence (e.g., running, cycling, golf, yoga) or engage in such recreational sports activities where contact with other individuals is not possible in normal execution (e.g., tennis, badminton, boules). (Source: www.gov.si)



In the mountaineering organization, we are aware that physical activity outdoors is important for individual health and that it is hard to stay home in these spring days. The declaration of the epidemic in the RS still holds, and mountain visitors must adhere to the decrees of the competent institutions. We advise avoiding difficult and very difficult mountain paths, touring skiing, and generally high mountains and more risky mountaineering activities.







Let us repeat the main reasons once again:



Due to the declared epidemic, mountain rescue operates under special conditions and, considering all protocols, the intervention time from the call to mountain rescuers to arrival at the injured person is significantly extended, even if the injured is on a mountain path categorized as an easy mountain path.

All injured persons must be treated as if they are infected with COVID-19, and under this assumption, the helicopter crew can refuse transport if rescue with a helicopter is possible at all (weather, wind, or conditions in the mountains).

Mountain huts are closed from March 16 until further notice by government decree on the temporary prohibition of selling goods and services to consumers in the Republic of Slovenia, thereby preventing supply or safe shelter for mountain visitors. At the beginning of the week, catering establishments were allowed to start selling drinks and food to go, and some mountain huts have decided for this method of sale. However, from May 4, 2020, serving food and drinks on terraces and gardens in front of mountain huts will be allowed.

Mountain paths may be damaged, as the activity of trail markers has stopped during the epidemic (torn steel cables, damaged steps, damaged individual parts due to erosion and winter consequences ...),

due to erosion (snow, cold, temperature fluctuations ...), which is particularly active in spring, there is an increased possibility of falling rocks, especially where paths run under walls.





We advise that in all activities, you additionally consider:



Maintain the recommended safety distance of 1.5 meters. Use a mask for nose and mouth if you must, due to an emergency situation (providing first aid ...), approach a person closer than the recommended distance.

Have a protective mask and disinfectant in your backpack.

Avoid shaking hands, hugging, drinking from someone else's bottle ...

If you are not completely healthy, stay home and thus prevent potential virus spread.





>>> If you decide to engage in activities in the mountain world, follow these recommendations:







Hiking, Mountaineering, Touring Cycling and Mountain Running







In mountaineering activities, OBSERVE the recommended safe distance of at least 1.5 meters. Choose paths that you can handle or consider that you have some reserve in executing the excursion in the mountains (easier path, shorter planned time, appropriate equipment, training, unforeseen factors ...).







In touring and mountain cycling, OBSERVE that higher speed requires greater safety distance - during non-uphill riding 5 meters, during descents and on flat 20 meters. Overtaking should be done quickly and only if it is possible to maintain 1.5 meters lateral distance.







WARNING:

1. In high mountains, there are still winter conditions, and for visiting mountains, you need winter equipment, which you must know how to use correctly and safely, otherwise it can be deadly dangerous (ice axe, crampons). Helmet use is mandatory.

2. In mid-mountains, there is snow on individual parts of mountain paths, and safe crossing, even if it's a few meters, is possible only with correct use of appropriate equipment (crampons, ice axe, helmet ...).

3. Due to drought in lower areas and mid-mountains on mountain paths, there is fine sand and gravel, and with that increased risk of slipping, especially if the mountain visitor is not skilled in walking on such surface or with inappropriate footwear. The danger of slipping is also dry grass and in the forest dry leaves, in case you step off the mountain path on a greater slope.

4. Mountain visitors who are not mountaineering and alpinistically trained and experienced, do not venture into the mountains during the epidemic, especially not into high mountains.







OBSERVE:

Regardless of the type of movement (walking, running ...), follow the basic guidelines for safer visiting mountains (www.varneje.pzs.si):







1. Always go to the mountains with a backpack, which should contain mandatory mountaineering equipment:



personal first aid kit,

headlamp and spare batteries,

aluminum foil or large black bag or bivouac sack (for thermal protection in case of accident or unplanned bivouac),

mobile phone with full battery (turn off data transfer, as batteries drain faster due to weak signal),

mountaineering map and compass,

iron reserve (food with high energy value and long shelf life, light and small volume),

sufficient amount of liquid (non-alcoholic isotonic drinks).





Do not forget protection from sun, wind, and cold (warm clothes, hat and gloves). Temperatures in mountains can quickly drop below freezing, or snow or hail can surprise us even in lower areas. IMPORTANT - we must know how to use the equipment correctly!







2. IMPORTANT is tour planning and obtaining verified information. Data on the condition of mountain paths can be found on the website of the Slovenian Mountaineering Association (www.stanje-poti.pzs.si).

3. Tell your family about your intention for the tour (where you are going, for how long, reserve goals ...) or write a note and leave it in a visible place in the car.

4. At summits, sign in the guest book (use gloves and your own pen).

5. Monitor the weather forecast.

6. Get a mountaineering guide and a new mountaineering map, as in old ones, the drawn path may not necessarily still run there or exist at all.

7. Do not go to the mountains alone, but in the company of family, adapt the tour to the weakest participant (consider NIJZ recommendations regarding socializing).

8. Move only on marked mountain paths, marked with Knafelc mark. Do not stray to pathless areas. If you get lost, return as soon as possible by the same path and find the mark. Do not continue into the unknown. Consider the fact that the Slovenian alpine world is demanding and that an EASY mountain path is too challenging a bite for many (path length, several hours of walking, roots and stones ...).







Secured Climbing Paths







If you go to a secured climbing path, in doing so



OBSERVE:



1. Use gloves that do not have open fingers. Do not touch your face and disinfect your hands at the top.

2. Do not test your personal limits and go only on tours that are several degrees lower in difficulty than your experiences and knowledge.

3. Maintain safety distance. If possible, greater than the recommended distance between two anchor points.

4. During ascent, do not overtake and be attentive to safety distance.



5. DO NOT DESCEND on secured climbing paths!







Touring Skiing







In touring skiing, maintain the recommended distance. In addition to following all known safety measures, additionally



OBSERVE:

1. Do not test your personal limits and go only on tours that are several degrees lower in difficulty than your abilities, experiences, and knowledge.

2. Plan the tour well and be attentive to the degree of avalanche danger. Keep in mind that in spring, there are large temperature fluctuations and thus more frequent ground avalanches.

3. On ridges and summits, maintain safety distance with other participants, and if necessary, wait for the space to clear.







Alpine Tours







From April 30, 2020, until revocation, possible only with the closest family members of your household and while maintaining the recommended safety distance.







The Alpinism Commission of the Slovenian Mountaineering Association advises against alpinistic activity during the declared epidemic due to the increased burden on the rescue and health system with providing care to those infected with coronavirus and operating under special circumstances. If you still go on an alpine tour, let it be strictly within the range of your abilities, knowledge, and experiences!







More about the recommendations of the Slovenian Mountaineering Association for safer movement in the mountain world can be read at the link www.varneje.pzs.si.







Sport Climbing in Natural Climbing Areas







Climbers can visit natural climbing areas while adhering to the provisions that are still in force, so in sport climbing in natural climbing areas, dry tooling, and bouldering outdoors, follow the following recommendations.







1. Climbing Pair:



Climbing partners should be members of the same household; if this is really not possible, limit the pair to permanent and responsible climbing partners.

If climbers are not from the same household, they should move at a mutual distance of more than 1.5 meters at all times.

If climbers are not from the same household, each climber should use their own belay devices (carabiners, belay device, quickdraws).

Each climber should tie in exclusively to their own end of the rope.

Personal equipment should be stored in a bag or backpack near them.

The climber should choose routes of such difficulties that are below their usual abilities.

Maintain a personal distance of at least 1.5 meters to other climbing pairs in the climbing area.

Do not climb adjacent routes where another pair is already present.

During climbing, do not touch your face with hands. After climbing, wash hands with soap or disinfect them.





2. Climbing Area:



Do not use climbing areas near villages or climbing areas that use local infrastructure for access (paths, parking lots).

If there are a larger number of cars in the parking lot, postpone the visit to the climbing area to later.

Avoid meetings with locals and do not use local shops.

We ask climbers to be especially tolerant of locals in this period and to respect their wishes regarding climbing in their area.





Climbing halls remain closed until further notice due to the government decree on the prohibition of recreation in indoor spaces. Outdoor walls in climbing centers have started operating in some places under special conditions.







If an accident still occurs:



stay calm and keep your composure,

assess the situation and protect yourself and the injured from immediate dangers,

provide first aid within your knowledge and abilities.

call number 112 or, in case of poor signal, send a short message to number 112 - report WHO you are, WHAT and WHERE happened, WHEN it happened, and HOW MANY injured there are. Follow the instructions of the operator and later the mountain rescuers. Be aware that help may arrive only after a few hours, and for this reason, the mandatory equipment in the backpack is crucially important for life!





We believe that mountain visitors are personally and socially responsible and that in this extraordinary time, we will know how to make the right decisions and appropriately engage in our mountain world.







With responsible behavior towards each other, do not forget responsible attitude towards nature and do not leave garbage on paths, at mountain huts, or at starting points, but take them home and dispose of them in appropriate containers there.







Safe and responsible on mountain paths.







Slovenian Mountaineering Association