Slovenes save the season in mountain huts

This year's summer season is slowly acquiring cooler tones and the first outlines of a success assessment. According to PZS estimates, Slovenian mountains attracted even more visitors besides experienced mountaineers who had not ventured into the mountains in previous years. Even this year, the most visited huts were those in the vicinity of Triglav, where Slovenes redeemed the most tourist vouchers during the summer season.







The summer season ended at the end of September, but many huts still have their doors open. This year's season was different, but despite all the bleak spring predictions, it fared quite well. Due to measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus, special measures issued by the National Institute of Public Health were in place in the huts. "There were a quarter fewer overnight stays than in previous years, but due to more day visitors and their relatively good spending, the season was financially good, not the best, but better than expected given the spring conditions. It was particularly better in some higher mid-mountain huts, where some huts recorded an exceptionally good season, while it was worse in the high mountains, where some huts recorded half as many overnight stays compared to previous years," summarized PZS expert associate Dušan Prašnikar.







According to data from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SURS), up to and including August, there were 25 percent fewer overnight stays in mountain huts compared to previous very successful years. The number of Slovenian guests who stayed overnight in mountain huts did not increase significantly, but there were considerably fewer foreigners. Only one-third of them stayed in Slovenian huts compared to the previous two years. According to SURS data, approximately 52 thousand Slovenes slept in mountain huts up to and including August, accounting for 75 percent of overnight stays in mountain huts and about 18 thousand foreigners. The reduction in overnight stays was mainly due to fewer foreign guests, as well as measures that led huts to accept fewer guests than their sleeping capacities. "Despite the relatively large drop in overnight stays, mountaineering associations are still satisfied with the season. There were fewer overnight stays in high mountain huts, some of which recorded half as many as in previous years. Fortunately, visits and especially the number of overnight stays increased this year in some mid-mountain huts. There were more overnight stays in huts along the Slovenian Mountain Trail, as we have noticed an increase in the number of people walking this, our first and longest connecting trail, this year."







More inexperienced mountaineers in huts due to the use of tourist vouchers







This year's season was also special due to some phenomena. There were considerably more day visitors in the huts, and in the huts and generally in the mountains and hills, there were many people who do not usually venture into the mountaineering world, and noticeably higher spending on drinks and food in mountain huts was observed. Slovenian guests usually spend considerably less money in huts besides sleeping compared to foreigners, but this year in the huts, they noticed that domestic guests were much more "spendthrift." Hut keepers believe that the possibility of using tourist vouchers contributed significantly to this.







By September 25, 2020, 790,461 vouchers worth a total of 107 million euros were redeemed in Slovenia. In mountain huts alone, 14,241 vouchers were redeemed (1.8% of the total redeemed vouchers) for a total value of 761 thousand euros (0.7% of the total value of redeemed vouchers).







"The Koča na Poreznu (1585m, PD Cerkno) had a good mountaineering season this year. Compared to previous years, this season was record-breaking. Overnight stays were similar to last year, only the share of foreigners was very small. There were fewer hikers on Via Alpina. The number of domestic guests increased, also due to tourist vouchers. We noticed more inexperienced mountaineers, recognized by inappropriate equipment, behavior, strange questions, and requests regarding service. We had problems ensuring enough staff for the hut, especially on Saturdays and Sundays," said PD Cerkno president Ivan Rupnik.







Similar experiences are reported in huts managed by Planinsko društvo Nova Gorica. "This year, our huts were mostly visited by Slovenian hikers who also used tourist vouchers among other things. I call them hikers because they are not mountaineers. They lack basic mountaineering knowledge, and their needs are different; they are more demanding. Otherwise, we are very satisfied with the season; we had a lot of work," said PD Nova Gorica president Franka Zega.







Take trash down to the valley







Most visitors complied with the measures required in mountain huts due to COVID-19. It is commendable that this year people who do not usually go to the mountains decided to visit the mountains and hills. However, part of the "newcomers" casts a bad light on all mountain visitors. "During visits to huts and especially overnight stays, a lack of understanding of the peculiarities of the mountain world and unreasonable expectations of the offerings in huts were shown. At the same time, these new guests in the mountains were visibly poorer equipped or did not know how to use their equipment properly. According to information from the Mountain Rescue Service, there were more rescues this year due to lack of terrain knowledge, inexperience, and exceeding their own abilities. Special attention must be drawn to the problem of waste and littering. Due to new guests who mostly do not know the ethics of behavior in the mountains, there was significantly more waste in huts and in certain areas along the trails. We have accustomed regular or occasional mountain visitors to take their trash with them to the valley. In the coming years, we will need to raise awareness among new visitors also regarding their attitude to nature, their own equipment for safe walking, and especially knowledge of using mountaineering equipment and realistic expectations of offerings in huts," added Prašnikar.







Dom Valentina Staniča with a new system for generating electricity from renewable sources







One of the novelties in mountain huts this season is the new system for generating electrical energy at Dom Valentina Staniča below Triglav (2332m, PD Javornik Koroška Bela). The investment is part of the European Life Sustainhuts project. At the end of June, a photovoltaic system with a nominal power of 6000 W and a wind turbine with a nominal power of 1000 W, together with a battery storage, were installed at the hut; the monitoring system and the system for capturing and processing operational data were also upgraded. The system was tested for three months until the mountain hut closed on September 20, 2020. The investment part was carried out in cooperation with Planinsko društvo Javornik Koroška Bela by Slovenian partners Razvojni center za vodikove tehnologije and Planinska zveza Slovenije, while the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, is responsible for the research part in partnership. According to calculations, the environmental impact of the facility was reduced by at least 30 percent due to this investment. According to the president of the association responsible for supplying and operating the hut, Olga Oven, until this year they were used to using a gasoline generator for at least two hours a day; this year they did not start it even for a minute.







Tender for hut renovation







Planinska zveza Slovenije has been striving for years for the competent ministries to recognize mountain huts and trails as part of tourist infrastructure operating under special conditions. We expect appropriate support for this. "In recent years, we have intensified these efforts by organizing an international conference showcasing solutions in neighboring countries in this area. For two years, we have been discussing with representatives of the Ministry of the Economy the publication of a tender for the ecological and energy renovation of mountain huts. The publication of the tender has been announced several times. During the visit of Minister for Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek to Okrešelj, we again received assurances that the tender will be published this year, as soon as the issue of recognizing the investor's own share in the form of volunteer work, as enabled by the Volunteer Work Act, is resolved. Activities in this direction are underway, and we truly hope they conclude successfully and that the tender is published," explained PZS vice-president Miro Eržen.







Safe autumn hiking







Mountain peaks are covered with a white veil. Their appearance indicates that winter is slowly coming to our region. The weather forecast promises a nice autumn, which is always tempting for solitary mountain trips when they are most beautiful. But we must also take care of our safety. Therefore, it is not superfluous to advise that visiting mountains changes with snow. "Days are shorter. Temperatures low, often accompanied by wind, and fog worsens orientation in the afternoon, hiding the appearance of plateaus and summits. Mountain trails are wet, higher up possibly already covered with snow that soaks the ground and turns it into mud where even a step in the best mountaineering boots is not safe. Late afternoon, these patches of snow, mud, and moisture are already frozen and a real trap for slipping. If possible, avoid them; otherwise, it is essential to use appropriate equipment, crampons, and ice axe. Of course, we must know how to use them. Add extra warm clothing to the backpack, replace thin gloves with thicker ones. If in summer days we sometimes chased the day on descent and at the very end managed to get some light from a smartphone, a headlamp should be an obligatory companion in the backpack. Choose goals that are somewhat easier based on our experience and knowledge. This time is also suitable for refreshing winter technique knowledge and checking equipment such as avalanche transceivers, avalanche backpacks, ice axes, and crampons. In addition to quality mountaineering boots, a helmet on the head won't hurt, and under it - common sense. The mountains will wait," urges caution PZS expert associate Matjaž Šerkezi.







First snow further accelerated the closing of high mountain huts







Most high mountain huts are closing these days, only a few will remain open presumably until the second weekend in October. For now, Dom na Komni remains the only permanently open high mountain hut; Vodnikov dom na Velem polju will be open until October 18. The majority of mid-mountain huts switch to winter operating hours in October, which for most means open on weekends and holidays. Current information on hut openings is published by PZS at www.pzs.si/koce.php .