This year a slightly better summer mountaineering season...

This year a slightly better summer mountaineering season than the five-year average.



The Economic Commission of the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) conducted an assessment of the success of hut operations in mid-2015 summer mountaineering season based on a questionnaire. There are 178 alpine huts, shelters, and bivouacs in Slovenia, of which 163 are staffed alpine huts. This year's season is good, markedly better than last year's rainy one. As reported by caretakers of high-altitude and lower-lying huts from various parts of Slovenia, only a few huts record lower visitation than the five-year average, while most have comparable or even slightly higher visitation than in the past five years, certainly aided by weather favorable for mountain visits.



The questionnaire covered comparisons of the season over the last five-year period regarding the number of guests, number of overnights, number of foreign guest overnights, and revenue assessment. According to the current assessment, this summer season in alpine huts so far is approximately equal or slightly better than the average of the last five years. Caretakers report slightly higher visitation and total revenue. More huts record higher visitation and total revenue than lower, but some have a worse season than average. Total overnights were estimated to be almost equal or one percent less than the five-year average, with the number of foreign guest overnights still slightly increasing. Compared to previous years, 2011 was exceptionally good, 2014 exceptionally poor, and 2015 is average or slightly better than the summer seasons of 2012 and 2013. More precise data will presumably be presented in October, when most high-mountain huts will close for the year.



High-altitude huts have a slightly worse season than mid-mountain or lower-lying huts. Total revenue for high-altitude huts is almost equal to the five-year average, but they have slightly fewer overnights than the five-year average. The trend in overnights is better for foreigners than for domestic visitors. For mid-mountain and lower-lying huts, the season is on average five percent better, both in total revenue and number of visitors and foreign overnights, with only total overnights equal to the five-year average. This season was marked by several new acquisitions in alpine huts, such as newly installed sewage treatment plants, water reservoirs and batteries for solar power plants, new roof coverings or gutters, renovations of kitchens and dining rooms, and improvements to the surroundings or access roads.



Among high-altitude huts, Pogačnikov dom na Kriških podih (2050 m, PD Radovljica) can boast an above-average season. "This season is very good, even more hikers visit us than in good previous seasons, for example the year before last. In addition to more visitors, most order food, and there are also more overnights than in previous years. Two years ago, we had an average of 30 to 40 overnights during the week, this year between 40 and 60, and on weekends the hut is full," says Neža Rus, caretaker of the alpine hut in the Julian Alps with 80 beds, which has had a sewage treatment plant since last year. Approximately two-thirds are domestic hikers, one-third foreigners, mostly from Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, and Austria. Rus praises the good and appropriate equipment of hikers for high mountains, but also notes that there are more and more newcomers who have recently become members of alpine associations.



"If we forget last year's poor summer season, this one is comparable to previous ones, visitation is similar to two, three, four years ago. Due to its location between Kocbekov dom na Korošici and Frischaufov dom na Okrešlju, we have fewer overnights but the most day visitors, so we certainly sell more food than surrounding huts," emphasizes Simon Gregorc, long-time caretaker of Kamniška koča na Kamniškem sedlu (1864 m, PD Kamnik). The hut in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps is visited more by domestic than foreign hikers, who mostly come from Okrešelj, many Croats, some Austrians, Germans, Swiss, Poles. The owner of the environmentally friendly alpine hut certificate was completely renovated four years ago with European funds – bathrooms, rooms, and dining room were renovated, solar panels updated, and this year the weather vane was replaced.



Koča na Golici (1582 m, PD Jesenice) is also attracting many hikers this year, aided by its mid-mountain location. "The hut is a bit lower, so we had good visitation even last year despite the rain, as hikers didn't go to high mountains, and this year it's even slightly better. I'm satisfied, and foreigners staying overnight on the Via Alpina trail make the season for us both last year and this. Among day trippers, Slovenian and Austrian hikers predominate, among overnighters 90 percent are foreigners. In July, hikers from 14 countries stayed with us, mostly Czechs, many Belgians, Austrians, and Germans," reflects caretaker Bojana Hiti after this season. At the well-visited hut in the Karavanke, they repaired the balcony in spring, signpost maintainers updated the trail with steps and drainage, and these days they are replacing gutters and erecting a memorial plaque on Golica for the 110th anniversary of the former Kadilnikova koča na Golici, which they will mark on August 29 this year together with the 60th anniversary of the song Na Golici and a guest performance by Ansambel Saša Avsenika.



Among lower-lying huts, Planinski dom na Kumu (1211 m, PD Kum) in the Posavje hills is happy with good visitation, despite the road being closed at the start of summer due to renovation. "This year I'm satisfied with revenue and guests, among whom there are quite a few regulars who like to return. Mostly domestic hikers visit us, but some foreigners too, some Croats, Austrians, a German, Chinese, Japanese, even Argentinians have visited," says caretaker Roman Ledinek. In the hut, they arranged the space in front of the bar and installed a sewage treatment plant in the last year, and by September they will install a wood stove to make operations more environmentally friendly, the caretaker adds; the hut already holds the family-friendly hut certificate, with the biggest attraction for children being a donkey and two goats.



"We are glad that this season is much better than last year's or comparable to the five-year average. This is good encouragement for caretakers and associations in further maintenance and renovations, so they can also gain some funds from the season for building sewage treatment plants and environmental protection," emphasizes the head of the PZS Economic Commission, Janko Rabič. Alpine associations face challenges due to increasingly difficult employment conditions in huts; tightened legislation allows no exceptions, making it harder to recruit staff for alpine huts, which is also more expensive for associations, but they strive together for hiker satisfaction in service and offerings. "We encourage caretakers not only to be good hosts, but for hut staff to also provide information on trails, weather, and other things hikers are interested in. We are especially pleased with praise from hikers, and with criticisms we are aware that mistakes occur. We have no direct influence on hut operations, but we realize that a hut caretaker must be as friendly to a mountaineer as a valley innkeeper to a tourist," Rabič adds. In addition to other promotion of alpine huts, PZS issued free leaflets of alpine huts in the Julian Alps and the central part of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and Karavanke this year.



At the peak of the summer mountaineering season, which lasts from mid-July to mid-September, the Alpine Association of Slovenia emphasizes that everyone should choose a tour for which they are appropriately physically and mentally prepared and have the suitable equipment they know how to use. Before heading to the mountains, visitors should check the weather forecast, trail conditions, and hut openings; booking accommodation and using one's own bedding is also recommended.



Safe mountain steps and see you in the mountains!