Victory of Slovenian Alpinism

On Friday, December 16, 2011, a ceremony took place in the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum, where we marked the conclusion of the Nepalese tourism year 2011 and the International Mountain Day, which was the previous Sunday. On the occasion of the conclusion of the Nepalese tourism year 2011, Nepal and the Nepal Mountaineering Association awarded special recognitions to Slovenian alpinists who ascended the summit of Everest from the Nepalese side. Alpinists heading to the Himalaya are indeed the best ambassadors of Nepalese tourism, and those with the world's highest peak even more so.

The ceremony, attended by numerous alpinists, guests, and mountain enthusiasts from home and Nepal, was organized by the Consulate of Nepal in Slovenia and the Mountaineering Associations of Nepal and Slovenia in collaboration with the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum. Nepal, the land at the foot of the Himalaya, is characterized by numerous riches – ancient cultures, history, languages, traditions, and stunning nature with vast mountains encased in eternal ice. Slovenia and Nepal are united by many things, most certainly the love of mountains. And this evening was dedicated to Nepal and Slovenian friendship with this magical mountain land, and, as Honorary Consul of Nepal in Slovenia mag. Aswin Shrestha said at the end of the award ceremony, to the victory of Slovenian alpinism, which has significantly marked both Nepal and world alpinism.

In their speeches, both Honorary Consul of Nepal in Slovenia mag. Aswin Shrestha and President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association Zimba Zangbu Sherpa emphasized the importance of the connection between the two countries and mountaineering associations, above all the contribution of the Alpine Association of Slovenia to safer work of locals on expeditions high in the mountains. They said that the Slovenian mountaineering school in Manang contributed most to this. They thanked the Slovenian government for its support and the Alpine Association of Slovenia, which established the mountaineering school on the initiative of alpinist Aleš Kunaver, where courses for guides have been held since 1979. The Slovenian mountaineering school in Manang was the first school for guides built in Nepal, and the Alpine Association of Slovenia was the first mountaineering association to connect with the Nepal Mountaineering Association and wanted to enable locals better living opportunities and as few accidents as possible at work on expeditions through education.

President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia Bojan Rotovnik emphasized that the Slovenian nation is also one of the few world nations represented in the mountaineering museum in Pokhara, for which the Alpine Association of Slovenia and Slovenian alpinists have taken care. On the occasion of the Friday solemn event, President Rotovnik thanked Honorary Consul Shrestha, President Zimba Zangbu Sherpa, and all Slovenian alpinists who have carried the name of Slovenia into the world.

Honorary Consul of Nepal in Slovenia mag. Aswin Shrestha awarded the recognitions to the alpinists accompanied by President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia Bojan Rotovnik. They were received by the following alpinists with ascents to Everest, who have carried Nepal and Slovenian alpinism into the world: Andrej Štremfelj, together with Nejc Zaplotnik they were the first Slovenians on the Summit of the World (Andrej is the only Slovenian with two ascents to the top of Everest); Andrej's wife Marija Štremfelj (with her husband Andrej they stood on Everest as the first married couple in the world), Viki Grošelj, Davo Karničar, Tadej Golob, Matej Flis, Gregor Lačen, and Tomaž Jakofčič, who completed the first Slovenian guiding ascent to the top of Everest. (all explanations upon receipt are attached in the appendix)

On the occasion of the end of the Nepalese tourism year, the Nepalese state and the Nepal Mountaineering Association wanted to repay with honorary recognitions also those Slovenians who have significantly contributed to the development of mountain tourism in Nepal, above all to safer work of locals high in the mountains. From the hands of President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association Zimba Zangbu Sherpa and Honorary Consul of Nepal in Slovenia mag. Aswin Shrestha, honorary recognitions were received by the following officials, members, and instructors of the Alpine Association of Slovenia: President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia Bojan Rotovnik, former President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia mag. Franci Ekar, long-time leader of Slovenian Himalayan expeditions Tone Škarja, and Bojan Pollak, long-time and already legendary instructor in the school for high-altitude porters and mountain guides in Nepal – in trainings that are the legacy of Aleš Kunaver and his desire to transfer mountaineering knowledge to Nepalese locals as soon as possible. On behalf of the deceased alpinists Aleš Kunaver and Zoran Jerina, who was the initiator of the first expedition to the Himalaya (Kangbačen 1965), the recognitions were accepted by Aleš's wife Dušica Kunaver and Zoran's daughter. Honorary recognition was also received by Dušica Kunaver, guardian of the invaluable legacy of her late husband Aleš and author of numerous books on Slovenian and Nepalese cultural heritage.

In the cultural program, guitarist Rawi Shrestha, flutist Anita Prelovšek, and dr. Lasanthi Manaranjanje Kalinga Dona and Vasja Štukelj participated, who gave the solemn event a true Nepalese-Slovenian cultural experience.



Slovenian alpinists who ascended the summit of Sagarmatha or Everest, as the British explorers named the world's highest mountain, are:

1. Jernej Zaplotnik, ascended Everest on 13. 5. 1979 (deceased)

2. Andrej Štremfelj, 13. 5. 1979, second time 7. 10. 1990

3. Stane Belak, 15. 5. 1979 (deceased)

4. Viki Grošelj, 10. 5. 1989

5. Marija Štremfelj, 7. 10. 1990

6. Janez Jeglič, 7. 10. 1990 (deceased)

7. Franc Pepevnik, 22. 5. 1997 (from the Chinese side)

8. Pavle Kozjek, 23. 5. 1997 (deceased)

9. Davo Karničar, 7. 10. 2000

10. Franc Oderlap, 7. 10. 2000 (deceased)

11. Tadej Golob, 9. 10. 2000

12. Matej Flis, 9. 10. 2000

13. Gregor Lačen, 9. 10. 2000

14. Viki Mlinar, 21. 5. 2005 (from the Chinese side)

15. Marko Lihteneker, 21. 5. 2005 (deceased)

16. Roman Benet (IT, born in Mojstrana), 17. 5. 2007 (from the Chinese side)

17. Tomaž Jakofčič, 19. 5. 2009 (guiding tour)

Zdenka Mihelič