We advise against activities in the mountains

We advise against activities in the mountains, do not expose yourselves unnecessarily.



We call on all visitors to the mountains to cancel their mountain activities given the current situation, except for light walks near home, in the company of family members. To prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, we will do the most if we stay at home - the mountains will wait for us, and the mountain huts have also closed their doors until further notice. Do not expose yourselves unnecessarily in the mountains, so as not to contribute to accidents and additional burden on both rescue and medical personnel.







As employees in Slovenian hospitals are increasingly burdened due to the growing number of viral infections, and material capacities are also limited, such as blood supply, calls from healthcare workers are piling up for people to take care of themselves and avoid unnecessary risks, including visiting the mountains.



The Mountain Rescue Association of Slovenia also advises against outdoor activities where there is a higher risk of injury; people should especially avoid the high mountains, as conditions in the mountains remain very demanding and dangerous. The public must know that in the current epidemiological situation, there are also limitations in mountain rescue. In case of suspicion of COVID-19 infection of the injured person, pilots will very likely refuse helicopter transport, mountain rescuers will first ensure their own safety, and rescues can become significantly complicated, as nothing is taken for granted in this situation.



The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has tightened measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Today, March 16, 2020, at midnight, the decree on the temporary prohibition of the sale of goods and services to consumers in the Republic of Slovenia came into force. This includes catering and accommodation activities, which means that all mountain huts are also prohibited from operating and remain closed until further notice. We will inform the public about changes in the operating hours of the huts via the website www.pzs.si.



The Alpine Association of Slovenia calls on all hikers, alpinists, climbers, ski tourers, cyclists, and other visitors and mountain enthusiasts to cancel all activities in the mountain world given the current situation, except for light walks near home, without visiting more demanding and crowded destinations. It also advises against all group lowland activities within associations, sections, or individually organized groups. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, we will do the most if we stay at home in the family circle ... the mountains will wait for us.



Due to the spread of the coronavirus epidemic in Slovenia and around the world, PZS calls on all mountain visitors to follow the following recommendations:



Mountaineering associations or clubs and their sections should temporarily suspend all activities - mountaineering trips, activities of alpinist, sport climbing, ski touring cycling, ski touring, and mountaineering schools, courses, training, social events, circles, general meetings ...

Members of sections and alpinist clubs should not carry out alpinist ascents, alpinist ski tours, ski touring, climbing of all multi-pitch routes, all mountaineering and other outdoor activities or in the mountain world, in short, all activities in which participants expose themselves to the potential risk of injury and consequent need for rescue, hospitalization, etc.

Mountain huts have closed their doors until further notice, as have climbing centers and gyms, but we must be aware that any gathering of two or more hikers, climbers, skiers, cyclists ... whether on a tour, at a crag, or in a car, means unnecessary exposure to virus transmission.

There is a high possibility of infection transmission by touching surfaces onto which the virus has been transferred by human-object contact and also object-object. This includes fixed cables, pegs, staples on very demanding secured mountaineering paths, climbing holds, quickdraws, ropes at crags, railings, benches ...

We recommend canceling all planned mountaineering activities abroad until further notice.



Only together can we contribute to containing the spread of the new coronavirus infection, so it is especially important that we all act responsibly and preventively for the common good. Thank you for all your media activity these days and for reporting on the current situation regarding the epidemic.