Only lower-lying mountain huts remain open...

Only lower-lying mountain huts remain open, let's plan our autumn tours more carefully.



This year's summer mountaineering season was one of the best in the last decade, the general increase in the number of foreign visitors to Slovenia is also reflected in the mountain huts. In October, mountain huts in the high mountains closed their doors, while lower-lying ones switched to the autumn-winter operating schedule, which requires adapting autumn mountain visits and paying more attention to tour planning. Current data on the opening of mountain huts is up-to-date on the PZS website koce.pzs.si.







"The summer season in mountain huts was one of the best in the last ten years, contributed by both weather favorable for mountain visits and the increase in the number of foreign visitors to Slovenia. The weather was somewhat variable in July and September, but mostly stable and suitable for visiting the high mountains and mid-mountains. The general increase in the number of foreign guests in Slovenia is also reflected in the mountain huts. The summer season in the high mountains was very good this year, with some huts in the central part of the Julian Alps recording record visits. In the mid-mountains and lower-lying mountain huts, the attendance was generally good, sometimes above average," assesses the season by Dušan Prašnikar, professional associate of the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS).







Slovenia is crisscrossed by a network of more than ten thousand kilometers of mountain trails leading to 178 mountain huts, shelters, and bivouacs. Slovenian mountains are visited annually by 1.7 million visitors, with more and more foreigners among them, explains Prašnikar: "Over the last ten years, we have observed a constant increase in the share of foreign guests who overnight in mountain huts. This is most evident during periods of poor weather, when foreigners still reach the mountain huts; their share is exceptionally high also at the beginning of the summer season, when Slovenians are usually at the sea. Some high-mountain huts record more than 70 percent foreign guests, on average foreigners already account for half of all overnight stays in mountain huts in Slovenia. We also notice an increase in foreign guests in mid-mountain huts. In some, there were hardly any foreigners a few years ago, now they are also exploring other destinations in Slovenia. The number of foreign guests walking the Slovenian Mountain Trail is also increasing." Due to the growing interest of foreigners in Slovenia's most popular long-distance trail and one of the oldest in Europe and the world, the guide Slovenian Mountain Trail was also published in English in the summer.







The Alpine Association strives to reduce environmental impacts with increased mountain visits, also through partnership in the European Life SustainHuts project, which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the natural environment by introducing new and original energy solutions based on renewable sources. Mountain huts in Spain, Italy, and Slovenia are included as demonstration objects. "Within the Life SustainHuts project, we equipped Pogačnikov dom na Kriških podih with a new electricity supply system that is entirely based on solar and wind energy. In the first operating season, it was shown that renewable energy sources successfully covered all needs for electricity and heat, despite the record hut attendance. Visitors thus had all the comfort previously offered by the hut, while the impacts on the natural environment of Triglav National Park were significantly reduced," describes Prašnikar. Within the Hydrogen Technology Development Center project in collaboration with the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, and the Alpine Association of Slovenia, an event Sustainable Huts in Slovenia is organized on November 18, 2019, where sustainable self-supply solutions for facilities in the mountain world with electricity will be presented. Hydrogen technology is offered as one of the alternatives.







High-mountain huts in the Julian Alps, except for the serviced Dom na Komni which is open all year, have all closed their doors; mountaineers can still count on shelter and accommodation with meteorologists at Triglavski dom na Kredarici and the possibility of refuge in unserviced winter rooms and bivouacs. Permanently open in autumn and winter also remain Planinski dom Tamar in the Julijci, Domžalski dom na Mali planini in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Valvasorjev dom pod Stolom in the Karavanke, and numerous lower-lying huts across Slovenia, while the others have switched to autumn-winter operating hours and welcome mountaineers with open doors only on weekends and holidays. Due to renovation works, Blejska koča na Lipanci and Erjavčeva koča na Vršiču will be closed in November, although they will otherwise be open during the week in winter. Current data on the opening of mountain huts is up-to-date on the PZS website koce.pzs.si.







When huts are closed, the safety aspect of visiting mountains in autumn must also be considered, and even more attention paid to tour planning. "Many huts will not provide us with hot meals, the possibility to replenish fluids, a safe roof over our heads in autumn and winter time... All this means that in our backpack, in addition to basic mountaineering equipment, we must have extra warm clothing, protection against wind and rain, an alu-foil or a large black bag that protects us from hypothermia, and more warm non-alcoholic fluids and food. Days are also shorter in autumn, and darkness will catch us somewhere between five and six in the afternoon. A headlamp is mandatory, also ensure full batteries," advises mountain rescuer and PZS professional associate Matjaž Šerkezi.







In autumn, we must not be surprised by a sudden stormy deterioration of the weather, which in the mountain world due to low temperatures means snowfalls. "A few centimeters of snow not only completely changes the landscape but requires additional technical equipment - ice axe and crampons - and a good measure of knowledge and experience for walking in winter conditions. Due to increased moisture, mountain trails are wet and walking on such a trail can be difficult and requires more attention. Even a small step or carelessness on the trail can lead to a slip, which in the worst case can end with serious injuries or in the case of a fall over a rock step with death," warns Šerkezi, who also reminds of the greater possibility of fog: "Fog is a fairly common companion of our mountains in autumn. In every backpack, there should be a mountain map and compass; we also recommend knowledge of using the Locus Maps application on a smartphone, where you can also find maps of the Alpine Association of Slovenia. If you get lost on the trail or cannot continue due to dense fog, stay calm and try to safely return to the last known point, e.g., a signpost, marker, or known part of the trail. Do not wander aimlessly, as due to poor visibility you can slip on a wet slope. If you do not see a solution or are injured, call 112."