With new warning signs for less accidents in the mountains
Before the start of the mountain season, when all hikers are eagerly awaiting to spend the week with views of the valley and peaks, they warned at the Slovenian Mountaineering Association (PZS) that they were for a safe step urgently needed maintained and regularly reviewed mountain trails.
« If all the mountain trails in Slovenia were to settle in one path, it would take us from Ljubljana to Los Angeles or to Tokyo, the mountain organization takes care of a network of mountain trails totaling 10,124 kilometers and for about 2000 kilometers of the Cycling Trails, » PZS President illustrated at a press conference in Dravograd. Jože Rovan. All these routes, however, should be edited: clean, mow, inspect the visibility of markings, repair any damage, arrange boards …
Last year, more than 950 Maracists of PZS spent more than 35,000 volunteer hours. When there are major campaigns, they are also assisted by members of mountain societies. « If we were evenly distributed to arranging the path between these markacists, each would have to arrange 11 kilometers, which would mean the path from the door to Triglav and back, each of which has done 37 hours of work, » warned Rovan, Markacist himself for over 50 years.
The maracists drew the most recognizable label: a red ring with a white dot in the middle. Photo: Beti Burger
Since last year’s assistance of the country
He added that all work is voluntary, but that they have been in a better position in the last two years, as they are supported by the state with the amendment of the Mountain Trail Act. « We get 400,000 euros, this is sufficient for most material costs for markacists and for schooling, which has rejuvenated our ranks, which is crucial because some physical activities are very demanding. » Unfortunately, they cannot help with mountain huts.
Carinthian markacists have shown the processing of the stairs, which are made for a safe passage of a steep part of the path so that mountaineers feel safer. Photo: Beti Burger
Markacists illustrated the drawing of the markings: “We always draw you in the direction in which we move, in the height of the eyes, always on the right side: drawing them on trees, rocks and other objects. However, they should not be drawn on sacral objects, monuments, traffic signs and border stones. Otherwise, we also use other route markings: a straight red line, a broken red line, a directional arrow indicating that the route is breaking, and various descriptions on objects that further inform, « she said, » she said Ivana Kotnika marker from PD Dravograd, who is with a maracist Brigito Skrube Draw a mark on a tree. In addition, Maracists of PD Dravograd showed the trail cleaning, mowing grass and the stairs on the mountain trail towards Šteharska Vrh, which is part of the Carinthian Mountain Trail.
“In Slovenia, it is a habit for people to print stamps into their personal diaries, into the logs of the walks and the like. The huts, however, are often closed and people complain that they could not get Žig. This will no longer be a problem, « Jože Rovan said at the board with such a stamp. Photo: Beti Burger
New warning boards
The main tourist season in the mountains begins, but the situation can be in the highlands above 2000 meters above sea level, even when it is already quite summer in the lowlands, winter. This should be inquired and have the right equipment with it. As explained by the Secretary General of PZS Damjan Omerzuwe adjust the equipment to the complexity and length of the mountain trail and the altitude. “The backpack should include a personal set of first aid, alufolia, front lamp and spare batteries, a full battery cellphone, a map if mobiles cancel, spare food, enough fluid – especially during the summer days – warm clothing and sun and rain protection. On demanding trails, a helmet is essential, on the trails protected by a cylinder, including a self -guard kit. ”The appropriate shoes are very important: they can be low with a quality sole on lighter trails, and highlands are recommended for higher mountains.
Jože Rovan noted that there are still a lot of accidents in our mountains. Therefore, in the framework of the Campaign a Safe Trail to the Slovenian Mountains, they started to install new warning boards (in Slovene and English) in areas where more frequent interventions of mountain rescuers are needed. Among other things, it was installed under Komarča, on the way from Savica to seven lakes. “Although the path is much wide and not too awkward, it is quite demanding, especially when it is wet. However, because of the much easy access, anyone, many, foreigners, are not aware of the danger. Namely, many signs with warnings do not tell many, so we have decided to provide additional information. This board shows what equipment we need, the length of the path and its complexity. We see that it takes three hours, which is not small, that the altitude is thousands of meters, which is not small again. Next to it is a map that accurately shows the route of the route, and the QR code to get additional information. I hope that we will also help to make accidents less. ”As Rovan added, the number of accidents has been increasing in recent years.
All paths after catches and floods are arranged
The markings are usually drawn at the height of the eyes, drawing so that it is visible in the direction of walking. Photo: Beti Burger
Two years ago, the August floods and catches were damaged by most mountain trails in Carinthia, especially in the Mežiška Valley and in the area of Črna, Pece, Olševa and Raduha, which the markacists have already renovated.
“On the mountain route Bukovnik -Koča on Grohot, we restored the stairs taken away by the torrent. The severely damaged path of the Topla -Dom cave on Pec was restored for three days with the technical group of markacists. We installed wedges and cylinders, in a rock indented two steps, made stairs across the bank. We installed a larch trunk across the torrent, secured it with metal wedges for wood and filled with stones. As early as September 2023, we were united by markers from all over Slovenia on the Slovenian Markacists Day in Pohorje and Kozjak, set up 112 kilometers of mountain trails, which were affected by winds and torrential waters that summer. Carinthian markacists have also restored all other damaged mountain trails, so that they are now safely transitional, and we invite mountaineers to come for a mountain trip to Carinthia, « said the head of the Carinthia Mountain Trail Committee Dear kure.
Jože Rovan alongside the new warning board, which represents an upgrade of the joint campaign Safe Way to the Slovenian Mountains with the Mountain Rescue Association of Slovenia, the WTO, the Police and the Triglav National Park. Photo: Beti Burger
The free application of the MAPZS Mountaineering Association shows users all marked mountain trails in Slovenia. It is a device for both home trips planning and field orientation. The data is reliable and up -to -date, as they are updated every day by the Trail Administrators, the Markacists of the PZS, said Damjan Omerzu, Secretary General of the PZS, instructor of mountain education and markacist.
Novelties are new boards, Žigi
Display what needs to be put into our backpacks before we go on the trip to the hills. Photo: Beti Burger
The Alpine Association of Slovenia is also introducing new routing boards – they will slowly replace the current ones. They will still be red with a white inscription. New boards provide information about the goals of mountain trails, the walking time, the mountaineering society, which is the administrator of the trail section, the complexity of the trail – which is now more visible, in combination of yellow and black.
They are also on their logos, PZS takes care of more than 50 connecting trails, and with logos, they try to make it easier to follow visitors. Location plates with QR KODA reveal where we are, the above sea level and number 112 for emergency call. The light trails are not specifically marked, they are demanding marked with a triangle, and very demanding mountain trails with a triangle containing the call.
The new boards will also be equipped with mountain huts and other checkpoints of the Slovenian Mountain Trail and the Slovenian Turnro -Cycling Trail (these are in blue) – there will be a stamp on these plates. “In Slovenia, it is a habit for people to print stamps into their personal diaries, into the logs of the walks and the like. The huts, however, are often closed and people complain that they could not get Žig. This will no longer be a problem, « Rovan said, adding that they are now sharing boards, which are expected to be in the huts in a month.
