Slovenian Mountain Hiking Trail

The Slovenian Mountain Hiking Trail (Slovene: Slovenska planinska pot), sometimes also called Transverzala (Long-Distance Trail), is a route from Maribor to Ankaran. It covers most of the Slovenian mountain areas including Pohorje, the Julian Alps, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, the Karawanks, and the southwestern part of Slovenia. It is the oldest hiking track in Europe.[1]

History

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Ivan Šumljak, 1959

The idea of connecting the most beautiful, hilly, and mountainous area in Slovenia came from Ivan Šumljak in 1950. Originally, the trail was meant to be a circular route, which would start and end in Maribor. It was later changed to include Postojna and other areas towards the sea. It mostly included existing hiking trails. However, in some shorter parts it was necessary to make new demarcations to connect them.

The trail opened on August 1, 1953, with 80 control points. Since then, the trail has only changed slightly. These are the trail's current features: Control points: 80; Length: 599 km; Total ascent: 45.2 km; Total descent: 45.5 km.

There are 58 huts and two museums — the Slovene Alpine Museum in Mojstrana, and Franja Partisan Hospital (from World War II) — and the cave system named Škocjan Caves.

 
Knafelc blaze

The first guided tour of Slovenski planinski transverzali was conducted in 1958. About 9500 hikers have completed the route over 60 years of the trail's history.

The Slovenian Mountain Hiking Trail also has an extended route with 42 control points throughout Slovenia.

Route

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It is possible to start in Maribor, Ankaran, or anywhere else on the circular route. Hikers must obtain a book from the Alpine Association of Slovenia in which they will be able to collect stamps that are located on mountain tops or huts along the way.[clarification needed] If no stamp is available, a photo also counts. The hiking is not time limited.

The route consists mainly of easy trails, but there are also some more challenging ones.

Pohorje and northeastern area

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The control points of the trail on the Pohorje Plateau and in northeastern Slovenia are:

Kamnik–Savinja Alps

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Kamnik Alps, Storžič

The control points of the trail in the Kamnik–Savinja Alps (northern Slovenia) are:

Karawanks

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Stol

The control points of the trail in the Kamnik–Savinja Alps (northern Slovenia) are:

Julian Alps

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Prisojnik, from Erjavec Lodge at Vršič

The control points of the trail in the Kamnik–Savinja Alps (northern Slovenia) are:

 
Triglav from Debela Peč

Southwestern area

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Nanos

The control points of the trail in southwestern Slovenia are:

Old control points

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Extended Slovenian Mountain Hiking Trail

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Škrlatica (2740 m), the second highest peak of Slovenia

The Extended Slovenian Mountain Hiking Trail was created in 1966 to include mountains that are dispersed all over the country and are not connected. Until 1993 it had 18 mandatory and 20 non-mandatory control points. (10 of them are over 1000 m high). Then it was enhanced to 35 obligatory control points and one hill.

Julian Alps
Karawanks
Kamnik–Savinja Alps
Northeastern Slovenia
 
Jeruzalem Hills
Sava Hills
Lower Carniola and White Carniola
 
Trdina Peak in the background
Inner Carniola
Polhov Gradec Hills
  • Grmada (898 m)
Škofja Loka Hills
Littoral

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Hiking in Slovenia". Www.via-alpina.org. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
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