Zavarovalnica Triglav has put together its third Winter Mountain Hiking Course for Families, which provides families and children with all the key information they need to explore snowy winter landscapes safely. On 8 March, Slovenia’s biggest insurer, in collaboration with the Avalanche Protection Institute, gave mountain lovers of different generations the opportunity to experience hiking in winter conditions, and passed on a raft of useful tips to make every visit to a (snowy) mountain trail a safe one.
“This season as well we remain committed to improving the safety of hikers and other visitors to the mountains,” said Sara Vehovec, director of Triglav’s Social Responsibility and Events Management Department. “Our activities are focused on three main areas: raising awareness of safe and responsible walking and hiking, taking part in the renovation and renewal of mountain trails, and making sure fire safety is a top priority in mountain huts and lodges. We know that safe exploration of our wonderful Alpine world begins with every individual. A winter mountain course has also been one of our planned activities, with 17 participants being given the chance to learn, in an interesting, practical and safe way, more about how to move around the high mountains and prepare for a more responsible approach to mountain visits,” added Vehovec. This is the latest in a series of projects that Triglav have run with the aim of strengthening the safety culture in the natural world.
Winter conditions are different – and require extra knowledge and know-how
The countryside in winter can be a wonderful stage for family adventures, but more care and advance preparation is required than in the warmer months – along with the right equipment, of course. The course was therefore also aimed at helping families understand the particularities of winter conditions and to equip them with practical knowledge for a safe experience in the upland world. The course participants learned from the experts how to move correctly through the snow and along icy paths, how to use crampons and ice axes, and how to assess the conditions when the ground is covered with snow.
“There is plenty of quality time to be had with children in the mountain, not just sledging and skiing,” says Dr Manca Volk Bahun, director of the Avalanche Protection Institute. “But conditions in winter are a lot different to those in summer, and require more equipment and more knowledge. The aim of the course is to encourage families to enjoy active leisure time outdoors in the winter months too, as well as to draw attention to the dangers and the ways in which we might best avoid them. We are keen to help people choose their goals carefully and to use protective equipment safely and responsibly so that they return to the valley with a smile on their face and a set of great experiences.” The Avalanche Protection Institute trains and educates complete beginners and experienced mountaineers alike with the aim of reducing the number of accidents caused by a lack of knowledge or poor equipment, and not least to encourage curiosity about and pleasure in nature. On average, avalanches claim one or two lives in Slovenia every year.
Knowledge that stays with families and accompanies them everywhere they go
The course combined short lectures in the morning and intensive practical workshops in the afternoon. The families learned about winter equipment, snowy conditions, how avalanches unfold, first-aid procedures, and recommendations on how to choose the right goals when visiting the mountains with children. They were given practical instruction in the field on how to use crampons, ice axes and avalanche beacons, observed the work of a mountain rescuer and rescue dog, and learned how searches are conducted of people buried under the snow. A demonstration on how to extract someone from beneath the snow following an avalanche showed how important it is to act quickly and prepare properly.
The participants returned home with a clear message: safety begins with a realistic assessment of your abilities, careful trip planning, a proper check of conditions and responsible equipment use. A knowledge of first aid and an understanding of the dangers posed by avalanches can be the difference between life and death.
A common goal: happy faces, wonderful experiences
The course gave every participant a set of practical skills, and the courage and confidence to enjoy the mountains safely. One of the key points advanced by the course was that while every winter trip is different, they all demand respect for nature and prudent decision-making.
By supporting programmes like this, Zavarovalnica Triglav, in partnership with experts and professionals, is continuing its mission to improve safety in the mountains and encourage people to exercise the care and responsibility necessary to turn every winter trip into a special experience for the whole family.
