Reviving infrastructure crucial to attracting foreign mountaineers – Mountain homes in Serbia at mid-20th century level in terms of equipment

Serbia has around 16,000 members of mountaineering associations and clubs and it seems that this activity has become increasingly popular in the past years. The presidents of the mountaineering associations Pobeda and Zeleznicar say that, when it comes to domestic mountaineers, no location stands out as the most popular one.

– The price of transport is the most important factor, which means that locations in relative proximity to Belgrade are the most popular ones. Also, thanks to their proximity, the Carpathians in Romania are a popular location, especially the canyon of the Nera river and the Beusnica waterfall, In Serbia, popular locations include Rtanj, Povlen, Maljen, Fruska Gora, the mountains of Eastern Serbia, the Djerdap Gorge, the Miroc plateau... – says Radmilo Maric, the president of the Zeleznicar mountaineering association.

Boris Micic, the president of the Pobeda mountaineering association, adds that, in addition to mountaineering tours, hiking and trekking tours are interesting as well.

– The mountaineers of Serbia, in addition to being members of the European Union of Mountaineering Associations (EUMA), are also members of the European Ramblers' Association (ERA). Walking is the activity for locations such as Deliblato Sands, plains or mountains where it's not necessary to use technical accessories (aside from poles). A special challenge for experienced mountaineers are tours at above 2,500 m, which we carry out in the surrounding countries and in the Alps – Micic says.

When it comes to foreigners and mountaineering in Serbia, the associations agree that there are not that many, and the reason cited is that the accompanying infrastructure is insufficiently developed. When they do come, they most frequently visit Kopaonik and Stara Planina, as well as Rtanj and Suva Planina.

– Unfortunately, there are relatively few foreign mountaineers. Aside from those from the surrounding countries, our visitors, increasingly more so, are people from Europe who want to walk the so-called European long-distance paths. There are 12 E-paths in Europe, two of which, E-4 and E-7, pass through Serbia. Unfortunately, the accompanying structure is a problem there as well. Aside from the fact that these roads are not properly marked, there are not enough quality accommodation facilities and no accompanying maps. In Europe, the standard of accommodation facilities is considerably higher than ours, and our mountaineering homes are still at the mid-20th century level when it comes to equipment. There are certain private accommodation facilities and ethno tourism facilities, but not enough, and they are often not supported by the local self-government – Micic points out and adds that people find the Djerdap region and the Molitva mountain especially interesting, the latter perching above the meandering Uvac river.

Radmilo Maric says that, in Serbia, foreigners often go rafting or visit canyons, whereas fewer go to mountains.

– Foreigners do come here, but mostly through specialized agencies and, of course, at much higher prices – Maric said.

He also notes that personal contact among mountaineers – and these associations are also meant for socializing – is getting replaced by electronic communication.

– In addition to mountaineering activities, our meetings were cult events and the soul of the association, sometimes bringing together up to 220 members. Mass communication and the internet have destroyed that. Occasionally, someone comes over to make a payment, but increasingly often, people just pay online. If this goes on for another 20 years, maybe there will be rooms where people will be able to walk on an inclined treadmill, artificial wind blowing all around them, with artificial snow falling against a 3D background. People will perhaps be able to simulate climbing Mount Everest that way – he concludes.

I. Milovanovic

Planinarsko društvo Železničar

PD POBEDA BEOGRAD

Železničar mountaineering association

Pobeda mountaineering association

European Union of Mountaineering Associations

EUMA

European Ramblers Association

ERA

Radmilo Marić

Boris Mićić

mountaineering

mountaineering in Serbia

mountaineering training

Rtanj

Povlen

Maljen

Fruška Gora

mountains of Eastern Serbia

Đerdap Gorge

Miroč plateau

Suva planina

European long distance paths