Mountains Leave Traces

May mountains remain forever the sanctuaries of those who are in search of the sun!

Like every other art, mountaineering in its broadest sense holds a great ethical moment! Every art cleanses and lifts our senses. When you stand atop a high mountain peak, an unusual elevated sensation pervades your soul. (Planinski vestnik, 1895)

With their beauty, inaccessibility and greatness, mountains have always inspired and attracted explorers, pioneer climbers and other travelers as well as artists, who have to date created an outstanding collection of mountaineering-related works of art. Their themes are as various as the attitude towards mountains, from respect out of fear to mystical experience, from extreme sport achievements to pleasant hiking in the nature and beautiful views. Yet the love of mountains is the ultimate driving force of cultural experience and creativity. Everything, from vigorous language spoken by a simple herdsman to carefully chosen words uttered by the greatest artists, represents this rich cultural activity. It is also a reflection of a unique Slovenian soul which finds its own spiritual world, love of country and national identity in the mountains. In this context, Planinski vestnik, Slovenia’s oldest monthly magazine published since 1895 by the Planinska zveza Slovenije (Alpine Association of Slovenia), plays an important role.

The main feature of mountaineering is a memorable experience in the mountains. As a kaleidoscope of memories, this experience finds its way in various forms into texts, from professional ones to literature, into works of fine arts, music, films, photography etc., or is present in lively story-telling among friends.