TREBEVIĆ MOUNTAINEERING CLUB'S FLAG FLEW ON ARARAT AND HIMALAYAN PEAKS

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, NOVEMBER 10 /SRNA/ – The Trebević Mountaineering and Sports Association from Istočno Sarajevo is wrapping up an exceptionally successful year, in which its members climbed Turkiye's imposing Mount Ararat, which rises to 5,137 meters, and also reached Himalayan heights, the association's president Željka Pandžić told SRNA.

She said the club's climbers had carried out more than 50 hikes and other activities so far this season, guided by a clear annual plan and the enthusiasm of its members. Those outings brought together more than 145 active participants of all ages.

Pandžić said these results had once again confirmed the association as one of the most active and best-organized mountaineering clubs in Republika Srpska and the region.

"We have had a year full of challenges, but also of great unity and love for the mountains. As a club, we are proud of what we have achieved and of the more than 145 people who walked our trails, from Trebević to Ararat and the Himalayas. Every success is the result of the joint effort of all our members and guides," Pandžić said.


FROM HOME TRAILS TO THE HIMALAYAS AND ARARAT

She said members of the Trebević association had also pushed their limits on demanding high-mountain climbs across BiH and the region.

"The season was marked by hikes on Vranica, Volujak, Bioč, Lelija, Dinara, Čabulja and the rugged peaks of Prokletije, while the November climb of Borašnica and Samograd heralded the end of this year's calendar," Pandžić said.

She said the association's flag had also flown proudly on some of the best-known mountains and peaks in Europe and the world.

"In the Italian Dolomites, members climbed Gran Cir /2,592 meters/ and Piz Boe /3,152 meters/, the highest peak of the Sella massif, and visited Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Cadini di Misurina and Seceda. They climbed Mount Olympus /Mytikas, 2,918 meters/ and Austria's highest peak, the Grossglockner /3,798 meters/. They conquered Turkiye's imposing Mount Ararat, 5,137 meters high. And they completed a high-altitude expedition to Kang Yatse, a mountain massif in the Himalayas,” Pandžić said.


HOSTING MAJOR EVENTS, FEDERATION ACTIVITIES AND THE CLUB'S 18TH ANNIVERSARY

Pandžić said this year's season had been marked in particular by events that brought together mountaineers from across the region and promoted active time outdoors.

"This year, the Trebević Mountaineering and Sports Association hosted and organized a federation event, the traditional Vidovdan climb of Maglić," Pandžić said. She added that this showed the great trust placed in the club.

She said the May event "Surprise Tours" had also drawn a lot of attention. During it, participants climbed as many as seven mountains around Istočno Sarajevo at the same time: Trebević, Jahorina, Romanija, Treskavica, Bjelašnica, Visočica and Crepoljsko.

The same was true, she said, of the traditional 18th mountaineering gathering on Trebević, held in early October at the Čelina mountain hut. The gathering also celebrated the association's coming of age: 18 years of successful work.


INVESTMENT IN ČELINA HUT AND TRAILS ON TVRDIMIĆI

Pandžić said a great deal of effort had also gone into infrastructure and the safety of all visitors to the outdoors. During the year, further work was done on the Čelina mountain hut on Trebević, making it an even more comfortable place for mountaineers and hikers to stay.

She said the Čelina hut had also been a welcoming venue for the Trail-Marking School of the Mountaineering Association of Republika Srpska.

"Our hard-working members also maintained the trail markings and the network of hiking trails on Tvrdimići, further improving the area's tourist and recreational offer," Pandžić said.

She expressed special thanks to: members of the Territorial Fire and Rescue Unit of the City of Istočno Sarajevo, the Istočni Stari Grad Mountain Rescue Service, forestry workers and the Republika Srpska Helicopter Service. Their superhuman efforts, day and night, saved the mountain, its forests and the buildings on Trebević during the fires in August.


NEXT YEAR'S FOCUS: YOUNG PEOPLE, EDUCATION AND HIGH-MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

She said the association would focus next year on projects devoted to environmental and mountaineering education. The aim is to awaken a love of nature and the mountains in children and young people and to bring in a new generation of mountaineers.

"We are also planning continuous training for the association's guides, so that safety on the trails and the quality of organization remain at the highest level. There will also be strong organizational and logistical support for members preparing for new demanding high-mountain climbs and expeditions," Pandžić said.

She said the association particularly valued its close and friendly ties with mountaineering clubs across Republika Srpska. It also valued its productive cooperation with associations from Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Croatia.

Pandžić thanked the City of Istočno Sarajevo, the municipalities of Istočna Ilidža, Istočno Novo Sarajevo and Istočni Stari Grad, and the companies and businesses that had supported the club's work this year.

"With a renovated Čelina hut, strong support from the local community and a clear vision for development, we at the Trebević Mountaineering and Sports Association are welcoming the new mountaineering year with great optimism," Pandžić said.