Hosted by: Alpine Division of Hrvatsko planinarsko društvo “Željezničar”

Date: 22-29 September, 2024

Location: Paklenica National Park, Velebit mountains, Croatia

Accomodation: Camp Rujno, Starigrad Paklenica

The main aim of the Meeting was to share experiences, knowledge and practices through a number of specialized topics on how to increase general mountain safety for ski alpinism and related activities, propose and pilot novel and new methods to increase awareness and improve training specifically for people involved in outdoor mountain sports. The project partners trained together in the below detailed specific topics to deepen their knowledge and share their experiences.  

Main conclusions: all in all the Meeting itself was a huge success, with many new skills learnt and experiences gained. The setting, Paklenica National Park with its many climbing routes, rugged rocks was a great location for learning and training, even the HGSS uses it as one of its main training grounds. However for future meetings an even more structured, pre-set course structure would be advisable, as this would make a much larger impact for the people coming from such varied backgrounds and mountain cultures. Including the HGSS and IFMGA guides also made sure that high standards were maintained. During the Meeting a number of educational videos and pictures were prepared that are shared on the Facebook and Webpages of the Project. 

Participants: 24 people (8 Croatians, 8 Romanians, 8 Hungarians). When choosing the participants we made sure to include people from a number of various backgrounds, with focus on the impact they can make after the Meeting in their own communities. We had people with both a lot of mountaineering experience and less experience (but with extensive communities behind them where they will take the learnt knowledge further), climbing coaches for adults and children, climbing and mountaineering instructors, club leaders, climbing hall leaders, people from the local climbing federations, etc., all of them with strong ties to ski touring as well. 

At the end of the meeting we asked all participants to write 2 pages of their main experiences, one participants review of the training sessions is below.

“In September 2024, I had the opportunity to participate in a project course held in Paklenica National Park,  Croatia. This course was designed to teach advanced climbing techniques, proper use of specific equipment,  and the administration of first aid in critical situations. The program also included practical sessions on rescuing  an injured climber from a climbing route, offering me the chance to develop both individual and team skills.

The course was conducted over five days, each day focusing on a specific theme: 

1. Techniques for Using Equipment The training included proper use of harnesses, carabiners, belay devices, and ropes. I learned how to inspect equipment for wear or defects, as well as proper storage methods. Practical exercises focused on correctly securing a partner and knot techniques such as the  “figure-eight” and “prusik” knots.

2. Administering First Aid in Climbing The theoretical session covered managing common traumas such as fractures, dislocations, and  hypothermia. I participated in practical simulations where I applied appropriate bandages and used a first aid  kit. 

3. Rescue Techniques Emphasis was placed on methods for evacuating an injured climber from a vertical wall using  pulley systems. I learned how to communicate effectively with my partner and the rescue team.

4. Practical Climbing I had the opportunity to tackle routes of varying difficulty, applying the techniques learned. Each ascent was followed by a detailed performance analysis under the guidance of the  instructors.

5. Final Assessment The final activity consisted of a simulated accident scenario where we had to apply all the  knowledge acquired.

Lessons Learned 

The course provided me with the opportunity to expand my knowledge and skills in sport climbing and to develop  my ability to react in emergency situations. Among the main lessons learned were:

• The importance of thoroughly inspecting equipment to prevent accidents. 

• The ability to administer first aid quickly and effectively, an essential skill in any outdoor activity.

• Acquiring advanced rescue techniques, applicable to other mountain sports as well. 

• Increased awareness of personal limits and the importance of teamwork and communication. 

Participating in this course was a transformative experience that reinforced my passion for mountaneering and equipped me with the tools needed to approach this sport in a safe and responsible manner. Paklenica National  Park, with its spectacular landscapes, provided an ideal setting for learning and practicing these skills. I warmly  recommend this type of training to anyone passionate about mountain sports.”

A photo gallery from the Meeting is available here.