Slovenian disabled hikers climb Mt Breithorn
Ljubljana, 5 August - Slovenian hikers with disabilities have recently climbed to the top of Breithorn, a 4,164 metre peak in Switzerland, showing that persistence, endurance and mutual support can go a long way. Accompanied by a team of mountain guides and assistants, they were able to solve all problems on the go, the Alpine Association of Slovenia has said.
Ljubljana
Slovenian hikers with disabilities that climbed Switzerland's Breithorn.
Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA
Ljubljana
Head of the expedition to Breithorn Jurček Nowakk.
Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA
The expedition featured 19 blind, visually impaired, deaf and neurodivergent hikers and hikers with mobility impairments, as well as mountain guides, assistants, a sign language interpreter and other hikers.
The hike was planned by the association's committee for hikers with disabilities. They already climbed Triglav, Slovenia's tallest peak at 2,864 metres, and so they wanted to put a three-thousander in their books, the committee's head Jurček Nowakk, who led the expedition, told the press on Monday.
"When we noticed that three-thousanders were much more challenging, that especially for the blind hiking on rock is more difficult and that snow is easier, we skipped 3,000 metres and stopped at 4,000," Nowakk said.
The hike was a challenge for the mountain guides because of the large size of the group. "Forming a glacier roped partly with a blind person is unusual," said one of the guides, Andrej Štremfelj, adding that they solved all problems on the go.
Para-hiker Gorazd Dolanc said that the hike was incredible and that the emotions have not calmed down yet. "Let's hope our success resonates and maybe relieves fears and opens the eyes of some people, showing that a lot is possible in life even if you are at a disadvantage in some areas," said para-athlete Jana Führer.
Sign language interpreter Natalija Spark said that the hike itself was not too challenging as the hikers did not have much time to talk. She found it more difficult to recreate the atmosphere in the free time for the deaf hikers.
The group hiked Breithorn on 29 July and went all the way to the top of a glacier the next day to enjoy the view of Mont Blanc and Dent du Geant.