As my father Janez Drobež dreamt of a tower on the Čemšeniška mountain, so his son looked around for a new route. "I like to go around the world," says Mitja, "but when my wife and I were travelling, I couldn't wait to get back. To go to our Čemšeniška mountain. There's something about it... Well, it's the most beautiful place for me."
Even youngsters were full of energy, crashing up the hill behind the house to see who could get to the top the fastest. At that time, full of enthusiasm and energy, he was distracted by the winding of all the paths. "Why isn't there a path just like that, straight to the top, no detours?" Years passed, but this idea of a direct route remained.
The time of the corona has given more time to revive this thought. Where could he have taken such a path? He started down from the top, wading through thickets and overgrown forest, but a rocky jump stopped him. The next time, he descended over the rocks with firefighting ropes. He kept marking his way. The next time he tried to reach the point from the bottom up. It started just at the thumbs. After he got permission from the owner of the plot, he slowly cleared the path. But it always stopped at a rocky area.
When like-minded people are found
At one of the parties in Zasavje, Jureto Knez and I talked about the tower on Čemšeniška planina. He mentioned in passing that he was working on a trail. Just a few days later, they were climbing on those rocks. There was an echo of apology when Mitja said.I didn't mean to drag you up here." "You didn't think, but you've been doing a bit of a tut-tut about it, have you?" smiled Jure, who is particularly fond of climbing on ferrata. "You know what, I know a guy called Branet who's going to rig this one to make it passable..." A week later, the active work on the route had already begun.
From idea to realisation
It started with a search for a passage through thickets and rocks. Then cutting the grass and clearing the branches. Sawing trees and raking leaves. Obtaining permits. Clearing the paths. "You can't see the steepness in the picture, but it's nice to feel it", was a comment that drew nods from everyone involved in the project.
The most challenging part was to create a path over the rocky area, where rungs and rope ladders were installed. Helmets and a self-protection kit are compulsory on this section. Ropes were strung and steps were built in the steepest parts. Signboards and signs were added, as well as a unique addition from Zasavje.
As you walk along the path, you will be amused by the inscriptions from Zasavje: 'Kumarat, ahti, let's go uphill!', 'Kira kurba si je to zmislu?', 'Lega ne jamri, si sam pojt!'. You will also be surprised by a more poetic board, on which the song is written and next to it a QR code that leads to the music, which you will surely recognise.
"I never imagined that everyone would be so enthusiastic, that everything would turn out so well," says a visibly happy Mitja, the mastermind behind the route.
On Sunday, 10 November, the new route was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting and champagne ŠPURA. Why such a name probably needs no explanation.
If you've ever seen a vehicle driving all the way to the top in recent months; if you've ever met hikers over-equipped with safety harnesses and helmets; if you've ever heard the sound of a hammer, a drill, a chainsaw coming from the forest; if you've ever seen a group on the top that always puts their drinks and food in the Špura ... now there's an answer. For several months, the Špura trail has been secretly worked on. "I enjoyed Špura immensely from the first moment to the last," says Brane Povše.
Four municipalities, a joint project
Individuals from four municipalities - Zagorje, Trbovlje, Hrastnik and Litija - took part in the trail. Not only does the trail feed the soul of athletes who want a more challenging route, but it is also a symbol of the linking of the municipalities.
What are the next steps? "Yes, the tower, clearly", the team is already committed to the next goal, which has been rumored in the valleys for some time. So is the idea now ripe to be realised?
The project involved:Mitja Drobež (conceptual leader), Jasna Drobež (eternal support), Jure Knez (uncle from the background), Petra Škarja (head of operations), Branko Povše, together with Dani Kruljc and Marjan Mars (management of the protected route), Rok Leskovec (overall graphic design), Damjan Zupan (signs), Marjan Povše (marketing in the FB group Friends of Čemšeniška planina), Franc Zupan (owner of the plots), Igorij Parkel (warning signs) ... and someone else who is not mentioned, but who added a piece of the mosaic to this beautiful project.
