A contribution to the understanding of the history of mountaineering in Liburnia: historical overview of activities of the "Orljak" Mountaineering Club (1984-2010)

Abstract

Activities of the “Orljak” Mountaineering Club from Opatija (hereinafter: the Club) are underrepresented in the history of Croatian mountaineering. However, a quarter of a century of existence and notable activities in Liburnia justify the need to document such an important episode in local, regional, and even national mountaineering history. This paper, therefore, explores work and activities of the Club from its earliest days in the form of “Orljak” Mountaineering Section within “Opatija” Mountaineering Club (as of 1980), the establishment of independent Club (1984), the period of growth and intensive activities in the 1980s, gradual fading out in the 1990s up to final notable activities in the first decade of the 21st century. The paper is based upon a thorough analysis of unpublished archival resources from several funds. This data is supplemented by interviews with people who were active members of the Club during a certain period, and with secondary literature. This data is little known, even within mountaineers’ circles; therefore, the objectives of this research are to save from oblivion the work and activities of a mountaineering club and to adequately valorise its work as a lasting heritage of local, regional, and national (mountaineering) history.

Keywords

• mountaineering
• environmental protection
• liburnia
• opatija
• “orljak” mountaineering club