Bivak Hlek

Bivak Hlek is a small mountain bivouac (a basic, unmanned shelter) located at 1,225 metres on the southern slope of Vršanja glava (1,368 m) in western Slovenia, along the hiking route from Kobarid to Stol. It was built in 1983 by mountaineers from the village of Kred, all members of Planinsko društvo Kobarid (PD Kobarid, the Kobarid Mountaineering Society), which continues to maintain it. The bivouac is permanently open and freely accessible, intended for mountaineers and hikers as an emergency and overnight shelter rather than a commercial hotel. The structure is simple: the lower room contains a stove, a table and benches, while the upper level has ten bunks with blankets and the same number of seats. A rainwater tank (kapnica) and a fireplace are also available. The bivouac offers a fine view of the nearby Matajur mountain. It is listed by the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) and described on the PD Kobarid website, which also provides route descriptions from Kobarid and from Potoki, as well as local weather information. As a brand-like entity, Bivak Hlek is not a commercial product but a named mountain shelter and a point of reference within Slovenia's hiking and mountaineering infrastructure. Its identity is tied to the Kobarid region, the Soča Valley and the Julian Alps, and it is promoted through the official PD Kobarid website and Slovenian Wikipedia. The bivouac is one of several mountain huts and bivouacs managed by PD Kobarid, alongside facilities such as Koča na planini Kuhinja.

Bivak Hlek was built in 1983 by mountaineers from the village of Kred, who were members of Planinsko društvo Kobarid (PD Kobarid). The shelter was constructed on the southern slope of Vršanja glava at an elevation of 1,225 metres, along the route from Kobarid to Stol. Since its construction, it has been maintained by PD Kobarid and remains permanently open and freely accessible to mountaineers. The bivouac is listed by the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) and is documented on the PD Kobarid website, which provides route descriptions, weather information and practical details. Over the years it has served as a basic overnight and emergency shelter in the Kobarid area, complementing other mountain huts managed by the same society, such as Koča na planini Kuhinja.

• 1983

  Bivak Hlek built by mountaineers from the village of Kred, members of PD Kobarid.

A free, permanently open mountain bivouac for mountaineers, maintained by a volunteer alpine association.

• Bivak Hlek shelter

  A bivouac at 1,225 m with 10 bunks, blankets, a stove, table, benches, rainwater tank and fireplace.

1. 1Bivak Hlek (1225 m) – Planinsko društvo Kobaridpdkobarid.com
2. 2Bivak Hlek – Wikipedia (Slovenian)sl.wikipedia.org
3. 3Hlek – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Koča na planini Kuhinja (1002 m) – Planinsko društvo Kobaridpdkobarid.com