Tjaša, the girl on the rope - Tjaša Jelovčan

Tjaša, the girl on the rope - Tjaša Jelovčan

Tjaša, many people don't know you yet. How would you introduce yourself?

I am a member of AO Kranj, but I come from Škofja Loka. Since childhood, I have been involved in various sports, such as basketball and karate, and for the last 10 years, my life has been closely connected with mountains and climbing. Since 2015, I have been a member of SMAR (Slovenian Youth Mountaineering Team), and in 2016 I was chosen as the most successful mountaineer.

When did you realize that climbing was what you wanted to do?

16.4.2008, at 11.45 in Kamnitnik  . This date is made up, but I think it was when I first picked up a rock. Hills have always been a part of me. My parents and I walked the length and breadth of Slovenia. Climbing was a logical continuation that sooner or later gets you addicted. And I think I belong to those addicts who can no longer be cured. Hills in any form, be it climbing, ski touring, walking... The satisfaction and feelings when you reach the top of a route cannot be described. You can't explain it with words. Of course, as your climbing level increases, so does the satisfaction. But everything is even more intense when climbing championship routes. And these feelings, these experiences, are more than good motivation and you want to experience them again and again. Plus, you are aware of the parallel danger, which is of course an integral part of the story...

Above all, I think that what we climbers/alpinists do - moving through an unknown vertical world, is a great privilege. Most 'normal' people will never experience this.

If you have a book to read or a movie to watch online, which do you prefer?

Hmm...I'm not exactly a bookworm, but if I am, I prefer to pick up a book. Not necessarily with a mountaineering theme. Right now I'm in a (strange) period when I can't climb due to an injury. And many other activities have come into play, things that we otherwise forget about. Among them is reading books. The last one I read is Jezero by Tadej Golob. I recommend it 

Why is rock better than snow and ice?

I don't know if the term is more appropriate. It's actually very simple - I enjoy it more. Rock climbing is possible all year round. Which means that when the season in the mountains starts, you are well-trained, confident, and have a certain feeling for rock and climbing. In the last few years, I have also been taking sport climbing a little more seriously. And it is precisely this training in the winter period on the artificial wall and in the climbing areas of the Primorska region that pays off, so that in the summer I can climb something more difficult in the mountains.

The charm of winter and winter conditions is that this period is usually very short, which means that it is harder to get some kilometers and the associated sovereignty for winter climbing. As a result, I am afraid of winter, there is no real confidence, I do not enjoy it as much as I could...

And, when I'm deciding in the evening whether to go to the seaside 'frikat' or ice climbing...yeah...we'll probably meet up on the seaside 

I think the most important thing is to listen to yourself and do things you enjoy.

Do you get along better with a woman or a man on the rope?

Gender is not as important as knowing who you're going climbing with. Your life basically depends on the friend on the other side of the rope. I think choosing a climbing partner is almost more important than choosing a destination. You don't go climbing with just anyone, even in sport climbing it's nice to have something to talk about during the day. Let alone on an expedition. It's important that you understand each other and trust each other, that you encourage each other and 'pull' each other forward or 'slow down' each other when necessary. And I have to say that I have a few climbing partners like that... when everything 'just works', when you don't even need to talk and you know exactly what he/she is thinking...

What good things do we have in Gornik :)

Gornik is literally my 'best neighbor' (I live very close). Top quality clothes. The best thing about it is that they are custom made, 'reinforced' exactly where I want them, and you have a hundred and one colors to choose from. And, if I don't need any equipment or clothes, I'm happy to go there just for a coffee or a chat. Great team!