Big Wall Speed Climbing
PAKLENICA 2000

The Paklenica forest, with its gorges of Velika and Mala Paklenica, is an area of special natural beauty and scientific importance. It was proclamed a National Park in 1949, but the history of climbing in Paklenica goes back to 1938. Ever since, Paklenica ranks as the most important and beautiful rock-climbing centre in Croatia. At the numerous climbing routes with different grades and lenghts everyone will find something for himself.

The proximity to the sea and the mild Mediterranean climate give special charm to this area. In the pre-war period Paklenica was therefore an important meeting place for climbers from all over the world.

Wishing to restore this old tradition, the Paklenica Nationalpark Direction and Croatian Mountaineering Association invite you on an alpine meeting with a competition from April 29th to May 1st.

Every national team will participate with one pair of climbers with the following rules: the time measurement starts when the first climber starts leading and stops at the moment when the second climber reachs the end of the route; pairs are starting every 30 minutes; usage of a helmet is obligatory; during the climb the partners have to alternate the lead position; simultanuous climbing is forbidden; the climbers have to use all bolts in the route.

The rescue service will be present at the climbing area. All climbers require a certificate about their general health ability, and be insured in the case of an accident.

The Paklenica National Park Direction will provide for all competitors free camping and one warm meal daily during the competition, and will award a prize for the best climbers as well: a 7-days holiday for two persons with half-board in one of the hotels on the Paklenica Riviera.

The number of teams is limited to 10, so if you are interested, please contact us till March 25th at the following address:

Paklenica National Park, Jadranska cesta b.b., 23244 STARIGRAD - PAKLENICA, CROATIA

Fax: 00385/23 369 202 or email: np-paklenica@zd.tel.hr (c/o Miss. Dragica Jovic)

and we will send you a registration form before April 1st 2000.

Besides this competitiom, we are going to organize different lectures with dia- and video-projections about climbing and alpine expeditions, and we are going to represent the newest climbing guide-book for Croatia by the author Boris Cujic as well.

We look forward to meet your national team at the Big Wall Spead Climbing - PAKLENICA 2000. competition.