There is a famous saying in Slovenia that “you only become a true Slovenian when you climb Triglav.” Following that logic, 26-year-old Mirnes Murtić from Visoko has become a “true Slovenian” as many as 100 times over the past four years.
His remarkable story, combining mountaineering passion, Bosnian spirit and the unavoidable burek, has attracted significant attention across Slovenia.
According to Slovenske novice, Mirnes recently achieved a major personal milestone by completing his 100th ascent of Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia and the former Yugoslavia, standing at 2,864 meters above sea level.
Murtić moved to Slovenia at the age of 22. He first settled in Celje, but his love for mountains soon led him to Jesenice so he could be closer to the Alpine peaks.
“I loved hiking and cycling back in Bosnia. When I came to Slovenia, cycling became a bit boring for me, so I focused on mountains higher than 2,000 meters. In two years, I climbed around 250 of them,” Mirnes said in an interview with Slovenian media, speaking fluent Slovenian with a recognizable Bosnian accent.
He became especially popular among hikers thanks to his unusual mountaineering tradition – bringing burek to the mountain tops. Photos shared on social media under the caption “burek z razgledom” (“burek with a view”) quickly went viral.
Mirnes often carried burek to the staff and meteorologists working at the Kredarica mountain lodge beneath Triglav. However, harsh winter conditions eventually forced him to change his menu.
“The burek was too large, and during winter climbs it would often freeze, so I couldn’t even eat it,” he joked, explaining why he later switched to lighter sports nutrition.
Despite working in manufacturing, Mirnes manages to dedicate significant time to mountaineering due to his exceptional physical condition. In winter, he reaches Triglav’s summit in around four hours, while summer ascents take him approximately three hours.
When scheduled for afternoon shifts, he practices what he calls a “pre-shift Triglav” routine:
2:00 a.m. – beginning the climb during the night
Sunrise – reaching the summit at dawn
11:00 a.m. – returning home to rest before work
“At first, my colleagues, mostly from former Yugoslav countries, did not understand my obsession. Today they know it is not a waste of time for me. For me, wasting time means doing nothing after work. If I stay home for two days, I become restless,” Mirnes explained.
His journey toward the 100th ascent was not without challenges. Several times he had to turn back near the summit because of strong winds and dense fog. On one occasion, he was caught in a dangerous storm on Triglav and sought shelter near the famous Aljaž Tower.
After learning the importance of proper acclimatization during an earlier attempt to climb Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe, Mirnes is now carefully preparing for his next major challenge – conquering the Matterhorn in Switzerland.
Given his determination and endurance so far, the Swiss Alps may soon witness another impressive achievement by the young mountaineer from Bosnia and Herzegovina.