Barefoot Ascent of Triglav: 'I Could Only Think of Those Children'
Igor Šehić climbed the 2,800-meter peak to raise €12,000 for CEDEPE, an association that helps children with cerebral palsy.
Igor Šehić climbed the 2,800-meter peak to raise €12,000 for CEDEPE, an association that helps children with cerebral palsy.
While for most hikers reaching the summit is the ultimate goal, for Igor Šehić the ascent of Triglav was just the beginning of a much bigger story. This Croatian mountaineer climbed barefoot to the highest peak in Slovenia, standing at 2,800 meters, and behind this extraordinary feat lies a humanitarian campaign to help children and young people with cerebral palsy.
Igor began his endeavor in mid-July 2026, intending to complete it in a single day. However, his plans were thwarted by a storm that forced him to take a break. He completed the final, most demanding leg the next day in the early morning hours. A crew from RTL accompanied him throughout the journey.
"Had this been a different kind of climb, the summit itself would probably have been the goal. My goal was to endure the effort, so I experienced the strongest emotions on the way to the top," Igor told Net.hr.
On the way to the summit, he had a special encounter. Although he feared snakes, at the very top he saw something entirely different. "I saw a small, adorable chamois at the summit and was fascinated by how well these animals are adapted to move on those indescribable cliffs. I had to seriously prepare for months for a barefoot ascent, and they move like feathers on those cliffs. Well, they do have hooves, so it's a bit easier for them, haha," Igor recounted.
At the top, he also met other climbers who were taken aback by his bare feet. But when they heard the reason behind his feat, their surprise turned to admiration. "When I got up there, I could only think of those children and that this campaign doesn't end with my climb, but that this story becomes a real change," he emphasized.
Triglav has been conquered, but the real ascent is just beginning. Igor aims to raise €12,000 for CEDEPE, an association that cares for children and young people with cerebral palsy. He himself once volunteered at the association, and the funds raised are intended to equip a sensory room where experts work daily with the youngest beneficiaries.
Although he reached the summit barefoot, the descent was a different story. "I always descend with shoes on because descending involves eccentric muscle contractions, which is very tiring," he explained.
After two days of grueling walking over rocks, completely exhausted and drained, an unexpected reward awaited him in the Vrata Valley. "Imagine two days of walking on Triglav, over rocks. I was truly exhausted and worn out, and then in the Vrata Valley itself, I found a stream that springs from Triglav, I'd say about 4 degrees by my estimate. I couldn't have received a better gift from the universe; it was the best swim in the world," Igor said.
His true success won't be measured in meters conquered, but in the amount the humanitarian campaign raises for the children it's intended for.
