BCMF

History

The Establishment of the Bulgarian Alpinist Club

On the 19th of November, 1929 a new chapter in life began in the tourism movement in Bulgaria.  On this day, 18 enthusiastic alpinists, from the Bulgarian Tourist Association (BTA) and the Youth Tourist League (YTL), combined to form – The Bulgarian Alpinist Club (BAC).

The idea for combining the two organizations did not come all at once.  It is the fruit of repeated preparations and research on tried and proven methods from other European Mountaineer and Alpinist Associations.  The idea came from many excursion, mainly in the Alps, when the participants saw “The difference between Mountaineers-Alpinists, who climb to peak, and tourists, who contemplate from the valleys.” It is the fruit and the boundlessness love on these people towards Bulgaria’s mountains.

The formation of BAC came during a difficult time in the tourism industry for Bulgaria.  It was not exactly a standstill, but it did take a few steps backward.  During this time, there were a few accomplishments in the Alps, with summits from more famous climbers, but the young mountaineers, primarily members from (YTL), did not wish to abandone the love of their organization, even though there were regulations stating you have to be 21 years of age to be a member of such organizations.  During a few excursions in Malovisk and in the Rila mountains, in July of 1929, participants questioned the establishment of the Bulgarian Alpinist Club and were concerned about being called alpinists. But, immediately after they returned to Sofia they started preparation for BAC’s formation.  They used an Austrian club as their model.  On Friday, November 19th, 1929 they sent invitations to the most active mountaineers, and in exactly 20 hours, through small talks in “Slavic dialect” in Sofia they brought together 18 excited members.  After they exchanged thoughts of how to operate the organization, the primary statute and age requirement they began writing, the 18 members signed their new constitution and created the Bulgarian Alpinist Club.  The members were made up of: 12 students – 5 in medicine, 3 in engineering, one mathematician and one was an artist. 2 teachers, 2 office workers, one doctor, and one shopkeeper.  After much contemplation the group decided to borrow ideas from Samokovcki alpinists, who exhibited a lot of activity in mountaineering and alpinism.  Between the founders of the club they later established the following to lead the organization – academic Rocticlav Kaishev, Prof. Dr. Lyouben Telcharob, Prof. Dr. Filip Filipob, Prof. Dr. Kiril Blahov and Prof Lyouben Peben. Stedy

The purpose of the newly founded club was, “to work for the full conquest of the mountains and applying the history of the mountaineering for its members.” Before, members saw achievements through, “the high mountain hikers, building of the shelters and cabins, the publication of the lectures on the questions of the high mountains, the publication of the cards and other works for the mountains, this was done on an annual basic”.

The organization was to be democratic in that each member had a vote, but without political or governmental ambitions. “All good and tried mountaineers, 21 years and older without distinction of nationality,” may become members. Special attention was attached to the badge of the club, which symbolized the will of the alpinist. The badge depicts a man holding an ice axe on top of a mountain, a rope, and with the phrase, “the faith of the playmate”.  The badge is the membership card and “members, that lose the card are deprived the right to membership”.

The organization of the general board of trustees for the club is as follows: The general board of colleagues meets: every Friday at 8 o’clock they have a general meeting. In October they give an account of the board, vote on new members, and vote on the budget for the club. 

Of the founding members of BAC, five were chosen for guidance and leadership. All the members agreed that Stephan Popov was the best person for the position of president.  For secretary, Dr. Kroom Ivanob was chosen.  For treasurer, they entrusted Mihail Krushnyak.  And finally, for the role of auditors they voted for Lyouben Telchapov and Stoyan Kemanajiev.

Sofia 1000, 75 Vasil Levski Blv
phone (+359 2) 930 05 32; phone/fax (+359 2) 987 17 98;
e-mail: office@bfka.org