Nina is a mountain guide (International Summer and Winter Mountain Walking Leader, UIAA), an alpine climbing instructor, a graduate in Cultural Studies, a nature lover, and an admirer of humanity’s cultural heritage. Through her travel agency, Edlothia, she leads one-day and multi-day mountain trips, treks, and tours throughout Slovenia and abroad.
“A curiosity about different cultures, a spirit of exploration, and a love of nature and the mountains. Those curious little cells that never rest and always want to know what’s hidden beyond the next ridge… that’s what has drawn me out into the world time and again. Usually to more mountainous, remote places, where few people ever set foot,” says Nina.
The name of the Edlothia travel agency comes from a children’s book that Nina used to read to her daughter. One of the butterflies in the story was called Edlothia. The name resonated with her—there was something unique, warm, courageous, and playful about it. When she was choosing a name for her agency, it came back to her. In a certain fairytale language, the name is said to mean “to bloom”.
Her greatest love is the Pyrenees, but she also enjoys introducing hikers to the beauty of the mountains of Bulgaria, Corsica, and Georgia. More recently, she has been focusing on exploring the Alps. Last year, she led her first group to the Italian Cottian Alps, a mountain range that had previously been little known among Slovenian hikers. Thanks to her, this beautiful area has now become more accessible to them.
She also leads a group of 20 hikers along the magnificent Alpe Adria Trail, which stretches from Austria’s highest mountain, Grossglockner (3,798 m), to Trieste, every third weekend of the month. The same group has also joined her on her newest long-distance project, the Via Alpina trail, which runs from Trieste to Monaco. “A project for the next ten years,” she says.
You can read more about her travels here.
“Yesterday afternoon was spent somewhere above the Šentanska Valley, where we tested Proalp hiking and barefoot shoes on a variety of terrain. Comfort, reliability, and versatility – these were the qualities I noticed within just a few moments. It was a wonderful day spent in great company. I am happy and proud to be part of such a successful, creative, and open-minded team, and I’m already looking forward to new projects. And I can’t wait to start wearing their barefoot shoes too!” Nina wrote on her Facebook page.
“Proalp shoes give me exactly what I need in the mountains: reliability and comfort. I never have to wonder whether they’ll grip the rock, how I’ll get across a scree slope, or whether they’ll last a week of hiking with a heavy backpack. I know Proalp shoes well, I know how they perform, and I trust them. That’s what matters most in the mountains – feeling comfortable in the shoes that carry you and knowing you can rely on them.
When I have a week of good weather ahead of me, I choose the Kofce model, whether I’m heading into easy or highly demanding mountain terrain. But if the forecast is less favourable, with lower temperatures, more rain, or particularly challenging terrain, such as scree, I prefer the more robust Kanin model with a waterproof membrane.
Barefoot shoes are special because they allow me to feel directly connected to the ground – to truly feel that I am standing on the Earth. Although I spend much of my time in the mountains, close to the sky, I love feeling firmly connected to the ground when I’m back home. It’s a unique sensation that you only discover when a thick layer of sole no longer separates you from the earth. I feel more aware of my body, more stable, and better grounded – not only physically, but mentally as well. That’s why I love barefoot shoes. They allow me to feel the ground beneath my feet, connect me with nature, and keep me grounded. At the seaside I prefer to walk barefoot, but around the house, while travelling, and on easier terrain, I happily wear barefoot shoes.”
