Classic 'Velebitaški' in Paklenica (Croatia) illuminated to celebrate Velebit Mountaineering Club

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of their alpine section, members of Croatia’s Velebit Mountaineering Club (PDS Velebit) orchestrated a one-of-a-kind nighttime ascent in the country’s most iconic climbing destination. What followed was both a tribute to the club’s rich history and a stunning visual display that lit up one of Paklenica’s most storied faces.

On 15th of June, the mighty north face of Anića kuk in Croatia's Paklenica National Park was transformed into a radiant spectacle. In the stillness of the night, thirty alpinists from the Velebit Mountaineering Club lit up the legendary 350-meter Velebitaški route with headlamps, creating a luminous line that traced its way up the vertical limestone wall.

The north face of Anića Kuk — a pilgrimage site for climbers from around the world — is home to numerous classic routes that have shaped the history of Croatian alpinism. Among them is the route Velebitaški, a storied line first climbed 64 years ago by Nedjeljko Jakić, Matija Mlinac, and Davor Ribarović. Named after the club that pioneered it, the route still stands as a powerful symbol of the Velebit spirit.

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Velebit Alpine Section, younger generations chose to pay tribute in a way never before seen in Croatia: by lighting up their club’s most iconic route. In a complex logistical effort, climbers positioned themselves along all ten pitches, waiting for darkness to fall. As night descended, their collective headlamps lit up the wall like a river of stars etched in stone.

The idea was born during a regular Tuesday club meeting, sparked by an idea from member Sandro Ristić. "We developed the concept over several weeks," explains Ivan Prepolec, one of the organizers. "On May 30th, we did a test climb on the first three pitches to scout photography positions and make sure the plan would work. Once we saw it could, excitement really took off. We finalized the details and assigned about 25 Velebit climbers — plus a few friends from other clubs — to designated spots along the route."

Professional photographers, many of whom were also club members, were brought in from the start to document the moment. Shooting locations were carefully chosen below the Manita peć cave and in the Anića luka basin. Communication and coordination were critical. Each climbing team was equipped with walkie-talkies and two headlamps per person. Some would rappel down, others would top out — and all had to move safely in the dark. Less experienced climbers were paired with veterans to navigate the night ascent, and fixed ropes were installed in the morning to aid the descent around the lower, more complex section.

The action began early on June 14th. To avoid the summer heat, the first teams set off before noon, some even finding shady ledges to wait and pass the time with a game of Uno. Final plans were drawn over coffee and gear checks at the nearby Dinko’s tavern. Excitement was tangible.

The short but sweaty approach led straight into the wall’s notorious first pitch — a stout test piece that has long served as an initiation site for those attempting the line. Shouts and radio calls echoed up and down the wall, while a drone buzzed overhead, capturing the unique climbing-photography choreography unfolding below.

"Just before 9 PM, we began shooting," Prepolec recounts. "Everyone received simultaneous instructions via radio. As dusk fell, exposure times increased, and we had to remain completely still while hanging on the wall — all while bats, birds, and fireflies flitted past."

By then, harnesses had worn deep grooves, and water supplies had long since run dry — yet everyone remained calm, focused, and patient. After nearly two hours of shooting, all climbers descended smoothly according to plan and gathered at the base, tired but elated. Laughter and cheers filled the night air as cold beers were cracked, first images were shared, and pride radiated through the group.

The moment that best captured the atmosphere came hours earlier, still high on the wall, when climbers spontaneously began to chant: "Velebit! Velebit! Velebit!"