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Tomaž Planina

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Slovenian cave photographer, speleologist, and botanist

Tomaž Planina
Planina in 1981
Born(1934-03-17)17 March 1934
Škofja Loka
Died31 December 2014(2014-12-31) (aged 80)
Laško
Alma materUniversity of Ljubljana
Occupationbiologist
Known forcave photography, speleology
Spouse Metka Planina b. Benedičič
​ ​(m. 1957; died 2006)​
ChildrenPolonica (1961) and Aleš (1966)
Signature

Tomaž Planina (, 17 March 1934 – 31 December 2014) was a Slovenian cave photographer, speleologist, and botanist. He was most known for his work in cave photography, laboratory rope testing, especially in connection to knots, and his contribution to the development of the single-rope technique.

Early life, education and career

Ligusticum seguieri with a hover fly

Planina was born in Škofja Loka, into the family of France Planina, a geographer, cartographer, biologist, director of the Slovenian Museum of Natural History and Marinka Planina. After elementary and middle school in Ljubljana where the family moved, he graduated from the Faculty of Biology of the University of Ljubljana, in 1957. The title of his diploma thesis was Ligusticum seguieri v jugovzhodnih apneniških Alpah – a Licorice root plant from the Apiaceae family. Despite Planina's achievements in botany, his herbarium was widely known, he decided not to pursue an academic career but took a job in the Development and Technology Center of the Iskra electronics and automation company where he specialized in the area of biologically and air-pollution based corrosion of electrical contacts. He worked in various capacities, including the post of research project leader and this field remained his occupation all his professional life.

Speleology

Field trips to caves of the high school science club, organized by the pioneer of caving in Slovenia, Pavel Kunaver, were very popular and it is what made Planina interested in caves. He joined DZRJL, Ljubljana Cave Exploration Society, in 1950, at the age of 16, and in 1954 made his first contribution to the Slovenian Cave Registry, three new caves above Vrhnika. Till 1992 he registered 51 new caves, mostly in lowland karst.

Planina during a cave photo session, 1960

From 1953 to 1956 Planina participated in the first explorations of high-mountain karst, on Mali podi plateau below Mt. Skuta in the Kamnik Alps. In the following years, he also joined several expeditions to the cave Triglavsko brezno on Mt. Triglav plateau, elevation 2,377 m, where the expectations of great depth were stopped by an impassable ice choke at a depth of 274 m. Together with Jože Štirn he wrote a review article about high mountain karst which was published after his death. In the mid-1960s there was a change of generations at Ljubljana Cave Exploration Society, pre-WWII team gave way to younger cavers. It was immediately reflected in a more ambitious agenda, emboldened by great success in 1963 when a small group of young members broke through a narrow passage at the end of the cave Najdena jama . The cave, discovered by Viljem Putik at the end of the 19th century above the sinkholes of Unica river, which carries the waters from Postojnska jama, was just 250 meters long but a connection to an underground river was anticipated. After the breakthrough, a large cave opened up, 5 km in length.

Planina headed DZRJL in the aftermath, from 1967 to 1971 (also from 1984 to 1986), and under his leadership expeditions to very deep caves followed. The greatest impact had the 20-member expedition in 1969 to the cave Žankana jama (as it is called by the locals) near the village Rašpor, in Istria, Croatia. It is a sinkhole of a local creek that dries up in the summer, after some initial smaller shafts a large, 200 m deep inner abyss opens up. Between WWI and WWII Istria belonged to Italy, in the literature the cave was named Abisso Bertarelli, it was explored in 1924 and 1925. With a depth of 450 m, it was known, from 1924 to 1926, as the deepest cave in the world. After 1959 it was the deepest cave in Yugoslavia, which included Slovenia and Croatia, before Gotovž (also in Istria, −420 m) and Jazben (Slovenia, −365 m).

DZRJL team in Žankana jama, 1969

As it often happened that Italian pre-WWII surveys of caves in the littoral part of Slovenia showed greater depth than it actually was, one of the goals of the expedition was to make a precise new survey. The expedition reached the previously known bottom of the cave, the Italian siphon, at −346 m and continued through a long low muddy horizontal tunnel, till the Slovenian siphon, at −361 m. New depth would move the cave to third position on the Yugoslavian cave depth scale. DZRJL expeditions to Gotovž and Jazben, which followed, reduced the depth of Gotovž to 320 m and of Jazben to 334 m – Žankana jama remained on top of the list. These achievements positioned DZRJL at the top of Yugoslavian cave exploration.

The next big expedition, led by Planina, was to Brezno pri gamsovi glavici above Lake Bohinj in September 1972. The cave was discovered in 1969 by the cavers of Jamarski klub Železničar , the other Ljubljana caving society. It was explored to a depth of 40 m in 1969, to −170 m in 1970, to −475 m in 1971, and to −615 m in August 1972, at an expedition where Jurij Andjelić-Yeti, a member of DZRJL, also participated. Depths were not surveyed, just estimated, so the task of the DZRJL team, which included Yeti, who knew the cave well, was to make the survey and to search for an eventual continuation. The cave depth was corrected to 444 m, which was still the second deepest cave in the country, and a continuation was also found. In the coming years following DZRJL expeditions deepened the cave to 817 m.

His main caving areas in Slovenia were Cerkniško jezero and caves of Planinsko polje, especially Rakov Škocjan, Križna jama and Najdena jama. Outside Slovenia, he was well acquainted with Velebit mountain ridge in Croatia and Durmitor massif in Montenegro – some parts of both botanically and speleologically rich areas he knew better than the locals.

Rope testing

In the 1970s, when the single-rope technique replaced the use of wire ladders and both simplified and facilitated the mastering of deep shafts, Planina got interested in the issue of safety. The caver was no longer protected by a double wire and an additional rope in the hands of a colleague above the shaft – the rope contact to the walls, suitability of descending and ascending gear, rope's wear and tear, became crucial. He tested the rope breaking tensile strength in the laboratory, taking into account its age, impregnation, wear and tear, and knots with which the rope was fastened. Planina was also one of the founders of the Slovenian Cave Rescue Service, and a member of the editorial board of the main Slovenian caving journal, Naše jame , from 1977 till his death.

Cave photography

Planina in Križna jama, 1974

Planina was the third in the line of great Slovenian cave photographers, after Bogomil Brinšek (1884–1914) and Franci Bar (1901–1988), from whom he learned the arts and crafts of traditional cave photography. Already in the 1960s, he started to use 35 mm single-lens reflex cameras instead of large-format cameras, ubiquitous in cave photography at the time. Planina also abandoned air-polluting flash powder as a means of illumination and was the first to master the use of electronic flash. Proper lighting of large underground spaces, especially with low-reflection surfaces, such as mud, requires a sequence of multiple flashes at full power, usually from several positions. To make the application of electronic units feasible Planina added a large external battery pack which shortened the flash refresh rate to just a few seconds and made possible several hundred flashes. His photos documented most of DZRJL expeditions in the 1960s and 1970s, while his most accomplished works were made in Križna jama water cave. Planina's works appeared regularly in the natural science press, they were used for cave promotion, and he also published articles about caves and cave photography techniques.

Planina in 2000

Accident in the mountains

During a field trip to Mt. Jalovec in 1994, a larger rock rolled down the snowy couloir and smashed Planina's leg below the knee. The convalescence, which terminated his professional career, lasted several years, he could walk again but he never fully recovered. He died just before New Year's Eve 2015 of complications after a prolonged illness.

Legacy

Planina's work is built into many achievements of his home speleological institution, the Ljubljana Cave Exploration Society and Slovenian caving in general, important is his contribution to the improvements and safety of caving equipment. He showed respect to the pristine cave environment by paving the way to clean, unpolluting cave photography. Planina was a bridge between generations and a great mentor, he will be remembered for his problem-solving ideas, sense of humor, and extraordinary zest for caving.

Photo gallery

  • Hammer brake descent, 1961 Hammer brake descent, 1961
  • Helictites on a stalactite, 1966 Helictites on a stalactite, 1966
  • Operating the hand winch, 1969 Operating the hand winch, 1969
  • DZRJL expedition at Vogar, 1972 DZRJL expedition at Vogar, 1972
  • Cave stream sinkhole, 1973 Cave stream sinkhole, 1973
  • Chimborazo above the lake, 1973 Chimborazo above the lake, 1973
  • Aragonite crystals, 1973 Aragonite crystals, 1973
  • Calcite and aragonite forms, 1973 Calcite and aragonite forms, 1973
  • Calcite pillar, 1975 Calcite pillar, 1975
  • The descent down a wall, 1975 The descent down a wall, 1975
  • High mountain cave shaft, 1982 High mountain cave shaft, 1982
  • Boat in a cave passage, 1996 Boat in a cave passage, 1996

References

  1. "Tomaž Planina / Personal Bibliography". Co-operative Online Bibliographic System & Services. Maribor, Slovenia. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  2. ^ Jakopin, Primož (2015). "Tomaž Planina (1934–2014)". Jamar (in Slovenian). Vol. 12, no. 3. Ljubljana: Jamarska zveza Slovenije . pp. 14–15. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  3. ^ Kunaver, Jurij (2021). "Kako se je kalilo prijateljstvo s Tomažem Planino (1934–2015)" [The hardening of my friendship with Tomaž Planina (1934–2015)] (PDF). Glas podzemlja (in Slovenian). Ljubljana: DZRJL. pp. 3–8. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  4. Planina, Tomaž (1957). Ligusticum seguieri v jugovzhodnih apneniških Alpah [Ligusticum seguieri in the south-eastern limestone Alps // Licorice root] (Diploma thesis) (in Slovenian). University of Ljubljana. p. 54.
  5. ^ Legat, Andraž (4 February 2015). "In memoriam: Tomaž Planina" (in Slovenian). Ljubljana: DELO. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  6. "Poročilo o delu za leto 1974" [Activity report for 1974] (PDF) (in Slovenian). Raziskovalna skupnost Slovenije, Sklad Borisa Kidriča . 1975. p. 64. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  7. Planina, Tomaž; Prelovšek, Avrelija; Kloar, Igor (1976). Vpliv stopnje onesnaženja zraka na električne avtomatske naprave v telekomunikacijah in industriji [Influence of air pollution level on electrical automatic devices in telecommunications and in industry] (in Slovenian). Kranj: Iskra – Elektromehanika.
  8. Presetnik, Primož; Fajdiga, Bojana (13 July 2015). "DZRJL Members 1910 – 2010". DZRJL . Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  9. "New caves, Registration No. 501 to 1800". DZRJL. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  10. "Nove jame, od št. 1801 do 3300" [New caves, Registration No. 1801 to 3300] (in Slovenian). DZRJL. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  11. "Nove jame, od št. 3301 do 4600" [New caves, Registration No. 3301 to 4600] (in Slovenian). DZRJL. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  12. "Nove jame, od št. 4601 do 8800" [New caves, Registration No. 4601 do 8800] (in Slovenian). DZRJL. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  13. Planina, Tomaž (2020). "Mali Podi 11. – 19. 8. 1953" [Mali Podi, 11–19 August 1953] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 48: 117–118. ISSN 0547-311X. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  14. Planina, Tomaž (2020). "Mali Podi pod Skuto 20. – 27. 8. 1954" [Mali Podi below Mt. Skuta, 20–27 August 1954] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 48: 119–121. ISSN 0547-311X. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  15. Planina, Tomaž (2020). "Mali Podi pod Skuto 8. – 16. 8. 1956" [Mali Podi below Mt. Skuta, 8–16 August 1956] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 48: 122. ISSN 0547-311X. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  16. Koželj, Tomaž (1978). "Triglavsko brezno 1977" [Triglavsko brezno Abyss 1977] (PDF). Planinski vestnik (in Slovenian). 78 (7). Ljubljana: Planinska zveza Slovenije : 434–438. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  17. "Triglavsko brezno, Kataster jam, kat. št. 1558" [Triglavsko brezno, Slovenian Cave Registry, Cave No. 1558] (in Slovenian and English). Društvo za raziskovanje jam Ljubljana. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  18. Planina, Tomaž; Štirn, Jože (2020). "Visokogorski kras" [High mountain karst] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 48: 112–116. ISSN 0547-311X. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  19. ^ "DZRJL History: 1961 – 1974". DZRJL . 23 August 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  20. Baraga, Andrej (1966). "Skrivnostna reka" [Mysterious river] (PDF). Planinski vestnik (in Slovenian). 66 (12). Ljubljana: Planinska zveza Slovenije : 506–513. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  21. "DZRJL presidents". DZRJL . April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  22. ^ Šušteršič, France (1969). "Nove raziskave v Žankani jami pri Rašporju" [New exploration in Žankana jama near Rašpor] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 11. Jamarska zveza Slovenije : 57–66. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  23. Glavaš, Ivan (2017). "Jama kod Rašpora – 95 godina istraživanja" [Jama kod Rašpora – 95 years of exploration]. Subterranea Croatica (in Croatian). 15 (1). Karlovac: Speleološki klub "Ursus spelaeus": 2–13. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  24. Battelini, Rodolfo (1926). Abisso Bertarelli nelle sue emozionanti e tragiche esplorazioni [Abisso Bertarelli in its exciting and tragic explorations] (PDF) (in Italian). Trieste: Commissione Grotte dell' "Alpina delle Giulie". p. 88. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  25. Medeot, Saverio L. (1974). Una tragedia speleologica di 50 anni fa: l'Abisso Bertarelli (1925–1975) [A speleological tragedy of 50 years ago: the Bertarelli Abyss (1925–1975)] (PDF) (in Italian). Trieste: Commissione Grotte Eugenio Boegan. p. 56. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  26. "Storia del record mondiale di profondità in grotta dal 1839 al 2012" [History of the world record in cave depth from 1839 to 2012] (in Italian). CENS – Centro Escursionistico Naturalistico Speleologico. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  27. Hribar, France (1959). "Najgloblja brezna v Jugoslaviji" [The deepest abysses in Yugoslavia] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 1. Jamarska zveza Slovenije : 29. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  28. ^ Pirnat, Jože; Planina, Tomaž (1973). "Brezno pri gamsovi glavici v Julijskih Alpah" [The pothole "Brezno pri Gamsovi glavici" in Julian Alps] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 15: 47–55. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  29. Jakopin, Primož (6 January 2021). "Jurij Andjelić – Yeti / My caves are on Mt. Pršivec". Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  30. "Brezno pri gamsovi glavici, Kataster jam, kat. št. 3457" [Slovenian Cave Registry, Cave No. 3457] (in Slovenian and English). Društvo za raziskovanje jam Ljubljana. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  31. Planina, Tomaž; Šušteršič, France (2020). "Aktivnosti tehnične komisije po drugi svetovni vojni" [Activities of the technical commission after the Second World War] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 48: 123–127. ISSN 0547-311X. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  32. Baričič, Marjan; Planina, Tomaž (2002). "Preizkus vrvi iz Brezna pod velbom" [Testing of rope from the cave Brezno pod velbom] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 44: 173–177. ISSN 0547-311X. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  33. ^ Planina, Tomaž (1989). "Naše izkušnje s staranjem vrvi" [Experience with rope aging] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 31: 41–43. ISSN 0547-311X. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  34. ^ Planina, Tomaž (2020). "Staranje vrvi" [Rope Aging] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 48: 130. ISSN 0547-311X. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  35. Planina, Tomaž (1989). "Izkušnje pri preskušanju vrvi in njena impregnacija" [Experience in rope testing and impregnation] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 31: 63–65. ISSN 0547-311X. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  36. Planina, Tomaž (1989). "Trdnost vozlov za jamarstvo" [Strength of caving knots] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 31. Jamarska zveza Slovenije : 35–40. ISSN 0547-311X. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  37. Planina, Tomaž (1991). "Primerjava bičevih vozlov" [Comparison of clove hitch knots] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 33: 86–88. ISSN 0547-311X. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  38. Planina, Tomaž (1991). "Trdnost navzkrižnega vozla" [Cross knot strength] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 33: 89–91. ISSN 0547-311X. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  39. Planina, Tomaž (2020). "Spomini na začetke jamarske reševalne službe (1959–1985)" [Memories of the Cave rescue service beginnings (1959–1985)] (PDF). Naše jame (in Slovenian). 48: 128. ISSN 0547-311X. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  40. Bar, Franci (1964). "Fotografiranje v jamah ". In Gams, Ivan; Habič, Peter; Savnik, Roman; Sket, Boris (eds.). Jamarski priročnik [Caving manual] (in Slovenian). Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga. pp. 121–129.
  41. Kadrnka, Oldřich; Planina, Tomaž (1980), Rakov Škocjan  ; Križna jama cave, Postojna: Postojnska jama
  42. Planina, Tomaž (1955). "Jame in drugi kraški pojavi v okolici Škofje Loke" [Caves and other karst phenomena in the vicinity of Škofja Loka]. Loški razgledi (in Slovenian) (2): 164–171. ISSN 0459-8210.
  43. Planina, Tomaž (November 1980). "Tehnika fotografiranja na jamarskih raziskovalnih ekskurzijah" [Photography technique on cave exploration field trips]. Proteus (in Slovenian). 43 (3): 115–117. ISSN 0033-1805.
  44. Praprotnik, Anton; Jakopin, Primož (January 2021). "1994 accident of Tomaž Planina in the couloir of Mt. Jalovec". DZRJL . Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  45. Di Batista, Metod (1 January 2015). "Žalostna vest – umrl je častni Član Tomaž" [Honorary member Tomaž is no longer with us] (in Slovenian). DZRJL . Retrieved 29 December 2020.

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