Pyrenaica

Pyrenaica is the official magazine of the Federación Vasca de Montaña (Euskal Mendizale Federazioa), the Basque Mountaineering Federation. First published in 1926, it ranks among the oldest mountaineering periodicals in the world, alongside the British Alpine Journal (1863), the Slovenian Planinski vestnik (1895), the Canadian Alpine Journal (1907) and Spain's Peñalara (1913). The magazine is published quarterly and relies on the voluntary contributions of mountaineers. Its print run is approximately 32,000 copies per issue, distributed across some 750 localities in the Basque provinces of Bizkaia, Álava, Gipuzkoa and Navarre, as well as 250 localities in 16 countries across Europe, the Americas and Asia. The four annual issues together comprise 384 pages. The publication was founded in 1926 on the initiative of José Ramón Murga, who also proposed its name. Its history has been interrupted and reshaped by historical events, passing through five distinct eras: the initial period (1926–1930), a brief revival in 1935–1936 cut short by the Spanish Civil War, a post-war restart in 1951, a fourth era beginning in 1972 after a five-year suspension linked to the "ikurriña scandal," and the current fifth era from 1980, marked by a change in format and uninterrupted quarterly publication. Since 1988 the interior has been printed in full colour and an annual monographic issue has been added. In 2014 the federation formally incorporated Pyrenaica into its statutes as its official communication organ, recognising the cultural and mountaineering heritage it represents. A year later it was unanimously agreed that the editor, like the entire editorial team and contributors, would serve altruistically, continuing a tradition of nearly a century. The magazine has been directed by Luisa Alonso Cires (2015–2022) and currently by Iván Ruiz Rotaeche. Under Alonso Cires, the publication underwent significant aesthetic and graphic changes and saw increased participation of women in both the editorial team and article authorship, as well as a notable rise in articles written in Basque. Today Pyrenaica remains a quarterly publication of the Basque Mountaineering Federation, distributed widely in the Basque Country and to subscribers abroad. It covers mountaineering, hiking, nature and the cultural heritage of the mountains, with content largely in Basque and Spanish. Its editorial team includes president Zigor Egia, director Iván Ruiz Rotaeche, and editors Paulo Etxeberria, Begoña Fernández, Ioritz Gonzalez, Xabi Mujika, Iñigo Jauregui and Iñigo Santxo.

Pyrenaica was founded in 1926 on the initiative of José Ramón Murga, a native of Bilbao who also proposed the magazine's name. Its publication history is divided into five eras, shaped by historical circumstances. The first era ran from 1926 to 1930. Frequency was practically quarterly, except in 1930 when only one annual issue appeared. Issues 1 and 3 of 1926 were each followed by supplements, a practice continued in 1927, 1928 and 1929. From 1928, Manuel de la Sota y Aburto appears as director. The second era began in 1935, with a more newspaper-like appearance and more photographs. Two issues were published in 1935 and one in 1936, before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War interrupted publication. The driving force and director during this brief period was Francisco María Labayen. After the war, publication resumed only in 1951, marking the third era. The format remained the same size but was better suited to black-and-white photographs. Four issues were published regularly each year, numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 without continuous numbering. The restart was apparently driven by José María Peciña, but his early death forced a change of direction, with José Uría taking over from 1953 to 1967. The bulletins of 1955 and 1956 were followed by supplements. In 1967 only two issues appeared because of the so-called "ikurriña scandal": upon returning from the Peruvian Andes, the Basque Mountaineering Federation and its dependent entities, including Pyrenaica, had their activities as an institution interrupted. Five years passed before a group of Basque mountaineers reorganised to restart the publication under the direction of Casimiro Bengoetxea. This fourth era began with the second issue (second quarter) of 1972. Quarterly frequency continued, except for two double issues combining the second and third of 1973 and the third and fourth of 1978. With the fourth issue of 1975, continuous numbering was restored: it was number 101, which also began using colour photography, especially on covers. In 1979 Jesús Polo took over the direction. In 1980, without interrupting publication, the fifth and current era began with a change in the magazine's size. That first year saw a double issue (120–121, third and fourth of 1980) dedicated to the Basque expedition's conquest of Everest. From 1981 Antonio Ortega became director. Since then continuity has been strict, with uninterrupted quarterly publication. From 1988 the interior was printed in full colour and an annual monographic issue began to be published. On 8 November 2014, at the Assembly of the EMF-FVM held in Elgoibar, it was decided to incorporate Pyrenaica into the federation's statutes as its communication organ, in recognition of the cultural and mountaineering heritage it represents. A year later it was unanimously approved to enshrine in the statutes that the magazine's director—like the entire editorial team and contributors—would carry out this responsibility altruistically, reflecting a tradition of nearly a century. From April 2015 to April 2022, Luisa Alonso Cires led the magazine. During this period important changes occurred, not only aesthetically and graphically, but also in consolidating the participation of women in both the editorial team and the authorship of published articles. The number of articles written in Basque also increased significantly, thanks to a new generation of Basque mountaineers. Currently the director is Iván Ruiz Rotaeche.

• 2022

  Iván Ruiz Rotaeche becomes director.

• 2015

  Luisa Alonso Cires becomes director; statutes enshrine altruistic direction.

• 2014

  Federation assembly in Elgoibar incorporates Pyrenaica into its statutes as official communication organ.

• 1988

  Full-colour interior printing begins; annual monographic issue introduced.

• 1981

  Antonio Ortega becomes director; uninterrupted quarterly publication continues.

• 1980

  Fifth era begins with a change in magazine size; double issue 120–121 dedicated to Everest expedition.

• 1979

  Jesús Polo becomes director.

• 1975

  Continuous numbering restored with issue 101; colour photography introduced on covers.

• 1972

  Fourth era begins under Casimiro Bengoetxea with the second issue.

• 1967

  Only two issues published due to the 'ikurriña scandal'; federation activities suspended.

• 1953

  José Uría becomes director, serving until 1967.

• 1951

  Post-war restart under José María Peciña; four issues per year resume.

• 1936

  One issue published before the Spanish Civil War interrupts publication.

• 1935

  Publication resumes under Francisco María Labayen; two issues published.

• 1930

  Only one annual issue published, ending the first era.

• 1928

  Manuel de la Sota y Aburto becomes director.

• 1926

  Pyrenaica is founded by José Ramón Murga; first issues published.

Official magazine of the Basque Mountaineering Federation, serving as a communication organ and cultural heritage publication for Basque mountaineering.

• Pyrenaica quarterly magazine

  Print magazine published four times a year, approximately 32,000 copies per issue, 384 pages annually.

• Annual monographic issue

  A special monographic issue published annually since 1988.

• Online hemeroteca

  Digital archive of issues from 1926 to 2022.

• Pyrenaica blog

  Official blog of the magazine.

• Women of Pyrenaica blog

  Blog highlighting women in mountaineering.

• Ikurriña scandal

Read more

1. 1Pyrenaica official websitepyrenaica.emf.eus
2. 2Pyrenaica - Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org
3. 3Pyrenaica - Wikidatawikidata.org