How to spend a great four days in the mountains
Crossing the ridge of the Low Tatras is a trek that can already test the physique and psyche. It is 97 km long and I climbed over 5000 m in 4 days. The beginning was in Donovaly and ended in the settlement of Télgárt. There are regular connections to both places from larger Slovak cities. I went „lightly“, but there was no sleeping bag in case of emergency. There are shelters along the route where you can hide and I also got welded :-)
Goat's back
From Kozí hřbát, the first higher hill on the way, there are views of both Donovaly and the main ridge of Velká Fatra.
Velká Chochula
The highest point of the first day 1753m. Somewhere under the snowy hills is the cozy Ďurková, today's destination. In the back you can see the Western Tatras
Saffron
Saffron fields appear as snow fields recede
Cozy Ďurková
I have the hardest part behind me after 28 km and I am at the finish line after 10 hours of walking. A warm shelter awaits me, where they will also cook you a hot dinner. He sleeps here on the couch on mattresses, so it's better if I have a sleeping bag with me. The spring of water is a short walk from the cozy.
Chabenec
From the top of Chabence I see another part of my journey through the highest parts of the Low Tatras, Dereš, Chopok and Ďumbier the highest of them, all the peaks over 2000m. For me it was probably the most lively hike, as I have views and Slovakia in the palm of my hand all day :-)
Chamois
While walking here a few months ago, I met a large herd of chamois, now I was glad to see at least a few
Stones
stone cottage under Chopok, a great point for refilling water and warming up with hot soup, unfortunately massive tourism is noticeable, so I stay here only minimally and set off right away.
Ginger
Ďumbier 2046m is the highest peak of the Low Tatras, views from it are possible to the whole area
Cottage MR Štefánika
An important point on the hike is this cottage. Thanks to my good time, I will just rest here for a while and set out to meet the vision of a hot shower and a soft bed at the Čertovica motor station. And I firmly hope that it will be open :-)
Descent
As you descend, the landscape begins to change slightly and grows greener. No wonder, I have to descend to 1200m, where the motorway Čertovica is located.
Devil's Saddle
The rest stop in the Čertovica saddle provided me with a great background for my next journey. Last day I walked 26km in 9h.
Ant
It's already May, but it's still quite cold here in the mountains. However, this does not matter to the first forest ants, which already map the area after winter.
Polom
unfortunately, during the last few years during the storm, there has been one big break left from the local hills. in a few years, the foresters have cleared up a lot, but you feel like you're in a lunar landscape
Cozy Rama
This shelter is the only one on the ridge where there is a self-service, what you didn't bring, you don't have it, chop the wood, make a fire, but leave everything behind as you came. A romantic corner of the Tatras, I already thought I would stay here if it weren't for 12 in the afternoon and I had the whole day ahead of me. So a backpack and hurray for Andrejco's cozy ..
Cozy Ramza
guts, beds, oven, roof, everything you need to sleep
Polom
it was not always easy
Trees
in some places I feel like somewhere in a Canadian forest, just a footpath and the rest of nature
Velká Vápenica 1691m
The peak to which you have to climb honestly from 1200m. The slope is almost 50 °, I walk up like a staircase. During the hour I see the top indicator, I do not believe, because it was 1: 30h on the indicator below and their times are quite fast ..
Prospects
again there are amazing views of the surroundings. If only the storm behind the King's staff hadn't moved in my direction. I take my feet on my shoulders and try to reach Andrejcová cozy as soon as possible ..
Andrejcová cozy
Again, just such a wooden hut. Since the last visit, however, it has undergone reconstruction, it is insulated, the beds are new with mattresses and wood stoves, a complete luxury. I open the fish with pastries, have a beer and go to bed, I get up early in the morning .. This day I walked 28km at 9: 00h
Morning 4 day
I leave early in the morning because I still have a long way to go home. I have a view of the whole Tatras somewhere below the Bartková peak, which is one of the first „peaks“ of the Kráľovohoľská part of the Low Tatras
King's staff 1998m
The last and no less interesting peak is Kráľova hoľa. There is a broadcasting tower and a building in which you can hide in bad weather. For how nice it was in the morning, the weather here showed me that it was still cold and could blow properly.
Tel
Proof instead of promises, emotions after the first such transition, I don't even know, I'm happy and sad at the same time that this pilgrimage is ending. But rather happy, because the body shows that the adventure was enough. This day was relaxing, only 16km in 5 hours :-)
Epilogue
This trek, although it seems, is not one of the easy ones, if you want to cross it, even with a full field. It has 97 km, it can be managed in 4 days under idyllic weather conditions. Who loves nature and people I recommend. There are sections where I don't even meet a living animal and places where a nice bunch of people meet. I definitely recommend taking plenty of water (up to 3l / person / day) with wells and springs on the way, but in the summer months, for example, only those at the shelters usually flow and it is sometimes even a 28km walk. I haven't met a bear all along, but there are people who see it every day. I wouldn't be afraid of being attacked, but if we don't want to scare him, it's good to sing or have a bell on your backpack from time to time. Camping is allowed only in designated places (shelters or shelters at signposts)
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