Wonderful article and a wonderful tradition. Personally, I hope this custom of supplying the "Tatry" mountain huts in by-pedal mode (rather than by a helicopter or by building roads up to the huts) never changes. In this tradition, the Slovaks might have some of the best examples anywhere of how National Mountain Parks can be kept pristine, clear of un needed development and still enjoyed by people.
But it's me who isn't sure and I'm Polish and I love the Tatras! :-)
Anyway, Eric, thanks very much for this page. One evening, just below Zbojnicka Hut we ran into those carriers. I actually thought they were doing that to get a free meal or bed for the night so I asked one to find out but - understandably - he was so tired the conversation wasn't successful. :D
Amazing packboards! Remind me of my very first backpack frame in 1964 I think which was wooden and very heavy but nowhere near as high nor as amazingly packed.
worth printing in a magazine!
one point: in the introduction you write that supplying huts is usually done per car or helicopter. A common way in Eastern Alps is the construction of little cablecars - that may be mentioned.
Hello.
Really good article.
One note: You wrote "Schronisko Pięću Stawów" - it shoud be Schronisko w Dolinie Pięciu Stawów Polskich (Mountain Hut in the Five Polish Lakes Valley). Yeah Polish is not easy language ;).
If you have any additional questions about Tatras and Sherpa Rally (also the winners of previous editions) try write to:
gazeta@nyka.home.pl - Jozef Nyka is a great specialist of all Tatras topics, history and also the author of the best Tatras Guide Books ever written.
Best regards.
Piotr.
Pięću Stawów: I know the spelling (I live in PL) but I like nicknames ;) Thanks for your offers and suggestions about the past editions about the rallye, I'll try to sort it out.
Perhaps another good way is to ask directly some hutkeeper in Terynka or Zamka
In the 1950s and 1960s, the AMC huts in the White Mountains of New Hampshire were supplied by "hut boys" who carried as much as 150 lbs at a time. At that time, they used wooden packframes, sometimes with "tumplines" that went round the forehead.
Eric, what a great article :) This topic is definitely worth to be shared with the rest of the world!
I've seen those Sherpas quite often in the Slovak Tatras, I think another Slovak word for them is 'nosič' (meaning 'porter'; nosit, pol. nosić = to carry). Some time in the '80s or '90s I heard the story that it was compulsory to work one summer as a 'nosič' if you wanted to get a licence for climbing in the Slovak Tatras, but I don't know if this regulation still exists or if it ever was true.
Yes, I read about "nosic", which is the name of the activity, "sherpa" being the name of the actors...
I have never heard of this rule of serving as a sherpa to be allowed to go climbing offtrails, but to me it sounds a genial idea !
Yeah, "nosić" is a verb in Polish but "nosič" is a noun ("porter") in Slovak :) The Slovak verb "to carry" is "nosit". Hope you don't mind my teaching you some Polish and Slovak! :))
pozdrawiam!
Kamil
asmrz - Mar 9, 2009 6:00 pm - Voted 10/10
Thank youWonderful article and a wonderful tradition. Personally, I hope this custom of supplying the "Tatry" mountain huts in by-pedal mode (rather than by a helicopter or by building roads up to the huts) never changes. In this tradition, the Slovaks might have some of the best examples anywhere of how National Mountain Parks can be kept pristine, clear of un needed development and still enjoyed by people.
yatsek - Mar 10, 2009 5:23 am - Voted 10/10
Not Sure"No Polish or Slovak SummitPoster will contradict me ! :) "
What about the Pyrenees??? :-)
visentin - Mar 10, 2009 6:20 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Not SureAs mentionned in the text, I am not from these regions so my own advice doesn't count :)
yatsek - Mar 10, 2009 6:54 am - Voted 10/10
Re: Not SureBut it's me who isn't sure and I'm Polish and I love the Tatras! :-)
Anyway, Eric, thanks very much for this page. One evening, just below Zbojnicka Hut we ran into those carriers. I actually thought they were doing that to get a free meal or bed for the night so I asked one to find out but - understandably - he was so tired the conversation wasn't successful. :D
peterbud - Mar 10, 2009 9:20 am - Voted 10/10
Good topic, EricThanks for writing it.
silversummit - Mar 14, 2009 8:31 am - Voted 10/10
Very interesting article!Amazing packboards! Remind me of my very first backpack frame in 1964 I think which was wooden and very heavy but nowhere near as high nor as amazingly packed.
Good job Eric!
Kathy
visentin - Mar 16, 2009 5:06 am - Hasn't voted
Re: OuiiiiMultumesc !
Mountain_girl - Mar 16, 2009 2:20 pm - Voted 10/10
interesting!that is so cool, I have never heard about this tradition or seen any Serpas in the Polish Tatras. Thanks for writing this piece.
visentin - Mar 16, 2009 4:46 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: interesting!There are unfortunately no such sherpas on the polish side... only slovak men are real men :)
visentin - Mar 17, 2009 9:30 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Very Cool!West Buttress ? Piece of cake, i'd do it with my sandals :)
Mathias Zehring - Mar 21, 2009 5:01 am - Voted 10/10
great articleworth printing in a magazine!
one point: in the introduction you write that supplying huts is usually done per car or helicopter. A common way in Eastern Alps is the construction of little cablecars - that may be mentioned.
visentin - Mar 23, 2009 3:49 am - Hasn't voted
Re: great articleGood point, I'll include it, thanks ;)
Bocian - Mar 21, 2009 6:31 am - Voted 10/10
Good articleHello.
Really good article.
One note: You wrote "Schronisko Pięću Stawów" - it shoud be Schronisko w Dolinie Pięciu Stawów Polskich (Mountain Hut in the Five Polish Lakes Valley). Yeah Polish is not easy language ;).
If you have any additional questions about Tatras and Sherpa Rally (also the winners of previous editions) try write to:
gazeta@nyka.home.pl - Jozef Nyka is a great specialist of all Tatras topics, history and also the author of the best Tatras Guide Books ever written.
Best regards.
Piotr.
visentin - Mar 23, 2009 3:53 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Good articlePięću Stawów: I know the spelling (I live in PL) but I like nicknames ;) Thanks for your offers and suggestions about the past editions about the rallye, I'll try to sort it out.
Perhaps another good way is to ask directly some hutkeeper in Terynka or Zamka
MoapaPk - Mar 22, 2009 2:21 pm - Voted 10/10
In the USAIn the 1950s and 1960s, the AMC huts in the White Mountains of New Hampshire were supplied by "hut boys" who carried as much as 150 lbs at a time. At that time, they used wooden packframes, sometimes with "tumplines" that went round the forehead.
visentin - Mar 23, 2009 3:48 am - Hasn't voted
Re: In the USAinteresting. any link about it ? i'd be pleased to include it
MoapaPk - Mar 23, 2009 6:52 am - Voted 10/10
Re: In the USAMy best reference is a paper 1962 National Geographic. The more usual loads were 50-90 lbs. I'll keep looking.
kamil - Mar 23, 2009 9:14 am - Voted 10/10
SherpasEric, what a great article :) This topic is definitely worth to be shared with the rest of the world!
I've seen those Sherpas quite often in the Slovak Tatras, I think another Slovak word for them is 'nosič' (meaning 'porter'; nosit, pol. nosić = to carry). Some time in the '80s or '90s I heard the story that it was compulsory to work one summer as a 'nosič' if you wanted to get a licence for climbing in the Slovak Tatras, but I don't know if this regulation still exists or if it ever was true.
pozdrawiam
Kamil
visentin - Mar 23, 2009 10:01 am - Hasn't voted
Re: SherpasYes, I read about "nosic", which is the name of the activity, "sherpa" being the name of the actors...
I have never heard of this rule of serving as a sherpa to be allowed to go climbing offtrails, but to me it sounds a genial idea !
kamil - Mar 24, 2009 7:30 am - Voted 10/10
Re: SherpasYeah, "nosić" is a verb in Polish but "nosič" is a noun ("porter") in Slovak :) The Slovak verb "to carry" is "nosit". Hope you don't mind my teaching you some Polish and Slovak! :))
pozdrawiam!
Kamil