Hi
I am planning a trip to the high Tatras in mid-September and have a few questions, I hope some people might be able to answer. I am planning some day trips and overnight trips and try to figure out the most interesting routes. I am using the following map sources
VKU Vysoke Tatry 1:25.000 (1999 version or so)
http://www.mapytatr.net/PRODUKTY/MAPY_T ... wys_ii.htm
http://www.turistickamapa.sk/?ref=navigator

1. We are arriving with plane in Krakow. What's the easiest way to get to the city centre and to Zakopane?

2. Do you need to make reservations in the huts? We are planning on using Murowaniec, hut at Przedni Staw Polski and Chata Pod Rysmi.

3. Do you need to bring sleeping bag, or do they have blankets in the hut, so the Alpenverein cover is enough?

4. Are there any via ferrata routes in the area?

5. We are planning on doing the Orla Perc. I see in the trip reports that it is secured with cables. Would you recommend bringing via ferrate gear (slings and harness) or will a helmet be sufficient?

6. Is it possible to sleep at the Kasprowy Wierch top lift station?

7. As I read it, you are allowed the cross the Polish/Slovak border on all trails. Right ? As I remember it this was not allowed 5 years ago.

8. Siroka. It looks like there is an unmarked trail following the border from Tatransja Javorina, over the peaks Kosiar, Svistocky, Siroka, Zamky, Horvatov Vrch and down to Bielovodska Dolina valley. You can even see the trail on Google Earth.
Is this peak/area still forbidden to climb? And if no, does anybody know the conditions/difficulty of this route, and how long it will take? It looks like 15-20 km and 1.500 m climb.

9. Our rough route is Zakopane, Orla Perc, Rysy, climb something on the Slovak side with a guide. We have already been on Gerlach, Krivan, Rysy and Vysoka Vychodna. Can you recommend other peaks/routes?

10. What is the easiest way to get from the Slovak side to Zakopane or Krakow?

Wow that ended up being quite many questions....

best regards
Jesper

Hello,

The maps are good. Reservation is a good idea, although I am not familiar with the September situation as for the crowds. They have blankets, but taking a sleeping bag can be benefitial, especially if you don't reserve and happen to get place on the floor

The only "ferrata" is Orla Perc, secured with chains and steel steps in places. Helmet is advised. In dry weather no need for ferrata gear but in wet/icy conditions (which can happen in September) it might save your life. I doubt the route is ready for all-along securing, but Polish SP memers will serve with better info soon, I guess.

You're allowed to cross the border on marked trails. Border patrol might ask for your ID occasionally. As for unmarked trails: the rules are clearly stated here.

To Q#9: Perhaps Vysoka? I haven't been on it but the peak is great and I bet the climb as well
To Q#10: I think through Lysa Polana.

Cheers, Peter

#6. No, there's no overnight possibility.
#8. Siroka is in nature reserve. It's forbidden to do any activities in that area.
#9. Vysoka is good, but if you're a good climber choose something more demanding: Zabi Kon or Ostry Stit. Lomnicky stit. by Jordan's route is also a good option.

1. from airport, then to/Zakopane
4. Actually, there's no via ferrata of the kind typical of the Alps (see Peterbud's above).
5. People usually die either via slipping on icy rock (e.g. while stepping from sunshine into the shade) or – less often – after being hit by a rock kicked by a tourist climbing above them.
9. Too many
10. By bus to Lysa Polana
(a more comfortable option is to hire a minibus) , by minibus/bus to Zakopane, by bus/train to Krakow (trains take longer unless at weekends – traffic jams)

Hi

Thanks for the quick replies.

We want to go light, so sleeping bags will stay at home. Guess I will make reservations for the first two nights. Aften then weather more or less decides how far and where we get.
We'll bring helmets for Orla Perc, and maybe the ferrata gear just in case.

Vysoka looks like a good option, although last time I was in the Tatras I had to help a guy how fell from that peak and suffered an open wound/broken shin-bone . I'm not a great climber, but with a guide we should be able to get on top of some semi-challenging peaks.

Too bad about Siroka. It looks like an interesting area, but I was afraid it would be closed.

cheers Jesper

damgaard wrote: with a guide we should be able to get on top of some semi-challenging peaks.

You can do Ladovy
Cheers
Jacek (yatsek)

IMO Ladovy via the normal route is pretty boring...

What about Lomnicky Peak? Maybe via Copper Benches, and here

5. We are planning on doing the Orla Perc. I see in the trip reports that it is secured with cables. Would you recommend bringing via ferrate gear (slings and harness) or will a helmet be sufficient?
......
I climbed it with no helmet or harness, the chains are pretty good, so it is not that important i think.
I have a trip report on it and plenty of pictures, if you have more questions- feel free to ask.



7. As I read it, you are allowed the cross the Polish/Slovak border on all trails. Right ? As I remember it this was not allowed 5 years ago.
.......
When i climbed Rysy at one point i crossed the border, i belive it legal- but you must have a passport with you if some guard is there.

Hi all

Thx for providing all the beta. We had a great trip, though weather was rather unstable, so we had to make some changes to our plans. Managed to do Orla Perc, Koscielec, Hruby Stit and Mnich in four days though - ohhh and spotted a big bear ;0)

Maybe some of you Polish people can help clarify something. We met an old guy, 55 or so but I can't remember his name, in the 5 lakes cabin, and we can't figure out if he was either really cool and experienced or full of ***. According to him he had 11 times been above 8.000 m. I know Poland has good mountaineering traditions, but this would make him almost Reinhold Messner. Furthermore he claimed that 45 people have died on Mnich since 1945. No doubt it has claimed lives, but that many? Anyways, he just tried to sound like THE mountain man, but half of what he said was clearly untrue or strongly biased.

cheers Jesper

Jasper,

I'm glad you liked your trip. Was the bear white in colour?
As to deaths on Mnich, I haven't found any data but nearly a hundred people have died on Orla Perc (including Zawrat Couloir) in the last 100 years. More recently there have been, on average, two deaths per year, the main reasons being slippery rock or snow patches.

Cheers
Jacek aka yatsek

Hi Yatsek

Nope, the bear was a gray haired old and quite chubby guy
And apparently he likes blueberries, because we saw a big pile of blue shi* in the middle of the path
I can try to upload a photo when I get the time.

I am aware of the high number of casualties on Orla Perc and in the Tatras in general. 4 people died from lightning just two days before we got there. 3 of them on that peak with the cross above Zakopane after what I was told.

However the number of casualties doesn't surprise me. Since Orla Perc is so easily reached from the valleys, a lot of inexperienced climbers make it up there. We saw lots of people in tennis shoes, army pants, t-shirts and nothing more. And this on days with unstable weather

Anyways, beautiful mountains!

-jesper

Huh, you know...11 times above 8000 meteres doesn't mean 11 summits...

Jesper, congrats on your climbs and nice to hear you liked the Tatras
We got some folks who have been over 8000 many times, as jck pointed out that needn't mean 11 summits, difficult to tell if he was a real mccoy or just a big mouth.
Which route did you take to Mnich? And you mean Hruby in Slovakia? Sounds like an interesting trip.
cheers,
k

damgaard wrote:Nope, the bear was a gray haired old and quite chubby guy
And apparently he likes blueberries, because we saw a big pile of blue shi* in the middle of the path
I can try to upload a photo when I get the time.

So you really didn't stick to Krupowki (Main) Street Whereabouts did you see the critter? Looking forward to seeing the pic!

damgaard wrote:I am aware of the high number of casualties on Orla Perc and in the Tatras in general. 4 people died from lightning just two days before we got there. 3 of them on that peak with the cross above Zakopane after what I was told.

2 of them died – how quickly numbers can grow – this might explain the number you heard for Mnich.

damgaard wrote:However the number of casualties doesn't surprise me. Since Orla Perc is so easily reached from the valleys, a lot of inexperienced climbers make it up there. We saw lots of people in tennis shoes, army pants, t-shirts and nothing more. And this on days with unstable weather

Exactly.