and sums up quite well why I prefer the Slovak side, especially in June-September.
About the unofficial border crossings, the Slovaks have a point as our side gets 80% of the tourists on 20% of the land area of which half are people from places like Warszawa who might consider the Tatry to be more of a city park than a top-level nature reserve. The people that know the mountains also know where they can cross the border unofficially and my impression is that enforcement is very, very sparse, if even non-existent. I've come across Slovak guides and TANAP officials on closed trails on more than one occasion and they were always very friendly. The guy operating Chata pod Rysmi lives there year-round and when I was there two weeks before the trail opened there was a box with building supplies down at Popradske Pleso and a request to carry some up in exchange for a hot drink. Yes, there are rather strict laws, but my impression is they're mainly there to have a basis on which to fine someone that misbehaves and scare the regular tourists that don't know the mountains out. (the "you pay for your own rescue" is another one the Slovaks employ for that reason IMHO)
Thanks for the very detailed post!
I'm currently planning to hike from zakopane to liptovski mikulas,just south of the slovakian high tatras. I'm going with 5 friends, and we're planning to walk for 4 or 5 days.
We Are planning to cross the border on the rysy peak,on the second day, and walk Around the krivan, down the valley west of krivan, and then up to Bystra and wollowiec, and then come down via the rohackse plesa to liptovski mikulas...Do you think its possible to achieve that in 4 or 5 days?
also, We are taking 2 small tents with us, would it be possible to camp in the mountains? Or is it dangerous?
Thanks for the help!
Midas
Belguim
I am a hiker from the United States, mostly on the Appalachian Trail. This was very entertaining to read as you bring a different perspective in the use of English to describe this Polish hike. Over my life I have studied many languages and am fascinated by people who are multilingual and write in something other than their native tongue.
yatsek - Jun 10, 2012 5:21 pm - Voted 10/10
Very interestingLike one's old home through the eyes of a burglar :)
Cheers,
Jacek
P.S. "perc" doesn't translate as "perch". The Polish "perc" is a narrow mountain path (see here)
visentin - Jun 11, 2012 2:58 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Very interestingMe, "burglar" ? :) call me "mountain-hooligan" :D
Proterra - Jul 3, 2012 4:40 am - Voted 10/10
Nice readand sums up quite well why I prefer the Slovak side, especially in June-September.
About the unofficial border crossings, the Slovaks have a point as our side gets 80% of the tourists on 20% of the land area of which half are people from places like Warszawa who might consider the Tatry to be more of a city park than a top-level nature reserve. The people that know the mountains also know where they can cross the border unofficially and my impression is that enforcement is very, very sparse, if even non-existent. I've come across Slovak guides and TANAP officials on closed trails on more than one occasion and they were always very friendly. The guy operating Chata pod Rysmi lives there year-round and when I was there two weeks before the trail opened there was a box with building supplies down at Popradske Pleso and a request to carry some up in exchange for a hot drink. Yes, there are rather strict laws, but my impression is they're mainly there to have a basis on which to fine someone that misbehaves and scare the regular tourists that don't know the mountains out. (the "you pay for your own rescue" is another one the Slovaks employ for that reason IMHO)
visentin - Jul 3, 2012 6:28 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice readThanks for being the first (and almost only) that read and gave me a feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed it. The points you described are 100% true.
midasdp - May 27, 2013 3:23 pm - Voted 10/10
awesome read!Thanks for the very detailed post!
I'm currently planning to hike from zakopane to liptovski mikulas,just south of the slovakian high tatras. I'm going with 5 friends, and we're planning to walk for 4 or 5 days.
We Are planning to cross the border on the rysy peak,on the second day, and walk Around the krivan, down the valley west of krivan, and then up to Bystra and wollowiec, and then come down via the rohackse plesa to liptovski mikulas...Do you think its possible to achieve that in 4 or 5 days?
also, We are taking 2 small tents with us, would it be possible to camp in the mountains? Or is it dangerous?
Thanks for the help!
Midas
Belguim
bromonte - Mar 25, 2014 10:48 pm - Voted 8/10
Entertaining readingI am a hiker from the United States, mostly on the Appalachian Trail. This was very entertaining to read as you bring a different perspective in the use of English to describe this Polish hike. Over my life I have studied many languages and am fascinated by people who are multilingual and write in something other than their native tongue.