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Trip Report

Slovak highest mountains

3 days of hiking and relaxing in the highest mountain in Slovakia - The High Tatras (Slavkovský štít, Priečne sedlo, Chata pod Rysmi). Where to go and and stay.

  • Rysy (peak)+ 9
  • Slávkovský štít / Slavkovsky peak
  • Bilíkova chata / Bilik's cottage
  • Slovak highest mountains
marek
About Me:
AtlasGuru Contributor

EuropeSlovakia3 days / September 2019

Highs & Lows

Potato dumplings with sheep cheese so called ´Bryndzove halusky´ are recommended for sufficient strength!

The weather is the most constant in the September with lot of sunlight so the sun protection is a must.

Itinerary Overview

When looking at the High Tatras, it is difficult to overlook the massif of Slavkovský štít/peak. It rises above Starý Smokovec and is popular among tourists as one of the highest peaks of the mountain range (with a height of 2452 m above sea level, it is the third highest freely accessible hill in the High Tatras)

...

The hike through the Priečne Sedlo/Transverse Saddle definitely belongs to the list of hikes that you simply have to take in the Tatras. At an altitude of 2,352 mamsl. the saddle intersects the middle ridge and thus connects the Malú/Small and Veľkú Studenú dolinu/Large Cold Valley. This route is described as the most technically demanding marked hiking trail in the High Tatras.

...

Chata pod Rysmi/Cottage under the Rysy is the highest and at the same time the youngest Tatra cottage. It was built in 1933 and since then it has welcomed thousands of visitors seeking refuge between the Tatra peaks. The mountain peak Rysy itself can boast of visiting such personalities as Marie and Pierre Curie or Vladimir Ilijic Lenin.

  • 1 Night: Slavkovský štít
    Long - term output with a beautiful view.
  • 1 Night: Priečne sedlo
    Flushes of adrenaline are waiting for you in the form of steel chains, staples and dangerous falls.
  • 1 Night: Chata pod Rysmi
    The highest laying cottage in the High Tatras.
Slavkovský štít - Long - term output with a beautiful view.
1

Slavkovský štít Long - term output with a beautiful view.

Slavkovský štít - Long - term output with a beautiful view. - Slávkovský štít / Slavkovsky peak
Slávkovský štít / Slavkovsky peak
Slavkovský štít - Long - term output with a beautiful view. - Bilíkova chata / Bilik's cottage
Bilíkova chata / Bilik's cottage
Slavkovský štít - Long - term output with a beautiful view. - Top of Slavkovský štít/Slavkovsky peak1+
Top of Slavkovský štít/Slavkovsky peak

When looking at the High Tatras, it is difficult to overlook the massif of Slavkovský štít/peak. It rises above Starý Smokovec and is popular among tourists as one of the highest peaks of the mountain range (with a height of 2452 m above sea level, it is the third highest freely accessible hill in the High Tatras).

We reach Slavkovský štít/peak along the blue mark from Starý Smokovec. The ascent take us about five hours and the descent almost four, so we recommend that you properly equip yourself for the hike - with proper clothes and shoes as well as food supplies. The route is challenging, but its finish will reward you with its beautiful views of the Veľká studená dolina/Great Cold Valley or Gerlachovský štít/peak.

We end our descent in a pleasant mountain hotel - Bilikova chata/cottage. For dinner, we have excellent Slovak cuisine in a restaurant with a traditional interior. A beautiful highlight of the first day of hiking is sleeping with the sound of waterfalls.

Priečne sedlo - Flushes of adrenaline are waiting for you in the form of steel chains, staples and dangerous falls.
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Priečne sedlo Flushes of adrenaline are waiting for you in the form of steel chains, staples and dangerous falls.

Priečne sedlo - Flushes of adrenaline are waiting for you in the form of steel chains, staples and dangerous falls. - A way to Priečne sedlo/ Transverse saddle
A way to Priečne sedlo/ Transverse saddle
Priečne sedlo - Flushes of adrenaline are waiting for you in the form of steel chains, staples and dangerous falls. - A glacier-lake near Zbojnícka chata/Zbojnícka cottage
A glacier-lake near Zbojnícka chata/Zbojnícka cottage
Priečne sedlo - Flushes of adrenaline are waiting for you in the form of steel chains, staples and dangerous falls. - Térryho chata / Térry's cottage1+
Térryho chata / Térry's cottage

The hike through the Priečne Sedlo/Transverse Saddle definitely belongs to the list of hikes that you simply have to take in the Tatras. At an altitude of 2,352 mamsl. the saddle intersects the middle ridge and thus connects the Malú/Small and Veľkú Studenú dolinu/Large Cold Valley. This route is described as the most technically demanding marked hiking trail in the High Tatras.

Our hike starts at Hrebienok and we set off along a forest road to Reinerova chata/cottage. The pleasant silence and fresh scent of the forest will finally be interrupted by the roar of the Veľký studený potok/Great Cold Stream. We pass the cottage, cross the bridge and there is a beautiful view of the Popradská kotlina/basin. The path leads us further to Zamkovského chata/cottage, behind which our forest zone ends and we slowly approach the steep ascent to Téryho chata/cottage standing next to the Päť Spišských plies/Five Spiš glacier-lakes. From Téryho chata/cottage we continue to the discharge of Veľké Spišské pleso/Great Spiš glacier-lake, from there steeply down to the bottom of the valley. The road climbs steeply to the crossroads below Sedielko, from where we continue along the yellow sign to Priečne sedlo/Transverse saddle.

From the saddle we continue with short but steep bends in the rubble down below the southern wall of the Široká veža/Wide Tower and further along the road to Zbojnícka chata/cottage. Where we prepare our dinner and spend a night. From the cottage we can see Slavkovský štít/peak where we have been yesterday.

Chata pod Rysmi - The highest laying cottage in the High Tatras.
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Chata pod Rysmi The highest laying cottage in the High Tatras.

Chata pod Rysmi - The highest laying cottage in the High Tatras. - Rysy (peak)
Rysy (peak)
Chata pod Rysmi - The highest laying cottage in the High Tatras. - Kamzík/Chamois
Kamzík/Chamois
Chata pod Rysmi - The highest laying cottage in the High Tatras. - Chata pod Rysmi/Cottage under the Rysy (peak)1+
Chata pod Rysmi/Cottage under the Rysy (peak)

Chata pod Rysmi/Cottage under the Rysy is the highest and at the same time the youngest Tatra cottage. It was built in 1933 and since then it has welcomed thousands of visitors seeking refuge between the Tatra peaks. The mountain peak Rysy itself can boast of visiting such personalities as Marie and Pierre Curie or Vladimir Ilijic Lenin.

Early in the morning we move from our last location to Hrebienok and by red mark to Štrbské pleso, where we set out our hike. From there we follow the red sign to the Cottage at Popradské pleso/glacier-lake. This is followed by an entrance to the picturesque Mengusovská dolina/valley full of exceptional plants and animals. Surrounded by forest and later with knee timber, we reach a crossroads above Žabí potok/stream, where we turn right and next to Žabie plesá /glacier-lakes, ascend to the cottage, to an altitude of 2250 mamsl.

The demanding hike to Chata pod/Cottage under Rysy in itself offers us ideal opportunities for further sports activities as a reward. It is an ideal starting point for climbers and is also the last stop before the Rysy peak. Where you can go early in the morning for an unfergettable sunrise.

Q & A

  • Tips you would give a friend?

    You should be at least average fit. You go to an unpredictable mountain environment.
  • Packing tips?

    Equip yourself for the hike - with proper clothes and shoes as well as food supplies
  • Transportation Tips?

    The easiest way to get to the Tatras is by train to Štrba / Poprad. And then by bus/train to any of your starting location.

Lodging

  • Mountain Hotel Bilíkova Chata/cottage, Booking. The beautiful decor and peaceful atmosphere let you feel relaxed here. It's a pleasant experience to taste nicely cooked cabbage soup and good Halusky.

  • Zbojnícka chata/cottage, Friends. Cozy sleeping in a shared dormitory. In addition to the possibility of purchasing ready meals, there is also a kitchen with gas stove, utility water and dryer. Toilet is outside the cottage.

  • Chata pod Rysmi/Cottage under the Rysy (peak) The cottage was recently renovated and currently offers 14 beds in a roof dormitory, a buffet and the most exposed dry toilet in the Tatras, outside the cottage. We have used and enjoyed all of it!