CC Meet The High Tatra Mountains - Aug 2-16 2008

Information gleaned to date (30 November 2007)

The Tatra straddle the Polish Slovak Border rising to about 2650m: the bulk of the mountains are in Slovakia so this will be the destination. They provide sub-alpine rock climbing on mainly South facing granite crags and ridge walking/scrambling; a very small number of routes have approaches across snow patches and may require an ice axe/walking crampons. Other activities include mountain biking, kayaking and river rafting. The rock routes are up to 900m in length – traditional style climbing with little fixed gear. The area has been described as a scaled up version of The Cullin. There are huts (cost about £10 per night with all meals) but camping and bivouacking in the mountains is forbidden as the area is both a National Park and a World Biosphere Site where wild wolves and bears can still be found. It is possible to complete routes from the valley in a day if you don’t mind a long walk in and out. Maps are easily found on the internet and there is a Topo guide (with an introduction in English) to selected routes on 17 of the mountains. Cicerone Press publish a walking guide to the range. Topo's for some routes/mountains are also available on the internet as are Topo's for some valley crags outside the main range. There is a well organised mountain rescue service (not free, BMC Insurance required).

Slovakia is an EU State with no visa requirements for British Citizens. An EU health card can be used, prior to visiting a vaccination against tick borne encephalitis is recommended.

Travel, Currency and Accommodation

Those who have already signed up have booked to fly from Luton to Poprad (Tatry) with skyeurope (www2.skyeurope.com), departing 2/8/08 and returning 16/8/08. Tickets have cost from £46 to £64 return (plus taxes of about £50) as interest in the flight has grown. Poprad airport is a short (approx 25km I believe) train journey from the towns/villages at the start of the approach walks. All these are connected by an electric railway system – there is no need to hire a car. Flights are obviously available on other dates (skyeurope fly three times per week). An alternative is to fly to Bratislava (numerous budget operators from Birmingham, Luton, Stansted, East Midland, and Manchester) and then cross Slovakia to Poprad by road or rail. Once in the area Hotels, apartments and cottages appear plentiful and cheap (e.g. 4 bed apartment about £55 per night), there are also campsites in the valley at a couple of pounds a night. Food and restaurants appear to be well below UK prices. Public transport in the area appears plentiful. I propose to book an apartment or similar as a valley base.

Web sites to visit
www.tatry.net
www.tatraguide.com/velic/
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Slovakia
www.tatry.org
www.tanap.sk/climb.html

 

The Topo guidebook is available from:
www.panorama.sk/index.asp?kam=/go/clanky/128.asp&lang=en&sv=2
Mine took about 2 weeks to arrive.

Trevor Langhorne

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