High Tatras

After arriving about 15 km south of the High Tatras the previous evening, I was able to find a quiet spot to sleep at the Poprad train station until Friday morning (June 8, 2018). Around seven o'clock, Rango and I organized tickets to Vysoké Tatry, which is located at the foot of the mountains at an altitude of about 1000 m. The train there runs hourly, and I decide to use the local Kaufland's WiFi to upload some pictures. Unfortunately, it's not as powerful as usual, so I board the 8:30 am train without a finished travel report. About 30 minutes later, we arrive at the Starý Smokovec station and have breakfast right at the train station. After a short stay on a sunny bench, we have to retreat to a shady spot - it just got too hot. On the way up the mountain, I treat myself to a hot drink in a small café with free wifi and publish the blog post I started. At 10:40 am, we start our ascent. We manage the first 300 meters of altitude to the Hrebienok mountain station in 40 minutes, still enjoying the glorious sunshine. A light breeze makes it more bearable. After a short break, we continue west to Velické pleso, a mountain lake at an altitude of about 1700 m. It takes us just under two and a half hours to cover the 5.5 km, during which we hike along a mostly wooded slope. Occasionally, it gets cloudy and rains a little, but it's not a big deal. However, we only experience a heavy rain shower just 200 m before reaching the sheltering Sliezsky Dom. So under the dry hotel awning, I change clothes and give Rango a good shake. Because of the weather, we pause a bit longer outside the establishment, and I have some cookies with milk for strength, while Rango gets some dry food. At a quarter to four, we continue west towards Batizovské pleso and then to Popradské pleso. It drizzles here and there, but it's not a big deal. During the 9.5 km route, we climb over 2000 meters in altitude, only to descend another 500 m to the Popradské Lake after passing the Sedlo pod Ostrvou (a mountain saddle). However, the sun reappears in the last few meters. At the local Horsky Hotel, after some back and forth, I manage to organize accommodation at an acceptable price, and so the rather exhausting hiking day comes to a well-deserved end at around ten o'clock.

On Saturday, I take my time before I have to check out of the accommodation at 10:00 am. Rango and I have breakfast in the sun in front of the hotel before we start our ascent to the High Tatras at quarter to eleven. First, we have to regain the 500 meters we covered the day before in order to then move on to new heights. The Chata pod Rysmi is located at 2250 meters, which we pass on our way to the Slovak-Polish border. It takes us just under 2.5 hours to cover the approximately 750 meters in altitude, most of which we can do under dry conditions. We already have to cross the first small snowfields on the way, but otherwise, the ascent is steep but doable. Despite the effort, I can enjoy the picturesque high mountain landscape with its rugged cliffs, small lakes, streams, and waterfalls. At the shelter, I manage to have the ordered cabbage soup and coffee outdoors before we have to retreat to the warmer hut. The weather quickly changes, and it starts to rain heavily. We postpone our departure several times, until we finally start the next part of the ascent at half past three. To reach the Polish side of the mountains at this point, we have to climb the Rysy peak (2503 m). From there, the path down to Morskie Oko (another mountain lake) in Poland is clear. We manage the last 250 meters of ascent for this hiking day at around 5:15 pm. Instead of a book, there is only trash in the metal box on the summit, so we cannot leave any traces here. I was already able to find out at the Chata pod Rysmi that we can expect longer sections secured with chains on the descent. It was also believed that the path is still manageable with a dog. In retrospect, I would definitely find the latter statement questionable. During the first hour and a half of descent, I regularly have to catch and rappel Rango. It's not easy for either of us, but the chunky guy fights bravely again. Although he is stubborn here and there and relies entirely on my safety work, his performance leaves an impression once again. Not least with the three Poles we collect along the way and with whom we manage the further descent to Morskie Oko. However, the two days of hiking have not passed us by without a trace, and I am relieved when we finally reach the Schronisko PTTK Morskie Oko accommodation at half past eight. Checking in is once again accompanied by some difficulties, as dogs are prohibited on the Polish side of the High Tatras. However, a solution is found anyway, and finally, at half past ten, it's time to call it a day.