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The High Tatras

Slovakia and Poland - Including the Western Tatras and White Tatras

ISBN

9781852848873

Availability

Published

3 Mar 2017

Reprinted

25 Nov 2024

Edition

Fourth

Pages

336

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.85cm

Weight

390g

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Guidebook detailing walks and scrambles in the High Tatras mountains of Poland and Slovakia. Varied routes among the strikingly beautiful craggy peaks of the High, Western and White Tatras range from easy to strenuous. Includes useful lists of summits as well as practical advice on accommodation and facilities, travel, mapping and language.

Seasons

July-end August warmest (with thunderstorms); Sept-mid October best walking weather; March-early June not recommended

Centres

Slovakia - Poprad, Stary Smokovec, Tatranska Lomnica, Strbske Pleso; Poland- Zakopane

Difficulty

high mountain walking (up to 2654m); well-engineered, waymarked paths; some scrambling, exposure, use of fixed wires but very wide choice of routes

Must See

flowers and wildlife; staying in a refuge/chalet; historic mountain villages; alpine scenery (the ranges are national parks)

ISBN

9781852848873

Availability

Published

3 Mar 2017

Reprinted

25 Nov 2024

Edition

Fourth

Pages

336

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.85cm

Weight

390g

Overview

Guidebook blending inspiration and information about 180 walks and scrambles in the High Tatras mountains of Poland and Slovakia. Varied routes among the strikingly beautiful craggy peaks of the High, Western and White Tatras range from easy to strenuous, best walked between July and October.

The walks are between 1 and 30km (both circular and linear) and link the main resorts with peaks, lakes and mountain chalets. In Poland there is one base of Zakopane, whereas in Slovakia there are several villages linked by a tramway.

Highlights include an ascent of Krivian and ridge walks in the Western Tatras
Detailed accommodation information and suggested kit list
Information about local services, facilities and attractions
Polish-Slovak glossary
Sized to easily fit in a jacket pocket

Table of Contents

Preface

1 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE TATRAS

Background

Early history

Vegetation and wildlife

Weather

National parks

Languages

Place names

Border controls

2 PREPARATION FOR WALKING

When to go

Obtaining information

Travel and insurance

Accommodation

Fitness

Clothing and equipment

Maps

Paths and waymarking

Refreshments and toilets

Mountain chalets or refuges

Mountain guides

Mountain safety and emergency services

Winter walking

Cross-border walking

Mountain photography

How to use this guide

Grading of walks

3 THE SLOVAK HIGH AND WHITE TATRAS

Later history

Walking

Tatranská Bora

Route suggestions

Waymarked network

With a guide

Path descriptions

Cesta Slobody

Red routes

Tatranská Magistrála

Blue routes

Green routes

Yellow routes

Selected timings

Highest summits

Travel

Diversions

Shopping and local services

Other useful information

Gazetteer

4 THE POLISH TATRAS

Later history

Walking

Route suggestions

Path descriptions

Red routes

Blue routes

Green routes

Yellow routes

Black routes

Selected timings

Highest summits

Travel

Diversions

Shopping and local services

Other useful information

Gazetteer

Appendix A Glossary

Appendix B Accommodation

Appendix C Useful contacts

Appendix D Suggested kit list

Appendix E The Tatras mountain code and Visitors’ Charter

Appendix F Help!

Updates

November 2021

Updates

Page 54, paragraph 2. It is now possible to hire guides with a special licence from the National Park to take you to summits off the waymarked routes.

Page 141, route 8860 (Priečne Sedlo). A new ‘via ferrata’ has opened across the saddle, parallel with the existing path, normally accessible 15 June to 31 October. It is 450 metres long and can be used in the direction Malá Studená Dolina to Veľká Studená Dolina. Check with the local tourist office about recommended equipment.

Page 201, Entry fees. These (and car park tickets) can now be purchased online at https://tpn.pl/zwiedzai/e-bilety. Click the Union Jack for an English translation, then scroll down to ‘Entrance ticket’.

Page 217, route 009B (Orla Perć). The section between Zawrat and Świnica is now closed, but Świnica can still be reached from either side.

Page 220, route 011, paragraph 2. E-tickets must be purchased online for the car park at Palenica Białczańska – see page 201 above.

Page 224, route 203. This route is now impassable and not used.

Pages 267/268, route 906, paragraph 2. The black route has been moved where it goes steeply uphill, but the distance remains the same.

Page 282, Mountain transport. Tickets for the cable car to Kasprowy Wierch can now be purchased online at https://www.sklep.pkl.pl/en/product-groups/index,4,tourpassy.html.

Reviews

A handy and detailed guidebook for anyone interested in the area

As we have come to expect from a Cicerone guide, Walking in the High Tatras offers a comprehensive and detailed overview of a wide range of walking in the rugged peaks of Poland and Slovakia. This is a handy and detailed guidebook for anyone interested in the area.

Adventure Travel magazine.

By Renáta Nározná

Renata Narozna was born and bred in the Slovak Tatras, and workd as a mountain guide for the state tourism organisation, Cedol. After Czechoslovakia's 'Velvet Revolution', Renata ran her own travel company in the Tatras for a while, then she was appointed manager of the Vienna branch of the Slovak tourism organisation. In a complete career change, Renata recently became the organisational director of Greenpeace in central and eastern Europe.

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By Colin Saunders

The co-authors are Colin Saunders, a member of the Outdoor Writers’ Guild, who has visited the area many times, and Renáta Nározná, who was born and bred there. Colin Saunders has wide experience of walking in many parts of Britain and Europe. He has written books on walking in London and South East England and is a consultant on walking to charities and other organisations.

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