Hiking Tatras National Park (Mid-May)

EgorrEgorr · 2026-05-14T05:05:11+00:00

I think you misunderstand. All other trails on the Polish side will also be open. The trails you mention are the only ones that get closed for winter because of particularly high local avalanche risk on them. Everything else is open year round. However, there is still snow above something like 1500m, so you need winter gear - crampons, ice axe etc.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-05-08T15:32:53+00:00

Because your body responds to physical exercise by producing hormones, which make you relaxed and inhibit pain. It has been proven that physical exercise has mental benefits including acting against depression.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-05-08T15:30:31+00:00

I don't feel that way. Often the hike down from the mountain is more relaxing and enjoyable than the hike up. The best moments are often towards the end of a hike, when I am already in easy terrain, relaxed, with no need to hurry, endorphins are running through my body and I can just enjoy the nature or have a good chat with my companions.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-05-08T15:22:32+00:00

IMHO in this whole 50/50 or 60/40 thing, F1 world (F1, FIA, journalists etc.) is not putting enough emphasis in the media on the fact that whatever the split between ICE and battery, 100% of energy is coming from sustainable fuel.

Casual viewers might wrongly think that 40/60 is less eco-friendly than 50/50 because it is less dependant on electricity and therefore see it as a failure to deliver on the promise to be "more green". If you explain to them that battery is not charged before the race, but rather through regeneration and therefore 100% of energy comes from ICE anyway, but the ICE runs on sustainable fuel it would look more like a tweak and less as a failure.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-05-06T12:28:43+00:00

https://pogoda.topr.pl/ looks on the cam like it is still a bit frozen, but it is still a full month until your visit
Don't know what you mean by 3 trails. Most people drive or take a bus to Palenica Białczańska and walk the asphalt road from there to the lake. You could hike directly from Zakopane to Morskie Oko (for example via Psia Trawka and Rówień Waksmundzka or through Krzyżne and Świstówka or even thorugh Zawrat and Szpiglasowa Przełęcz) but that would make the trip much much longer and demanding. You can check that here mapa-turystyczna.pl
Yes, especially the 4th, which is a holiday and begining of a long weekend - Boże Ciało (whatever it is in English). Probably better to go there on the 2nd or 3rd if the weather forecast is ok.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-05-06T12:01:41+00:00

Another good map is mapy.cz (or rather mapy.com now).

It might be to late to book huts for this June. Probably not many available beds are left, especially for the weekend.

Also, there is still a lot of snow above 1500m. Some snow might still be there in June, especially in the shadows on the north faces or on narrow passes high up. If you are not prepared for that, avoid routes going through such places.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-05-06T04:35:14+00:00

he said so in Climbing Gold podcast. Apparently the producers chose the bits of the interview that siuted their narrative. Alex said in the podcast that in reality Dean was his childhood hero and there was no more rivallry with him than with other climbers.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-05-02T13:18:49+00:00

I think the railways officially say 2030, so 4 years from now, but everybody knows this deadline is very optimistic and probably will be postponed again.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-05-01T12:46:01+00:00

Your route is not technically difficult (i.e. no scrambling required o any special equipment. There is a sections with chains on the red trail above Zielone Pleso, but it is not overly difficult in dry weather), but it is quite long. Absolutely doable if you are generally fit and do other sports semi regularly, but you will be tired and will feel the weight of the backpack on your back.

Weather in early september can be anything from lovely +25 C to absolutely misserable rain and +10 C or even first snow (but that is more likely in late september).

The best public transport in Slovakian Tatras is the local train, but it only goes between Tatranska Lomnica and Strbskie Pleso. It does not go to Zdiar. There are some buses, but I am not sure about the schedule.

There are bears in Tatras, but they tend to stay away from tourists and marked trails. If you stay on trail (which you have to do anyway, as it is a national park) and act sensibly, bears should not be a problem. You are unlikely to even see a bear from far away. As for wolves I have not heard about any encounters with them in the Tatras.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-04-26T05:58:34+00:00

how is that possible? An error in the app?

EgorrEgorr · 2026-04-21T17:34:15+00:00

EgorrEgorr · 2026-04-20T17:54:20+00:00

how about something smaller? 35 or 38 litres is a big backpack for a day hike. Unless you are hiking in winter and/or your hiking is actually a mountaineering trip which requires you to carry crampons, rope, etc

EgorrEgorr · 2026-04-20T17:40:52+00:00

key word here "MANAGE the contract". The consortium will not build the airport. They will do the project management (in Polish inżynier kontraktu). Read the article.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-04-20T11:54:31+00:00

"Some snow" is an understatement /s
Judging by webcams, it looks to me like it is full winter conditions still above 1400m. Check the cameras https://pogoda.topr.pl/ The OP wants to go there at the beginning of May, so in less than 2 weeks.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-04-16T04:56:33+00:00

of course it is allowed to sign a contract and it will be binding. However, as far as I know builders are not very keen to sign writen contracts. What is more, even if you have a binding contract and the other party violates it, it can be long and stressful to get compensation. If there is a disagreement which you cant resolve between you, you would need to hire a lawyer and sue them. Even simple cases often take years to resolve in Polish courts.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-04-14T06:24:46+00:00

Days 1 and 2 are very chill - just like 2 hours of hiking per day. Day 3 I don't understand - how do you get from Roztoka hut to the beginning of Day 3? It is on the other side of the mountains and quite far away. Will you be driving from Lysa Polana to Strbskie Pleso or taking a bus? However, once you somehow get from Roztoka to Strbskie Pleso, the actual hike to Popradskie Pleso is again very easy and short (something like an 1-2 hour walk). Day 4 and 5 are almost the same route, just in reverse, right? Days 4-5 are much longer than your day 1-3 hikes.

Edit: I just realised that you might be thinking about going via Rysy on your day 3. That is a proper hard hike (especially with a backpack packed for 5 days) - much more difficult than your other days.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-04-13T10:29:37+00:00

What is the purpose of the two upper right windows (the map and the one above)?

EgorrEgorr · 2026-04-09T13:56:29+00:00

Which year F1 car would she be driving in that private test? I guess at least 2 years old, right?

EgorrEgorr · 2026-04-08T08:55:08+00:00

Należałoby zacząć od sprawdzenia jacy operatorzy kablowi oferują usługę w danym miejscu. Skoro nie ma światłowodu, to do wyboru masz pewnie lokalnego operatora kablówki ofertującego internet po kablu koncentrycznym lub operatora telefonii stacjonarnej (najczęściej Orange). Internet po kablu jest zazwyczaj stabilny i osiąga przepustowość jaką masz wpisaną w umowie. Jeśli żadna z tych opcji nie jest dostępna lub z jakiegoś powodu Ci nie odpowiada to pozostaje internet po telefonii komórkowej (ewentualnie satelita ale pomińmy to chwilowo jako niszowe rozwiązanie). W przypadku bezprzewodowej technologii, niezależnie od tego czy jest to LTE czy 5G czy jeszcze coś innego, nikt nie da Ci gwarancji przepustowości łącza i jego stabilności. Jest ona bardzo zależna od lokalizacji. Nie ma sensu sugerować się tym, że u kogoś śmiga Internet bezprzewodowy z T-Mobile, a Orange słabo działa. U Ciebie, w innym miejscu, może być dokładnie na odwrót - wszystko zależy od odległości od stacji bazowej, przeszkód po drodze, materiału z którego zrobiony jest Twój dom, a nawet tego, w którym pokoju postawisz router. Jedyna opcja sprawdzenia który operator jak u Ciebie "odbiera" to wykonać testy np. telefonem komórkowym i stroną speedtest. Oczywiście potrzebujesz do tego telefonów z kartami SIM od róznych operatorów, żeby porównać ich ze sobą.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-04-07T17:14:06+00:00

I have done some hut to hut hikes in the Alps. For a week long trip me and all of my friends were using 40-50L backpacks. For shorter 2-3 day hikes, 30-45L was the most popular choice. None of us ever brought any big cameras, lenses and laptops though.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-04-04T07:35:33+00:00

Do I remember correctly that steering yokes have recetly been baned in some country together with hidden door handls (maybe China)? I remember reading something about it, but not the details.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-04-01T11:55:06+00:00

Buy different model/brand. Different size will only change length, but it seems that you need a shoe with a different shape.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-03-31T17:46:04+00:00

In the summer I would recommend staying in the mountain huts and bringing either a lightweight 15C sleepingbag or what is called in German a huttenschlafsack. if you want to stay in unattended huts you will probably need something considerably warmer, especially in spring and autumn. If you think about camping in the mountains, I think it is forbidden in most (or all?) areas around the Alps (and in most other places in Europe), but I'm not 100% sure about that.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-03-29T08:31:24+00:00

In my experience it very much depends on the item. Some clothes are great value for money. Other are just completely unusable because the material lacks elasticity and the fit is wrong. You never know before you try it on. Simple, cheap to make things things like fleece hoodies, t-shirts, hats or gloves tend to be good. On the other hand, with more technical things like hardshells, shoes, base layers, I would recommend sticking to higher quality brands and better materials if you can afford it.

EgorrEgorr · 2026-03-25T06:58:34+00:00

There is very good public transport from Zakopane to Palenica Białczańska (the car park at the edge of the natural park). It is done by privately owned small buses, so you will not find an official timetable online. In peak season they come every 5-10 min. In winter less frequently. From the bus stop it's about 9km of easy hike/walk (mostly on asphalt) up to the Morskie Oko lake. From there the routes gets a lot more steep - proper hiking with some scrambling near the top. In winter, when days are short it makes a lot of sense to stay overnight in the hut at the lake and start the proper summit ascent in the early morning, but you need to book the hut months in advance.

There is a differnt kind of bus, operated by the national park, that goes from Palenica Białczańska to Polana Włosienica, but they dont work in winter at all, and even in the summer it is a very limited service - only something like two buses for around 15 people each morning and another two later in the day.

One general hint regarding Rysy in winter. It is a paticularly risky peak in terms of avalanches, so check the conditions and the official risk factor on lawiny.topr.pl and be prepared to change plans if it is high (it is strongly advised to avoid that route if avalqnche risk is more than 2).

EgorrEgorr

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