Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Day 59: Two snowy passes


The morning started with a steep and snowy pass. I had scouted a direct and nearly snowfree route for the first bit, since the official trail was going around a lake, all through snow on a steep slope! But the last bit up to the pass was steep and a huge snowfields. Slow progress, but the snow wasn't too hard and thanks to my microspikes and steps from people of the day before no problem. On top there was only a short snowfree climbing bit with a chain, before it was snow again, again basically a vertical down for several hundred meters. On the lst, less steep part, I sat on my bud and was down very quickly ;)

Then came some lakes and a hut, before heading up for the next pass. Same game all over: a steep, snowy pass. Just a bit more of climbing along chains on top. While the morning was sunny, the first clouds started to form in the mountains and when I had finally made it down on the other side, there was some fog and clouds were hanging in the mountains. Good! This way I didn't feel bad not to go over another steep snowy pass :) But that meant lots of altitude and about 10 km in addition. At least the trail was nice easy and I got some good views. When I came to the green lake, where I would have dropped down from the third pass, I was so happy that I didn't go over that third pass. It looked crazy!

There were dark clouds already all afternoon, but only a few drops fell. Now the thunder is rolling and I wonder if there will be lots of rain at last...

I am leaving the Tatra tomorrow. It is sad, since it was a real highlight with incredible mountains, but I am also glad to have easier hiking with less snow ahead of me! But I REALLY need to buy new shoes. Mine don't have any grip.anymore. But I think it'll be a while to a bigger town...

Little bit of climbing on the first pass

To give you an idea of the pass: Looking back up on the first pass to 2 people that passed me when I headed down





The first clouds


Looking back up to pass two - the two dots are the women from Slovakia









Green Lake

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