Tuesday 23 July 2013

Day 10/11: High Tatra Mountains - Strbske Pleso & Mount Rysy

As the 7 hours of travelling around Vienna and across most of Slovakia towards our next stop in the mountains was nearing it's end. Our train had other ideas and broke down in the middle of Slovakia.

It seemed no one spoke (or was willing to speak) English and was unable to let us know what was going on, asking the conductor only led to being pushed out the way as she jumped down onto the tracks. It appeared it was everyone for themselves..

As nearly 200 people disembarked from the train walking across the tracks, avoiding incoming trains and the live lines, it became apparent that there was no health and safety procedure for this and it was a case of picking a direction and walking to the previous/next station.

A bit disheartened by the experience, finding the nearest train station had a pub and it was £0.65p a pint was the lift we needed. Giving the best of my Slovakian a go, we attempted to order 2 beers. We did end up with beer, but 3 pints, which wasn't a complete disaster.

By this time we had given up all hope of the train being fixed and coming back for us. Fortunately the hotel we were staying at could speak English and were able to have a taxi sent to collect us.

I decided against taking photos of this spectacle, and to focus on what I was doing on the tracks, so unfortunately there are no photos.

After some much needed rest, we awoke the next day determined to get some hiking in.

After a short train ride to a nearby starting spot in the town of Strbske Pleso we were on our way.

Two hours of hiking through forests and valleys, we arrived at the next stopping point, at the foothills of Rysy. Rysy is the highest peak that divides Slovakia and Poland, standing at just under 2,500m above sea level.

The mountain has zig zag "paths" all the way to the top, however the paths are really just fallen stones, giving you about 3 feet between rock face and sheer drop. A lot of stones are loose and it is very easy to lose your footing.

Some photos of our trip








One of the safer "paths"

Mount Rysy





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