Tatra mountains
The Tatra mountains are the only mountains of Alpine types in Carpathian mountain
range.They are often called the smallest alpine mountains in Europe. Tatras are
divided in three parts:
the Western Tatras
the High Tatras
the Belianske Tatras
Important peaks
Gerlachovský štít - 2.655 m, the highest peak of the High Tatras and of Slovakia.
Lomnický štít - 2.634 m, the most visited peak, maybe because you can get
there by cable car. You can find the highest situated Astronomical and
Meteorological Observatory in Slovakia on the top of the peak.
Kriváň - the most popular among Slovaks. It is said that every Slovak has
to climb to the top at least once in his lifetime. Kriváň is the symbol of
freedom of Slovaks and since 1955 traditional walks are devoted to
the Slovak National Uprising.
The most popular resorts in the Tatras
Poprad - is the most important city of the Spiš region. It is a tourist,
economical and cultural centre.
Tatranská Lomnica - is a city situated on the Road of Freedom at the foothill of
Lomnický peak.It is a popular ski destination and Museum of TANAP is situated
there.
Štrbské pleso - it is a popular ski and health centre. A glacial mountain lake,
Štrbské pleso is a popular tourist attraction.
Slovakia´s sherpas
There is a very rare profession in the High Tatras - sherpas.Sherpas are people who
carry supplies to mountain huts on their bags.The load is about 100 kilograms. It
could be food, drinking water, fuel or construction material. Sherpas use a special
wooden frame called krosna to carry the load. In the High Tatras sherpa´s job is very
important, because there is no infrastructure for cars, there are only paths for
tourists and helicopters are too expensive. At the present there are five mountain
huts in the High Tatras, that are supplied by sherpas:
Zbojnícka chata - 1960 m
Téryho chata- 2015 m
Chata pod Rysami -2250 m
Zamkovského chata - 1475 m
Rainerova chata - 1300 m
Every season about 15 to 20 tons of goods must be trasported to each of the
mountain huts. Some sherpas are able to carry goods twice a day.In one walk they
are able to carry from 50 to 90 kilograms and the price is about 50 cent for
kilogram. One climb and one load takes about 3,5 hours.
People do sherpa´s work as a training for climbing, for relax and some people do it
for many.It is a certain way of life.
There is a sherpa´s museum in Rainerova chata. The hut keeper and sherpa in one
person, Peter Petras collected a a lot of photos, mountain gear that was used when a
record was broken, pictures of best sherpas, record achievements, snowshoes, old
skiers and many others interesting objects.
Every october there is an unique sherpas´ race from Rainerova hut to Zamkovský
hut.
There is a number of interesting things that have been carried out to the huts, such
as bus stop, bathtube,ski lift, sofa, kayak,doors and windows.
Mountain huts
The oldest and the smallest Tatra hut is Rainerova hut.Rainerova hut, 1302 m, is located
near Hrebienok, close to Studenovodske waterfalls. It was built in 1863 by Jan Juraj
Rainer. The hut was a place where tourists could sleep for free or have a rest during their
trips.More and more tourists used to come to the High Tatra, so a bigger mountain hut was
built. It was called Kamzik. At this time Rainerova hut was used as an accommodation for
sherpas and mountain guids and a storage room. The hut was renovated in 1983 and rebuilt
in 1997 by Peter Petras, the current innkeeper.Inside the hut there is a small collection of
old climbing equipment and photos of Tatra sherpas. You can get some drinks there and
small snacks. It is a perfect stop during hiking tours.