I did say to Christina some time ago that I would think of her when in the Tatras mountains this summer. The High Tatras are a relatively small part of the Carpathian Mountains and form the border between Slovakia and Poland. There are several small resorts along the slopes, some of which used to be very fashionable in the days of the Austro-Hungarian empire with wide pavements and shops with elegant verandas. Now it is a ski region in winter and a walkers’ paradise when the snow disappears. Her Majesty visited this area a few years ago on her state visit to Slovakia and Slovenia.
Our first outing started with the funicular, inaugurated by HM, from Stary Smokovec to Hriebinoc at about 1300 metres. Lots of trails cross there and it is pleasant walking country, though mist and cloud can descend very quickly and you have to be vigilant.
There are bears and wolves in the mountains, though the crowds of hikers had obviously sent them all into hiding.
The small resorts have all been linked by an electric railway since 1906 and it was easy to get to Tatranska Lomnica from where there are cable cars and ski lifts to higher peaks. We were unable to reach the summit of Lomnicky Stit, at 2634 metres the second highest peak in the range, since access is limited and visitors are only permitted to spend 50 minutes on the peak. The views are amazing, since the High Tatras rise very suddenly out of the valley where Poprad is situated. Not so very long ago this was a very poor region of Communist Czechoslovakia, but freedom and investment have made the area a popular tourist destination.
I realise these peaks and the whole range are small beer compared to the Rockies, but Slovak beer is very good! The mountains themselves are quite treacherous and guides are required on certain ascents. I could see why.
A group of young men got off the ski lift at Skalnate Pleso wearing beautiful Italian leather shoes. I wonder how long the shoes stayed looking beautiful on the trails.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Thanks you, Bearsy. I expect it’s you that got the Read More thing to work.
Great pictures, Sheona. 😀
I loved the bit about the Italian shoes – some people really don’t think do they!
The really funny thing, Boadicea, was that I think the lads thought it was them I was eyeing up, when I was trying not to giggle. The trails are made of large boulders thrown down haphazardly and can be very difficult without the correct footwear I should think.
Lovely photos.
You do visit some really interesting places, Sheona, and off the beaten track, as it were.
Very interesting, thank you.
This was our third cat-sitting visit to Bratislava, Araminta, so we thought we ought to see the High Tatras this time.
Not bad pimples at all!
At 8000′ no permanent snowfields I take it?
They look old hard rock and just look at those scree angles!
Gneiss?
Thank you for the pictures.
Oh sometimes I surprise myself!
Took a wild arse guess, (not really, angle of slope plus jointing plus colour) and then felt driven to go and look them up.
Guess what, gneiss!
Oh my cup runneth over, I am not losing it just yet!!!
No permanent snowfields, Christina. But quite impressive all the same. There are various “chata” or cottages along the trails where walkers can eat, drink and stay overnight. We stopped at one of the oldest, lit by one lamp and warmed by a wood-burning stove where the very tasty soups were cooked. One bowl of Slovak soup is lunch. Glad you liked the “pimples”.
Sounds like my place in Cwmdu Carms………………………!