The High Tatras: Around the Veľké Solisko Mountain

This is some kind of a page from the diary - I made this trip in August 2017. My first target for this trip was Mt Satan - one of the most popular peaks in the Slovakian part of the High Tatras - one year ago, when I was going through Mlynická valley I had chance to take a good look at this ridge. Later, after some research, I learnt that eye-catching, almost horizontal crack below the main summit is the famous path that is the easiest way to the top.

I was little scared about this mountain - when I was approaching the beginning of the ascent path during the night I could see that Satan today is rather angry - clouds were whirling above the summit. Additionally, just 2 years before, on the same path, there was fatal accident of Slovak hiker, Petra Macíková - yes, she died somewhere on this easy, almost trivial rocky path... in memory of her, there is small, steel board with her name, which you have to pass by when going to the top. I have to admit that it really cools down eagerness and you immediately start to double check every step you make here. After passing the path followed by steep gully which led to the top, I could really see infernal view with sky burning with red, orange and yellow colors. Few moments later, it gave way to heavenly blue sky.

Just before sunrise at Mt Satan

Infernal colors

Sun is rising

Mt Vysoká: my new idée fixe

The Štrbský štít, Mt Giewont and Whiches' Mountain in the background

Look to the west dominated by the Solisko ridge

Frozen hell at the top

And here heaven colors at Mt Satan

I decided to follow the main ridge to the south, which appeared to be not so difficult route with beautiful views (why there is no marked trail here?!) and finally I reached bottom of the Mlynická valley. After short break, I hit the trail and went to the Furkotský štít and the Hrubý vrch.

My descent route

Panorama from my descent route

...and one more, from the end of the ridge

I was on the Furkotský štít and the Hrubý vrch one year ago, so this time I spent there only few minutes and I continued my hike.

The Wielki Mięguszowiecki Szczyt seen from the Hrubý vrch

The highest part of the Tatras

Mt Krátka, Mt Ostra and Mt Kriváň from the Hrubý vrch

The Tatras panorama

Descent from the Furkotský štít

Later, using trail in Furkotská valley, I went to the nearest hut, Chata pod Soliskom to finally eat something. After the meal, I went back again through Furkotská valley to the Veľké Solisko Mountain for a sunset. Summit can be reached through wide gully, only few last meters are more difficult and requires some scrambling. I was quite surprised how nice the view from the top really is. Especially, Mt Kriváň looks really mighty from here. I would even say, that view from the Veľké Solisko is even better than the one from Mt Satan.

Razor's edge - Mt Solisko ridge

At the top of Solisko

Southern part of the ridge seems to be rather difficult

Anvil at the top

Mt Satan with Mt Gerlach and Mt Končistá in the background

...and here the Hrubý vrch with The Wielki Mięguszowiecki Szczyt in the background

The last rays of sun and beautiful view to Mt Kriváň

The Veľké Solisko panorama

It's time to leave

After the sunset I went to the bottom of the valley, where I spent night on huge, flat rock. Unfortunately, I didn't have any hiking mat with me, so it was not so comfortable and rather cold night. Somehow, I managed to survive and 2 hours before sunrise I packed everything and went to my next target: the Štrbský štít - for few moments I couldn't find the way through very steep section of the main gully, but finally I found the right path and reached the summit. And the sunrise... well, it was quite interesting.

Weather looks promising...

What are these clouds doing here?!

Another party at the Kôprovský štít :)

Sun is rising

Satan (on the right) is really angry today

I didn't expected this kind of sunrise today

The High Tatras

The High Tatras

Weather settles down

Initially, I wanted to go the one more mountain during this trip: Vysoká, but all weather forecasts left no hope - in the afternoon it was supposed to start raining. Anyway, I wanted to use good weather as much as I could, so through Popradské pleso and Mt Ostrva I went to Mt Tupá, where finally rain caught me. I was going back to the car in heavy rain, which caused all rocks to become slippery as ice, so from time to time I had to dance on them to keep the balance. In the late afternoon, finally I reached my car and drove home.

Ascent to the Popradské pleso

Way to Mt Ostrva

Way to Mt Ostrva

Soon weather will change...

And here it is: rain

Satan is really mad today

Mt Vysoká

Panorama from Mt Tupá: this huge pile of granite rocks on the right is Mt Končistá