The Team Sherpa Blog

I’m off and its on! I leave today for my latest and greatest adventure: the Nizke Tatra. After extensively researching (mostly internet- the type of listless surfing that leaves me exhausted and provides more questions than answers) I am ready to pack up my kit, fold up my maps and hit the road. Whilst I had hoped to post an equipment list before I left, I will have to leave that section of this write up for when I get back; what is important is that I what I am leaving out of my standard equipment and what I’ve added in. But first, a work about a clever website I’ve been using…

Matus is Slovakian, and I met him about one week ago via a fantastic website dedicated to the wonders of hiking Slovakia: www.hiking.sk . This site is second to none of its type; packed with useful information about each of slovakias major hiking/mountain areas, the user is able to easily sift through a myriad of information from trip reports and trail conditions to gear and technique issues. Provided the user reads Slovakian. I stumbled upon a report that Matus posted about a hike in the Lower (Nizke) Tatra, and after seeing the photos posted a small inquiry (in English… tsk tsk) on the appended forum. Within an hour, he had written me back and along with a hearty welcome to the Slovakian hiking community has provided me with a steady stream of information, conditions, and trail tips since. I’ve hiked in many places and met some very special people, but if the rest of Matus’s hiking companions are anything like he is I think I may be in for a very enjoyable cultural experience. But back to the website; it has a feature that I have never come across before: a hiking planner. Basically, the user plugs in a starting point, an ending point, and any intervening point that they might wish to pass. From this information, a hiking route is generated (no joke!) complete with an elevation chart, timings points (with elevation). As if this were not enough, the relevant sections of 1:50000 VKU maps are provided for viewing. For free. I couldn’t believe it when I finially figured out how it worked, but it is defiantly the most comprehensive database for a single countries hiking network I have ever seen.

Having used the hiking planner on hiking.sk combined with the guide books I have been amassing, it became quickly clear to me that Slovakia’s extensive hiking infrastructure should enable the hiker to enjoy a shelter (or chata) at the end of every days walk. Okay, this may be completely true, but for the most part (including all the areas I plan on hiking) I will be able to rest my head under a roof and not have to duck down out of the mountains into the valleys every night. I normally always carry a tent and cherish the ability to stretch my days as long or as short as I feel, choosing campsites as they present themselves. But for this hike I thought it might be fun to be a bit more communal and take part in something that has obviously been set up for the hikers’ benefit. And so… no tent for this me (just thinking of the weight savings makes me smile). We will see how things go; this means that rain or shine, if half way between two shelters the walker has no choice but to either carry on or turn back. But it also means that winter conditions will be somewhat milder- a log shepherds hut and wood stove sound pretty inviting as temperatures dip down below -10C.

The other piece of equipment of interest will be some newly purchased crampons. While I hope I won’t encounter very much ice, hard and packed snow can be dangerous (especially when I am directly upon the ridge of the mountains) so I am bringing a set of lightweight flexible crampons that should help with traction. They are made of aluminum and feature a fantastic binding system that allows the user to fit them over a wide variety of footwear. They are not technical crampons, but I will not be putting myself in situations where actual climbing techniques will be needed. I have taken them out on my last two training walks, and they have performed very well. The nylon webbing bindings are comfortable for extended periods of time, the crampons do not seem to slip around, and the added “bite” will be a real advantage for this hike.

Well, this is getting fairly longwinded (as usual) so I will sign off. Wish me luck, and if you are in the area at all let me know!