Lazarow World-Hike-About

Hold that flow. The road from the car to the park and return, a hike in and of itself after a tough day. This was another big day which included ascending some 3,500 feet. In the 5 hikes undertaken in the Zakopane region, we accumulated 600 feet less than 3 vertical miles. Because of the rocky underfoot, it does require careful treading, especially when the rocks and stones are wet. It also plays havoc with the feet. We sure miss the gravel trails even though they dirty our socks. Big deal! Nevertheless, the trails are constructed superbly and maintained accordingly. As for the locals, they seem enthusiastic about hiking and being outdoors. In addition, they are tough, focused, keen and fearless. This applies to all ages beginning with young kids and including kids in their sixties and seventies. The only issue we have with Zakopane is that being a wonderful city surrounded by terrific mountains, forests, lakes and other features of nature, causes the population to flock t...

The pictures below are merely an introduction to what proved to be a wonderful hike, a little testing, accompanied by the glory of Mother Nature showing off. The competition is pretty fierce, that is, the showing off bit. Full sets of pictures will follow on later blogs. Accompanying the first set is of a hike that laid us low for the night as we compared aching muscles. Looks like Jen won the contest with eighteen muscles either in spasm, out of action or refusing to obey simple commands. Seems like one just can't get decent help these days. (continues below). "Nothing's quite as pretty as Horska chata in the morning..." An hour later, Jenni stands at the high point overlooking Popradske Pleso, the lake. Back to the surface of the pleso and chata. As we move up the mountain, the coloring changes. Seeking better vantage points on a spectacular day.. After gaining 2,300 feet, we gaze across at Kaprovsky Stit. Last year, we climbed to t...

Jenni approaches the ridge after a very steep ascent. Polish trails, thus far, are not for strollers. Another 3,300 feet ascent. Being deep within the lush countryside is invigorating; the action over the mountains is powerful. The distinctive Giewont as viewed from much lower down on the trail. It can be seen from many parts, including the city, and makes for impressive viewing and scrambling. In Europe , we've noticed the national parks are set out differently from those in the United States. A basic difference is that in the latter country, one can drive into and about the park, allowing a person to reach most trailheads on wheels . Whereas in European parks we have hiked, and now referring to Poland specifically, cars are not permitted into the park. Therefore, one has to walk miles to reach a trailhead, making the distances longer and at times, repetitive. In fact, it takes twenty minutes on an incline to reach the entrance to the park from the parking lot. ...

We take a short break from Poland and pick up poles (hiking kind) in Slovakia, the southern neighbor. We'll have a number of blogs to show of the wonderful region of Zakopane, Poland, shortly. In the meantime, we try to illustrate some perspective outside Bystra, Slovakia. Jen standing below chata/hotel. The picture loses perspective of how steep the little 'hill' is. Beyond the chata is the ridge and peak of Chopok, out of view. To the left of the chata is the first cable station. Think of taking a look below and comparing common features. Taken from a mountain across the way (about 5 miles), it shows the chata/hotel and above—the rotunda, cableway top, just below Mount Chopok. In the middle of the picture is the chata and to the left, the first cable station. Arriving at the peak of Chopok after 2,800 feet or more climb. In the background are the High Tatras. Jen moving on trail to the highest peak in the region, Mount Dumbier. Above and to the right i...