What to do in Tatra Mountains in Poland in winter?

We organized a course of winter high-mountain tourism together with Wojtek Gąsienica-Roj, a Tatra guide. We had a ready-assembled group of 8 people and made an appointment with him at the PTTK Morskie Oko shelter. Wojtek had previously asked us to ensure that each of us was equipped with a 30-40 liter backpack, first aid kit, NRC foil, extra gloves , a hat, extra warm clothes, gaiters, sunglasses, headlamp and a thermos bottle with tea and some food. In addition, each of us received crampons, a pickax (ice ax) and avalanche ABC (detector, shovel and probe). I mention this list because in winter, especially in the Tatra Mountains, every tourist should be prepared for any conditions before going into the mountains. The weather can change suddenly, and it's advisable to put all these things into your backpack. Crampons and avalanche ABCs can be easily rented before going out on the trail, at several mountain equipment rental shops in Zakopane. In addition, it is essential to check the avalanche danger level before going to the mountains. You can do so at this website: https://lawiny.topr.pl/. Even if you are going for a short walk in one of the valleys, be sure to check the degree of avalanche danger in the Tatras and the forecast for the coming hours. But let's get back to our expedition :) To start with, Wojtek handed out to everyone an axe, crampons, helmets and avalanche ABCs. Later, of course, we received detailed instructions on how to use this equipment already in practice, in the terrain. The weather was good and the avalanche danger was very low, so when everyone was already wearing crampons and a helmet, we set off with the whole group towards the Czarny Staw. Along the way, we were given in-depth information about high altitude tourism in the winter Tatra Mountains. This knowledge, in my opinion, will be useful to anyone who hikes or plans to hike in the mountains in winter. The ability to use the avalanche ABC in practice can help us save the lives of our companions. Equally useful for everyone will be the ability to walk in crampons on different gradients. The use of an ice axe and braking with it, can also come in handy for anyone planning to travel in the high mountains in winter. Even a 1-day training course can really give us a lot of knowledge, and it is better to benefit from a short training course than to have no knowledge at all about moving in the mountains in winter. Of course, it is worthwhile to take training courses of several days and this can also be an opportunity to meet people with similar interests. You can find many training courses on the Internet that you can join. You can also organize a group on your own and find an experienced guide to provide the right equipment. Many of us after this training decided to continue their adventure with high mountains and climbing!

Having attended a high Tatra mountain hiking course gives you a lot of practical knowledge and opens up new paths. I decided to fulfill another dream of mine and try skitoruing, which (now I can confirm it) are a great combination of cross-country and downhill skiing! Skitour skis are shorter and wider than cross-country skis, and in this aspect they are more like downhill skis. However, the bindings of skitour skis allow you to clip only the front of the boot (as in cross-country skis) when ascending, and later to clip the heel as well, so the whole boot, when descending. Skitour skis also have special straps that are clipped on when ascending and removed when descending. These are skis that can be a great alternative for people who ski well on downhill skis and are looking for a challenge. It's a good idea to learn how to ski well first and only then try skitouring skis, because all the fun of this kind of skiing is in climbing up hills that you can later descend! A skitouring trip can be a few hours long, but it can also be a few days long, where the ascents and descents will be quite a lot. I, having no equipment of my own, went first to the Tatra Trade rental shop, just by the ring road from which a straight road leads to Kuznice and further into the mountains. The rental shop turned out to be a place that specializes precisely in skittouring equipment. I promptly informed the guys working there that this would be my first time skitouring. They replied without hesitation that there was no problem at all and that I could easily reach even Kasprowy! I thought I would try a shorter route to Hala Kondratowa to start with, but their words turned out to be prophetic.... Before I put on my boots, I asked them to explain the use of the bindings again and recorded all the instructions for myself, just in case. At first it seemed quite complicated, but in reality it turned out to be quite simple. After I rented the equipment ($120 per day), I put on my boots, clipped in my skis, and followed the cleared track to Kuznice. There, in a booth, I bought a ticket to the Tatra National Park and set off along the route to Kalatówki. You can find a detailed description of the skitouring trails from Zakopane (including the route to Kasprowy), for example, on this site: https://skitourowezakopane.pl/trasy/kasprowy-przez-goryczkowa/. In my case, of course, ambition took over and I decided to go to Kasprowy, as recommended by the gentlemen from the rental shop. At first the route was pleasant, the sun was shining and the adrenaline was adding strength. However, the last section of the Goryczkowa valley is very demanding and gave me quite a beating. Remember that the entire skitouring trail to Kasprowy is about 1000 meters of elevation gain! It takes a solid fitness to cover this route without preparation. In my case, I ended up taking off my skis on the final stretch and going on foot, but I was still very proud of myself. However, the descent turned out to be less pleasant than I thought! Under normal circumstances it would have been pure joy for me, as it is a total of about 6 kilometers down, but my legs were burning mercilessly after the steep climb. However, I learned a lot on this first trip, and I recommend the skitouruing adventure to every skier! It's worth taking an instructor or group course to better prepare for skitouring. However, people who are very good at downhill skiing will definitely manage on the path to Hala Kondratowa, and it can be a great attraction in winter for half a day in the Tatra Mountains. I am already planning an expedition for next year and stocking up on skitouring equipment - skis, boots, poles and a backpack to start with!

There is a place, in the middle of nowhere, where you can travel back in time and feel like you're in a fairy tale or in faraway Alaska. Returning from the Tatra Mountains to Krakow, a few dozen kilometers off the road, we arranged with Asia and Michal for a dog sled ride. They are both great dog lovers! When making an appointment with them, it's best to show up at the designated place a little earlier to see the preparations for the ride. Asia and Michal will be happy to tell you all about their beloved four-legged friends in the meantime. We'll just reveal to you that they came to their wedding.... by dog sled, of course, pulled by dogs to the church... and they arrived at the wedding party on horseback - galloping! We met up with this positively twisted couple at the parking lot at Słopnicka Przełęcz. They both live in Limanowa, so it's not worth suggesting the navigation that leads to their house. When booking a dog sled ride or bikejoring (a ride on a bicycle pulled by dogs!), first ask where the planned meeting place is. I chose to ride a short loop that is a kilometer long, but you can also take a shorter route (600 meters) or even a 6-kilometer one! My goal was to get to know Asia and Michael and try my hand at it, so that I could later offer a ride to you, using our tours. However, I think a longer route is worthwhile. Interestingly, rides with tourists are a great training opportunity for dogs. You can see how all the dogs love the movement and how eager they are to participate in the run. Asia and Michal take part in various competitions, including short-distance world championships, so during commercial rides the younger dogs get a chance to exercise and huddle together. The weather was perfect for us and for the ride, as the temperature settled around zero degrees and a tiny snow was falling. However, if there is not enough snow, wheels are attached to the sled or you can choose a bicycle ride. However, we must admit that in winter, a dog sled ride in a forest is most magical.... If you want to plan an additional activity, also take cross-country skiing (you can also rent equipment on site), because there are also ski trails in the area. Check out Asia and Michael's website and we recommend booking a date a little earlier, as they may just happen to be at a competition at the end of Europe! https://skylos.pl/pl/