Slovakia – an unforgettable journey

Posted on by Liwijathan

The country where I left behind fear and a part of my heart!

A journey with 265 km, 12500 m altitude and 100 h hiking fun. No matter how tired I was afterwards, how exhausted and worn out I felt, which stress pain I had to cure, I will do it again!

Slovakia – We will meet again

Part 1: The Little Carpathians

August 14th, 2020: Dresden – Bratislava

By train from Dresden via Prague to Bratislava.

August 15th, 2020: Hrad Čachtice, Nové Mesto nad Váhom – Podkylava

29,40 km – 830m up – 780m down – 10:31:14 h

  • 5:50 arrival at Bratislava mainstation
  • The sun rises behind the station to welcome me.
  • The trees are hungry here too.
  • If you hike through the eastern part of the Small Carpathians, you can eat a whole fruit salad until the evening! Awesome!
  • Hrad Čachtice
  • Hrad Čachtice
  • Hrad Čachtice
  • Veľký Plešivec

August 16th, 2020: Hrad Dobrá Voda, Podkylava – Dobrá Voda

24,74 km – 640m up – 620m down – 08:10:52 h

  • Dobrovodských mlyn
  • Somewhere on our way to Dobrá Voda, also nice for a round of yoga.
  • Orlie skaly
  • Jewish cemetery in Dobrá Voda
  • Hrad Dobrá Voda
  • Hrad Dobrá Voda
  • Hrad Dobrá Voda

August 17th, 2020: Hrad Korlátka, Dobrá Voda – Pievaly

19,51 km – 490m up – 490m down – 05:54:38 h

  • Panorama with Dobrá Voda
  • Pred hornou lúkou
  • Hrad Korlátka
  • Hrad Korlátka
  • 12403 km to Hawaii?
    Who’s with me?
  • Prievaly

August 18th, 2020: Ostrý Kameň, Pievaly – Pri Ámonovi

17,55 km – 1065m up – 760m down – 08:16:12 h

  • Vodná nádrž Buková
  • Ostrý Kameň
  • Ostrý Kameň
  • Ostrý Kameň
  • On the way to Záruby…
  • … the bad weather makes ist mystic…
  • … impressive moments in the fog.
  • My view on the Záruby, probably means I have to come back.
  • Summit Cross Záruby
  • Arrived at the highest mountain of the Little Carpathians! Already the fourth day with rain, but the smile is still there.
  • Čierna skala
  • Čierna skala
  • When descending from Čierna skala
  • Resting place Amon…
  • … with fire place…
  • … and a place to sleep for tonight.

August 19th, 2020: Plavecký hrad, Pri Ámonovi – Pezinská Baba

28,71 km – 1140m up – 1195m down – 09:20:38 h

  • Lookout from Plavecký hrad
  • Plavecký hrad
  • Plavecký hrad
  • Plavecký hrad
  • Plavecký hrad from a distance
  • A last view over the flower meadow before I head back into the forest.
  • Lookout close by Sološnica
  • A day along the Cesta Hrdinov SNP (SNP trail), marked in red

August 20th, 2020: Hrad Pajštún, Pezinská Baba – Marianka

21,73 km – 635m up – 960m down – 07:32:12 h

  • WTF!!??!!
  • View of Hrad Pajštún from Borinka
  • Hrad Pajštún
  • Hrad Pajštún
  • Hrad Pajštún

August 21st, 2020: Hrad Devín, Marianka – Bratislava

20,77 km – 735m up – 810m down – 06:25:36 h

  • View from the lookout tower on Devínska Kobyla with Hrad Devín
  • View from the lookout tower on Devínska Kobyla over Bratislava to Kamzík. Next time I look over from the other side.
  • Hrad Devín
  • Hrad Devín
  • Hrad Devín
  • Hrad Devín
  • Hrad Devín
  • View from Hrad Devín to the Danube.
Total distance: 163474 m
Max elevation: 763 m
Total time: 01:01:41

August 22nd, 2020: Ruhetag in Bratislava

19,30 km – 122m up – 122m down

  • Fontána Radosť zo života – Fountain of joy of life
  • Fontána Družba – Fountain of Friendship
  • View from the edge of Hrad Bratislava to Most SNP
  • One sign, three cities, three countries
  • Monument of Márie Terézie
  • National Council of the Slovak Republic
  • Hrad Bratislava
  • Fontána Zem – Fountain of the earth
  • View of Hrad Bratislava from the UFO
  • Kačacia fontána – Fountain of the ducks
  • View from Starý Most to Most SNP

Part 2: Western Tatras

August 23rd, 2020: Starý Hrad – Hrad Strečno

9,97 km – 310m up – 345m down – 03:06:24 h

  • Starý Hrad
  • Starý Hrad
  • Starý Hrad
  • Hrad Strečno
  • Hrad Strečno
  • Hrad Strečno
Total distance: 11158 m
Max elevation: 504 m
Total time: 03:06:20

August 24th, 2020: Baníkov – Tri Kopy

There’s a mountaintop that I’m dreaming of
If you need me you know where I’ll be

George Ezra – Shotgun

8,04 km – 1065m up – 1055m down – 07:18:43 h

  • Tri Kopy
  • Tri Kopy
  • Tri Kopy
  • Blick zum Tri Kopy

When you stand on the ridge and suddenly feel no more fear, it is the mind that has to intervene to keep you from doing stupid things.

Officially free from fear of depth sinceAugust 24th, 2020
Total distance: 12144 m
Max elevation: 2182 m
Total time: 07:18:28

August 25th, 2020: Smutné sedlo – Veľké Roháčske Pleso

13,99 km – 1280m up – 1325m down – 08:07:22 h

  • Veľké Roháčske Pleso
  • Veľké Roháčske Pleso
  • Ťatliakovo Pleso
  • Ťatliakovo Pleso
  • Smutné Sedlo
  • Stream at Žiarska Chata
Total distance: 18108 m
Max elevation: 1964 m
Total time: 08:07:16

August 26th, 2020: Baranec

17,06 km – 1430m up – 1460m down – 08:13:52 h

  • Žiarske Pleso
  • View from Žiarske Sedlo
  • Way up to Baranec
  • My highest summit so far, which I climbed on foot.
  • Actually these stone circles are for protection during overnight stays, but I call them death circles; whenever I saw one of them on the summit, I was ready to die.
  • View from Baranec
  • View from Baranec
  • And there it laughs, in the background, the Kriváň, next time, I will not leave it out.
  • Stream in Žiarska Dolina
Total distance: 20777 m
Max elevation: 2185 m
Total time: 08:13:34

Part 3: Malá Fatra

August 27th, 2020: Jánošíkové Diery

6,88 km – 485m up – 485m down – 03:27:31 h

  • Vodná nádrž Liptovská Mara
  • Jánošíkové Diery
  • Jánošíkové Diery
  • Jánošíkové Diery
  • From Jánošíkové Diery view to Malá Fatra and its mountains we will cross in two days.
  • Jánošíkové Diery
  • Jánošíkové Diery
  • Jánošíkové Diery
  • Jánošíkové Diery
  • Malý Rozsutec
  • Terchová
Total distance: 8920 m
Max elevation: 948 m
Total time: 03:28:19

August 28th, 2020: Štefanová – Veľký Rozsutec – Chleb

14,24 km – 1655m up – 895m down – 08:23:16 h

  • Veľký Rozsutec from Pod Tanečnicou
  • Pod Tanečnicou
  • Outlook on the way to Veľký Rozsutec.
  • Veľký Rozsutec
  • Stohove Sedlo
  • Chata pod Chlebom
Total distance: 18768 m
Max elevation: 1645 m
Total time: 08:22:50

August 29th, 2020: Veľký Kriváň – Kraviarske – Žitné – Baraniarky

13,48 km – 620m up – 1520m down – 05:44:42 h

  • On the way to Veľký Kriváň.
  • Veľký Kriváň, the highest mountain of Malá Fatra.
  • Rock gate to Malá Fatra.
  • Monument to Juraj Jánošík.
Total distance: 16185 m
Max elevation: 1713 m
Total time: 05:44:34

Never thought I would be high on life but sober
Didn’t think that I’d be able to turn this over

Ben & Tan – YES

Encounters of the animal kind

Encounters of the hungry kind

  • Bryndzové halušky
  • Constant companion during these two weeks: Tatranky
  • Sounds funny, but is delicious.
  • Beer with mint, chocolate waffles with mint, I love mint.
  • Classic.
  • Tvaroh v najlepšej forme! – Quark in its best form, and yes it is ice cream.
  • Bryndzové pirohy

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