SR: High Tatras – Forgotten Bystre Sedlo

Mlynicka Valley

Already at dawn, a carriage on a “toothy” railway will take us from Strba, an express train station located on a Zilina – Kosice track, to the center of tourism at Strbske Pleso. From the station we follow the road slightly to the right, around the tarn, towards the sports complex with diving boards. On the way to join the yellow sign that most of the day out of my sight. We go through a one-way circular route, which rises across Mlynicka Valley to Bystre Sedlo and then meet in the mouth Furkotska Valley. The first part of our approximately seven-hour hike leads to relatively busy tourist walkway to the waterfall Return . While this is a "two-way" section accessible year-round, the next part of the trail we are allowed to protect the foot Nature only in the period from 15th of June to October 31st. Slippery granite bricks of 25 meters high rock formation through which falls the Mlynice. Thus, it forms one of the highest falls in the Tatras. We cross it with the help of chains. Above the falls there is a lakeabove Skok . On its surface, beautiful yellow blossoms of Gentiana punctate, a protected plant.

Bystre Sedlo

Before we reached Bystre Sedlo, we had to climb the rock stage. Above that there is a rear kettle of the valley, in which is filled with Capi lake . Little bit higher there is nearly perfectly circular Okruhle lake. Perhaps only now we begun to realize that we have entered a magical land. Its sharp curves were exposed after glaciers melted at the end of the last ice age, only 10 000 years ago. We climbed from there over 200 meters of altitude via challenging serpentines in rock debris using a chain until we reached a narrow rocky crevices at an altitude of 2300 m. Now we are located at Bystra Lavka, somewhat south of Bystre Sedlo. The original trail here was in 1993 changed due to unstable slope. From a rocky ridge connecting Furkotsky shield (2404 m) in the north with Velke Solisko (2413 m) in the south, for example, we observed noticeable Strbsky Stit (2381 m) above Capi lake and the peak of Krivan (2494 m) that was located to the west. 

Furkotska Valley

After a rest, we descended to Furkotska valley. At its bottom, surfaces of Wahlenberg lakes glitter there. During a difficult descent down the scree, it is good to "look under your feet". It would be better if you enjoy the views only when you stop. The journey will take you along the southwestern foot of the Solisek massif to a crossroads with a blue tourist sign. From there you can walk down the yellow trail to the Tatra Highway (red mark), which goes back to Strbske Lake . Or you can follow the blue trail and within 15 minutes reach Cottage Beneath Solisko and treat yourself with something sweet.

Solisko

Near Cottage Beneath Solisko, there is a funicular railway leading from Strbske Pleso and is very used by tourists. We must therefore prepare for a rapid disenchantment from the quiet company of Carpathian fauna and flora resting in the shade of granite walls. If we have the strength and time to spare, we can take a trip from the cottage along the red trail to Predne Solisko (2093 m). It will take us about an hour. Serpentines leading to the peak are very crowded during the high season. However, there is a magnificent view even from the cottage. A way leading down to Pleso you can undertake either via the chair lift or walk down the slope - over an hour long, not very fun descent along the blue tourist trail. 

Text/photo: Blanka Pechačová