Date added: 2010-05-12 12:33:27

We all willingly part with the winter and look forward to warm summer months, when long wanderings in the mountains become possible. It should use this time to explore the Tatra mountain refuges, which are situated in the beauty spots of Polish mountains.

Mountain secrets

Big-city tourists are often afraid of tourist hostels. On the one hand, this situation is probably the result of the stereotype of the Spartan conditions prevailing there, on the other hand, unwillingness to reject, at least for one day, their habits. Meanwhile, it is really worth trying! Mountain hostels are the true gateway to the knowledge of the mysteries cursed in remote mountain spots. Among tourists hostels are as well not developed shelters, places of a low standard which enable only waiting for the end of the difficult weather conditions or preparing a meal on its own, as hostels in mountain resorts and mountain hostels.

The first ones are often located on large glades and are the sets of highlander shelters preserved in better or worse condition. By contrast, a mountain hostels are places offering hot meals, accommodation and an unforgettable atmosphere which allow the rest for the body, but also for the soul. Weary hikers can also find so-called shelters-hotels, the places of high standard, with numbers of beds.

The charm of the Tatra views

On the Polish side of the Tatras there are eight mountain hostels, which in combination with numerous routes create network that let tourists wander even the remotest mountain spots.
At an altitude of 1198 m on the Kalatówki Glade, in the charming Bystra River Valley, there is a shelter-hotel, which can be the first stop for the unconvinced to the mountain shelters.

Your stay in Mountain Hotel PTTK Kalatówki, because it is in question, combines all the townies’ comfort requirements with the unique atmosphere that exists in each of the mountain hostels. In the close vicinity of Kalatówki there are many trails with varying degrees of difficulty. From here you can wander on Mt Giewont or to Kuźnice, or Mała Łąka Valley (the Little Meadow Valley). Near shelter-hotel Kalatówki is another object –hostel on Hala Kondratowa, the services which can be used even coming down from Mt Giewont through the Kondracka Pass.

The hostel is situated at an altitude of 1,333 m in the picturesque surroundings on the slopes of “Mt Śpiący Rycerz” (“Mt Sleeping Knight”). It is a good starting point for excursions into little less often visited areas of the Czerwone Wierchy (the Red Hills), which can be regarded as one of the magical spots of the Tatras. This massif is especially worth visiting in the autumn, since then by appearing on it three-leaved rush, the Czerwone Wierchy take specific brown-red color. You can get through the Czerwone Wierchy (green, easy route) to the next mountain hostel – Na Hali Ornak (On the Hala Ornak). It is the majestic end of the Kościelisko Valley, and also a great starting point for further hikes e.g. through the Ornak massif. It offers gorgeous views, such as the Gaborowa Valley or making unusual impression peaks: Tomanowy and Smreczyński Wierch, as well as Mt Kamienista. You should remember that during crawling this route throughout the night, the rest in the mountain hostel is insufficient help for tourists wanting to know so distant spots of our highest mountains.

This route is extremely demanding, because of many approaches to the summits of the Ornak massif and of its length. It is true that use of the black route and coming down into the Chochołowska Valley definitely helps in the keep-fit survival of the route and views collected in mind during travel compensate tiredness, it is worth before deciding on this option taking care of raising the level of fitness, which is so easy to lose even sitting at corporate desk. However, if a tireless wanderer finds that his condition hasn’t especially weaken since the last holiday and decides to crawl the route of mentioned earlier Ornak massif, towards the Chochołowska Valley, at an altitude of 1,148 m, there wait for him wonderful and relatively large mountain hostel on the Chochołowska Polana (the Chochołowska Glade).

In the Valley of Five Ponds the Tatra adventure can be also begin “from the opposite side”, then the starting point may be e.g. Palenica Białczańska, which can be reached by buses from the very center of Zakopane (the buses towards the surroundings of Łysa Polana (The Bald Glade)). The route started in Palenica Białczańska may lead us in a lot of interesting places. Asphalt road, open only to emergency vehicles and highlander carts, leads along the hairpins straight to the mountain hostel on Lake Morskie Oko, one of the best known and most frequently visited hostels in the Tatras. It was built for the first time in 1876, and the building that exists today is the fifth version of the hostel, which was created in 1954.

Valley of Five Ponds, where there is another Tatra hostel, is an unique place. Although every year is visited by thousands of tourists, and the bustle and crowd prevailing in this spot of the Tatras are sometimes comparable to the town market, it is worth visiting this region. The beauty and majesty of the area allow you to calm down and relax even the most weary wanderers. Rest and rejuvenation will be useful especially for those who decide to go on Mt Zawrat and perhaps further on the probabely most difficult route in the High Tatras – Orla Perć (Eagle's Path). From the Valley of Five Ponds, choosing the green trail leading through the interesting Roztoka Valley, it is also possible easy descent to hostel Stara Roztoka (Old Rostoka Hostel). It may be a good starting point for excursions e.g. on Pod Chłopkiem Pass. Starting from the Five Ponds Hostel one can finally find himself, walking through Mt Zawrat,  on Gąsienicowa Hala, there also waits for tourists mountain hostel known as Murowaniec.

Under the cover of massive walls, you can happily relaxing start to devise next hiking trails, Murowaniec is in fact located on the node of trails. “High-mountain hostels are a kind of bastions of safety, regeneration and atmosphere, which makes that even crawling the longer Tatra routes is no longer feasible. Indeed, in the mountains it matters faith in our own capabilities and achieve the intended purpose, but primarily the proverbial “look before you leap”. All these questions are verified and enhanced by discussions with experienced tourists and previously acquired information about the Tatra trails and routes” says Piotr Zielonacki from the portal www.turit.pl.

Author: S4