“Why are you going to these mountains again? What drags you there, it’s unbelievable – you have to go up the hill, you’ll sweat, get tired, you can get cold or twist your ankle or break something, hurt your knees…”
Well. I’ve heard once that there are two kinds of people. The first one doesn’t need to have the love to the mountains explained. Explaining it to the second one though is a waste of time, because they won’t understand it anyway.
I am in the first group for sure. Despite that, there are some mountains which I like more and other ones which I like less. If after a long and tiring ascend I am not rewarded with beautiful views (or a beer on the top) I am a bit disappointed. An easy trail through the forest often tires me much more than much more steep and much longer one but with amazing views over surrounding mountains. That’s why I like Tatra mountains so much. A lot of trails is quite long and demanding. But those views! I simply forget about being tired (unless I can’t stand the muscles pain anymore :)), my jaw just drops open in amazement.
One of the most beautiful trails I’ve walked in Polish Tatra mountains was the one along The Red Peaks. It’s a trip for the whole day, quite tiring, but technically not demanding – and the WOW effect will accompany you all the time. Guaranteed!
The Red Peaks consist of four summits in Western Tatra on Polish-Slovakian border. Starting from the East they are: Kopa Kondracka (2005m), Małołączniak (2096m), Krzesanica (2122m) and Ciemniak (2096m). They’re called “red” due to a mysteriously named plant – sit skucina which covers them all. In late summer it changes its color from green to rusty-red. Together with my fiancé we were climbing the Red Peaks in September, so they deserved the name already as you will see below 🙂
We started from Kuźnice towards Kondratowa Coomb, from which we climbed Kopa Kondracka Pass (uffff, that’s a steep ascend – but it’s worth the effort! :)). Then, passing all four above mentioned peaks we got down to Kiry. Both the start and end point can be easily reached by bus from Zakopane. According to the map this trip takes 8 hours and as far as I can remember it didn’t take us much less, so be prepared! You may check the trail on a map here.
That’s enough from me – I’ll let the pictures speak. They should convince you better that it’s worth moving yourself from the couch this spring. They don’t show these views on TV… 🙂
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatra: the view at Kopa Kondracka Pass from Kondratowa Coomb |
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatra: Ascend to Kopa Kondracka Pass |
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatra: The first WOW effect – ascend to Kondracka Kopa |
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatra: The view at Małołączniak |
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatra: the view from Małołączniak |
While we are calmly enjoying the views from the Red Peaks, the most popular summit in Polish Tatras – Giewont is crowded!
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatras: view over Giewont from Małołączniak |
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatra: View from Małołączniak |
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatras |
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatras |
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatra: Krzesanica |
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatra: Krzesanica |
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatra: the view at the last peak – Ciemniak |
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatra: The view from Ciemniak |
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatra: The view from Ciemniak |
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| Hiking The Red Peaks in Tatra: descend from Ciemniak |
So? Which kind of people do you belong to – the ones who don’t need to have the love to the mountains explained or the ones for whom it was not worth doing? Or maybe there is the third group – people who need to have it explained in order to feel the need to see it with their own eyes? Spring has come to Poland this Easter and even though these Peaks are neither red nor green for now, but still white, it may be worth to have a shorter warm-up in lower mountains (Skrzyczne? Bieszczady? Babia Góra?). And then in the summer take a trip to Zakopane and instead of staying in the crowded town, climb up higher. And with your jaw dropped enjoy the WOW effect.
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I want to go – maybe when the world returns to normal and the pandemic finally ends. Plus always wanted to go to Poland.