It’s 04:45 one August morning and FWC member Michelle is getting ready for a day’s hiking in Tatra National Park in Eastern Europe. Straddling Poland and Slovakia, Tatra boasts some of the most spectacular scenery with rocky peaks, crystal clear lakes and trees that emanate their fresh pine aroma. It is a place that is fiercely protected, so much so that there are no public cars allowed and you will find groups of volunteers clearing litter in order to keep the park a tranquil haven for all outdoor lovers.
Tatra National Park in Poland
Michelle started out from Palenica Białczańska car park and headed toward Morskie Oko, a gradual incline of about two hours at the top of which the group was able to take a rest. “It was the perfect place to stop for breakfast, refuelling ready for the real work to begin!” After Taking in the views they pushed onwards around the edge of Lake Morskie Oko and up to a second lake which lies beneath Mount Rysy, Czarny Staw.
Lake Morskie Oko
Czarny Staw
After another quick stop and a chance to snap some photos, Michelle started the towering, steep track to the summit. “It took around three hours of scrambling from this point. It isn’t technical but you need to be moderately fit and have lots of determination!”
Scrambling up to the summit
This was Michelle’s 7th peak after finding her love of hiking on Pen y Fan. There followed the highest summits in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland, the latter of which was solo – go, girl! Despite this however, Michelle revealed that nerves creep up on her when hiking… “I have a fear of falling which is much easier to ignore on the way up! But facing our fears is important and as the great Baz Luhrmann said, ‘do one thing every day that scares you’. Set your goals and reach for them.”
The north-western summit of Mount Rysy, 2499m
Michelle went on to tell us that on the day she flew home, she was devastated to hear that several hikers had been caught in a terrible storm in the Tatra mountains and sadly died. She respectfully asked that anyone reading this take a moment to think of those who lost their lives that day.
Thank you Michelle for sharing your adventure with us and we hope that you continue to tick off those peaks!