This time we chose the easier option from Staré hory to Ružomberok. We parked the car in Staré hory near the chapel at 5:30 in the morning and, following the blue hiking trail, we started climbing to Majerova skala, which offers a beautiful semicircular view of the surrounding hills and valleys from its rocky plateau at an altitude of 1283 meters above sea level.
From Majerova skaly we continue to Krížna, on the ridge the wind is really blowing and it is cold, it feels like 8 degrees Celsius, so we continue through Frčkov, Ostredok and do not stop until we are in the lee below Ploska, where we turn to the cottage below Borisov. I have been to the cottage a few times, but never to Borisov itself, so we are going to warm up by climbing up. Borisov is 1510 meters high and the climb to it is steep. However, it will reward us with circular views, where with good visibility it is possible to see Poľana or the Low Tatras.
We gather at the hut below Borišov, where we have a radler and a sandwich (our proven source of energy for longer runs).
The temperature rises and we climb Ploska, where by chance we become participants in the 43rd year of the Ploska climb, we even receive a participation certificate :). We leave the red mark and after a little praise, which is accompanied by yellow, we turn onto the green mark below Čierny Kameň. By the way, my favorite craft brewery is also named after this distinctive rock formation :). There is also a nature reserve of the same name here, which is supposed to protect the primeval forest of spruce, rowan and maple. It is really beautiful here.
We continue under Minčol to Rakytov. Rakytov (1,567 m above sea level) is the highest peak of the Liptov branch of the main ridge of the Great Fatra and provides a circular view, and when climbing it you have to pass through an impressive rock gate.
The Smrekovica mountain hut awaits us and we are already looking forward to refreshment. However, we will not stay there for long, because we do not dare to estimate how long it will take us to Ružomberok, where we have to catch our only bus back to the Staré hory. We run along a path lined with ripe blueberries until the Šiprún saddle, if we had time, we could eat our fill, there are so many of them. The only piece of asphalt on the route from the saddles under Vtáčnik to the Vlkolínec meadows awaits us.
Ahead of us lies the final major climb up to Sidorovo; the path is steep and our legs are already reluctant, but fortunately, the summit is less than a kilometer away, and a viewpoint awaits us at the top. Vlkolínec lies spread out beneath us, and we can also see the Low Tatras, the Liptov Basin, and even the High Tatras. A few more undulations lie ahead, followed simply by the descent into Ružomberok through the calvary.
We arrived in Ružomberok an hour before the bus, so we just walked through the city, bought orange mineral water at the store, and the 3 liters just disappeared inside us.
Our legs are dirty with dust up to our knees, so we use the time to get to the bus and wash them in the local park with the water we had left in our bottles, the sight of us must have been comical 😀
