Running, hiking, biking

Tag: hike

  • Tlstá, Ostrá

    Tlstá, Ostrá

    These two peaks are among the most sought-after and popular climbs.

    You will start the climb from Gaderská dolina. Take the asphalt road towards the ruins of Blatnický hrad, until you reach the Mouth of the Vápenná Valley. From there, continue along the blue mark.

    You will be surrounded by beautiful rock overhangs and terraces. The biggest attraction of this road and Vápenná Valley, however, is the Mažarná cave, which is located about halfway up the Tlstá hill. The Mažarná cave is one of the largest in the Veľká Fatra, with a beautiful and at the same time impressive entrance gate almost 130 m long. The cave is not only interesting for its shape, but also for its significant archaeological discoveries. They found the remains of a cave bear and evidence that the cave was inhabited by humans in the Neolithic period.

    First views above Mažarná cave.

    On the way to the top, notice the sign Tlstá and you will find out what it owes its name to. It is a massive hill with a large meadow, which is held by huge rocks.

    From the top itself you will see the entire Turčianska kotlina, Malá Fatra with all the peaks such as Kľak, Veľká lúka, Malý or Veľký Kriváň

    The top of Tlstá hill.

    From Tlsta you will notice a rock, it is said that Ostrá has one of the most beautiful rocky peaks not only in the Veľká Fatra, but in the whole of Slovakia.

    You will take an approximately 30-minute walk along the ridge to the Ostrá peak, the route is marked with a green sign. In places you will walk along a narrow path and all the hills will be below you. A beautiful coniferous path with a gentle descent will take you to the eastern part of the Zadná Ostrá peak, from which you will continue to Ostrá, which is just a jump away.

    The final ascent to Ostra is a rocky climb connected by a chain link walkway. Then you will reach a rocky window that you have to climb through.

    Ostrá is on the right
    There are plenty of views
    Happiness
    17.85km, 1053m ascent, 5h 45min
  • Obšívanka

    Obšívanka

    If you are looking for a little-visited and very attractive tourist spot in the vicinity of the village of Terchová, definitely plan this route. The Obšívanka Valley is beautiful and technically demanding in places. The entire route to Malé nočěhy and back via the Zbojnícky path is full of surprises that will truly enchant you.

    The hike through Obšívanka offers many breathtaking and beautiful views, passes through rock terraces and the wild canyon of Tiesňava.

    The route is secured with chains and climbing ropes.
    It is surprising that visitors consider this place the most attractive in the entire Malá Fatra, yet it remains undiscovered for many. The beginning of the Obšívanka valley is somewhat reminiscent of Jánošikove diery, but the frequency of tourists here is minimal.

    And there are stairs. A lot of them.. Around 1734:D

    7km, 545m ascent, 2h 19min
  • Gýmeš castle (with David)

    Gýmeš castle (with David)

    Gýmeš is a castle ruin on the steep quartzite hill Dúň (514 m above sea level) on the southern slope of the Tribeč Mountains, approximately 5 km north of the village of Jelenec (Gýmeš). The ruin is a prominent landmark of the wide surroundings. Gýmeš is one of the ancestral castles of the noble Forgáč family – together with the Galician Castle.

    The castle was built in the 13th century and was one of the last where construction work was still underway in the 18th century. Gýmeš was finally abandoned only in the 19th century.

    There are several theories about the origin of the name. The word “gím” meant deer in Old Hungarian. The second version also speaks of the folk name of the hill “Dym” and from this name the village of Dýmeš, later Gýmeš, was also named.

    We started from village Kostoľany pod Tribečom and made a circular hike. David was 4 years old at that time.

    He likes ruins, but a nice castles with commented tours are boring for him.
    the views are worth it too
    Some passages are still standing
    If you pick the right time, flower beds like this are lining the path
    7.46km, 313m ascent, 3h 24min
  • Pohronský Inovec (with David)

    Pohronský Inovec (with David)

    Pohronský Inovec is a mountain range of volcanic origin, which is part of the Slovak Central Highlands.

    The highest point is Veľký Inovec reaching a height of 901 meters. Andesite and rhyolite predominate in the mountain range. The southern part is covered with deciduous forests with the most represented oaks. The southern slopes fall steeply and the surrounding terrain of the Hronská pahorkatina rises by up to 600 meters. The northern part has the character of a plateau around Veľká Lehota, pastures and scattered settlements predominate.

    We started at Drozdovo a make a circular hike to Inovec and back. The path is mainly through forest or meadows, with a few viewpoint. David was 5 at that time.

    Meadows between Drozdovo and Inovec
    View from Inovec tourist shelter, it is open during weekends and you can buy some refreshment there.
    7.77km, 231m ascent, 2:35 moving time, 3h43min total
  • Bralce (with David)

    Bralce (with David)

    We just love Bralce. This time with my mother, David and his cousin- my nephew.

    Kečka is a real gem, hidden in the heart of the Bralce Nature Reserve on the edge of the Štiavnica Mountains.

    The path to the top of Kečka is one-way and hides a number of fascinating places.

    The route is characterized by its amazing rock formations – remnants of pink rhyolite mining – and also protected flora. Places equipped with chains or ladders at least partially reminding of Slovak Paradise or Jánošíkove Diery. And of course, there is no shortage of amazing views of the surroundings.

    The hiking trail, marked in green, starts on the outskirts of the village of Hliník nad Hronom (on the road towards Sklené Teplice). At the beginning of the trail you will find a large information board with a map and information about the Szabóová skala and Bralce Nature Reserve, of which Kečka is also a part.

    After a few minutes you suddenly find yourself in a completely different world. In a world so fascinating that you don’t know whether to stop and admire your surroundings or continue on your journey and discover what lies behind the next rock. The landscape changes like a movie set – huge rock monuments, moss-covered stones, small stone seas, crevices, caves, steps, ladders, chains, and much more.

    David was 5 at that time.

    view after first climb
    kids almost run
    inside a rock gateway
    we almost cannot keep the pace of the children
    6.68km, 280m ascent, 2h 37min
  • Mining educational path (with David)

    Mining educational path (with David)

    The route of the educational trail leads past the most important mining-technical and historical monuments related to the mining of precious metal ores in Nová Baňa. The trail is divided into two historical-thematic circuits. Route A (black), with a length of 4.3 km and an elevation of 210 m, leads along the traces of surface and underground mining activities in the Middle Ages, passing through more demanding forest terrain in the area of ​​Mýtný vrch and Gupno in the southern part of the deposit. Route B (green) is slightly less demanding and leads mainly in the built-up area of ​​the city in the Vŕšky part. It is 5.6 km long and has an elevation of 130 m. It mainly presents mining from the 16th to the 19th century, including ore treatment facilities and the mining water management system.

    David was 4 years old at that time.

    when the path isn’t so interesting, we try to find somethink to make it funnier
    Step at the educational path
    The only view
    I’m here too, with a backpack full of snacks and tea
    Yes, a bit of fun!
    7.04km, 240m ascend, 3h 12 min
  • Hrušov castle (with David)

    Hrušov castle (with David)

    Several kilometres north of Topoľčianky in the Tribeč Mts. in west of Slovakia are the ruins of the Hrušov Castle towering on top of the Skalka Mt. at the height of 488 m.

    This royal castle built in the 13th century guarded the trade road passing over the mountain range Tribeč. It was destroyed by the Imperial army in 1708 and is in decay since then. However, its surviving walls induce a romantic atmosphere and provide a nice panoramic view of the Tribeč and Pohronský Inovec Mts.

    We started from village Hostie, which isn’t classical starting point, but the walk was really nice.

    David was 4 years old at that time.

    It is a lot of fun out there
    7.26km, 240m ascent, 3h 10 min
  • Krakova hoľa

    Krakova hoľa

    We started at Demänovská jaskyňa slobody. The Demänovská Caves National Natural Monument on the northern side of the Low Tatras is the longest cave system in Slovakia.

    But we wasn’t there for the cave, we planned hike to Krakova hoľa, for me totally unknown place.

    Krakova hoľa is a massive hill in the northern part of the Ďumbier Tatras. Thanks to its location, which is outside the main ridge at an altitude of 1751.6 m above sea level, it dominates the wide surroundings, above which it protrudes and provides an interesting circular view. Krakova hoľa is located between the Demänovská valley and the Jánská valley. The eastern and southern parts of the hoľa belong to the Ďumbier National Nature Reserve with the 5th level of protection.

    Under Machnatô
    Views to Chopok
    That day, the visibility was excellent

    For me a surprise was the valley Vyvieranie on our path back.

    We dive into the narrow Vyvieranie valley, and the trail often leads directly along the stream bed. It is neither deep nor wide, but it flows swiftly through the rocky bedrock. You often have to overcome rock gates, cascades, or jump over the stream. In some places, the route is led by bridges and here and there you will also come across chains. Overall, the valley in the lower part has the character of a small but wild gorge. It is humid here, which results in a beautiful forest. Since it is part of the National Park, fallen trees remain here, only here and there they are cut down so that tourists can get between them.

    Vyvieranie valley
    Through Vyvieranie
    21.79km, 1478m ascent, 6h 34 min
  • Ďurková

    Ďurková

    Originally called the shelter under Chabenec (1623 m) is located just below the main ridge of the Low Tatras and is built on the site of a former mountain hut.

    We started from village Magurka, located at an altitude of 1080 m. It is located in the beautiful natural environment of the Low Tatras at the end of the Ľupčianska valley under the peaks of Latiborská hola (1648 m.a.s.l.), Ďurková (1749 m.a.s.l.), Chabenec (1955 m.a.s.l.).

    Magurka was founded in the 14th century as part of the mining business in its surroundings. Gold mining began around 1250. At that time, it was still privately owned. Later, Magurka was owned by the municipality and individuals, but the mined gold had to be handed over to the imperial treasury. During the reign of Maria Theresa, gold mining passed into the hands of the state. In 1835, new shafts were opened – Ritterstein and Kilian, and in 1848 the Ruseger adit. Gold was mined according to the old system, water steps and manual washing, later machine washing. In 1860, houses began to be built here and in 1888 250 miners worked here. In the same year, antimony was discovered on Magurka. 10-11 kg of gold, the same amount of silver and 3000 – 4000 m3 of antimony were extracted here annually. The largest was the Kilian shaft – 3 km long, Ruseger measured 1600 m, Ritterstein 1400 m. The others were shorter. The produced material was transported to Ružomberok, only later a cable car was built from the galleries to the entrances. This tedious work was the reason that production was much more expensive than the revenues from mining, and so in 1923 mining was stopped forever. The state transported the machines to Banská Štiavnica, the buildings were sold off, and only a few families remained in Magurka. In 1928, Magurka had 20 houses and 75 people. An exceptionally rare object is the mining church. In its tower, a huge rapkáč has been preserved to this day, which could be heard far and wide. In the past, it was used to call miners to work and announce the end of the “shift”, but it was also used on other occasions.

    Trees are combined with blueberries at the beginning
    Then there was pinewoods
    Just under the main ridge, there is Ďurková
    Beautiful views from the main ridge
    11.6km, 912m ascent, 2:55 moving time, 4h 5min total
  • Prosiek (with David)

    Prosiek (with David)

    Prosiecka Valley is a karst valley located in the Choč Mountains, which it crosses from north to south. Its total length is 3.5 km.

    From a geological point of view, it is a karst canyon-like valley of the Prosiečanka stream. The valley is made of limestone and dolomite, similar to the entire Choč Mountains. The erosion activity of the Prosiečanka has shaped the typical karst appearance of the valley, which is manifested by numerous rock cliffs and towers made of more resistant limestone. Typical external karst features are also numerous gorges, especially at the beginning and end of the valley. There are several springs and sinkholes in the valley

    One of the biggest attractions is the waterfall at the end of the valley. David was 4 years old at that time.

    From distance, the beginning doesn’t look so interesting
    But when you came there…
    To the waterfall
    we came in the summer, so it has not so much water

    The Červené piesky waterfall is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Slovakia.

    You can reach it from the Vidová crossroads in the Prosiecká dolina valley, from where a short trail leads to the blind valley of Červené piesky, where this approximately 15-meter-high waterfall is located.

    In dry periods, only a small strip of water flows in it, so if you want to see it in its full beauty, we recommend visiting in spring or after heavy rains.

    David’s favorite part – ladders and chains
    Climbing is great too

    If you go with a kid, take one extra pair of shoes, because we crossed the stream a few times..

    12.23km, 428m ascent, 4h 16min