Were The Legends Start

We have arrived in Zakopane an Emerald Of Europe on Sunday evening on Christmas Day. Almost the whole ride of 700km had no snow and we were already losing hope of seeing it at all… But to our surprise in the last 50 km, there was an ever-increasing amount of snow. And in the distance flour-white peaks brooded over the land.

After sleeping the first night in a mountain hut we set off to Morskie Oko. Hoping to cross the pass to a large waterfall that we missed in summer.

However, the day was not kind to us for the hike to the waterfall. Once we arrived at the trail the storm was in full swing.
It had snarled and mewled with its deadly voice, sounding like a wailing specter. Its scavenging skies had compressed down upon the land, surveying it with a deadly malice. By reaching Morskie Oko we found out the trail became impassable and I looked like a snowman!

We were not sad that we couldn’t reach the waterfalls. Because the view that met us near the lakes was just like out of the movies. Were people walk out into the wilderness to a great adventure and come back with stories that become myths! All around me, the snow flashed and glittered like angel-fire. As our walk reached the first stop, I marveled at the might of nature. Its awe-inspiring majesty made my soul rejoice.

On the way back we have decided to go a little bit of trail. Going the same way is boring and uninteresting especially when my sleds exploded on the rocks when I tried to slide down the mountain.

The offroad we took was magnificent. Tall trees, snow up the knees, small huts in the middle of the forest resembling just like a story from Grim Brothers.

The next stop was the opened space hot springs in Bukowina Tatrzańska! It was glorious to stay in a hot open-air bath while snow is melting before reaching your face and definitely worth a visit after a long cold hike in the mountains.

The Coiling Dragon At The Peak Of The Mountain

On the second day, we have decided to storm a peak – Kasprowy Wierch 1 987 m. The weather got clearer and warmer thus in the middle of the hike we all stopped dressed down to our underwear in the middle of the winter, change to lighter clothes and continued to hike. The mountains upfront were vampire-white, sky-stabbing at the top. The legs of the mountains were very wide. The peaks of the mountains were like harpoon tips. They were shrouded in ghost-grey mist.

The hike was hard and demanding especially the higher we went the colder it got. The colder it got the slippery it was. The slippery it was the more dangerous the trip turned to be. Especially the last few hundred meters. It got narrower and extremely slippery we almost gave up the hike up.

However, with a little push, we finally reached the top. The only issue it was covered in such a large fog that it reminded me of the Dragon Smog from the Hobbit movies! It felt like there is a dragon coiled around the mountain breathing deeply and preventing passers to see the beauty of the valley!

The hike down was spent mostly sliding down the same way we came up. Beautiful and relaxed.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of trails left unexplored and some are accessible only in summer. But winter hiking and exploring is one thing that I am looking forward too!!

Authors

Simonas R.
Arune M.

P.s. Pictures are all originals. If you would like to copy or use them you have to get a permission from the authors.

The Adventure Begins

Great adventures start in your mind, followed by a fantastic execution of the idea that came in your head. In short, all of it starts and finishes with you as a center of the universe. There is a saying in Buddhism. “I am the center of the universe. Without me, the universe wouldn’t exist.” This same logic could be applied to any and all the adventures I had. I am the creator and executor of the adventure I decide to go. But enough of this. I am here to share with you about the place that probably few of you have heard and if you did probably not many have been there. A place that like no other reminds you of mystical fantasy books that you have read with beauty to rival any of the top destinations of the world.

I came to know about it by accident and only because I met my girlfriend a few months ago. She was the one that shared this fantastic location. And without waiting too long we have assembled a crew and went to Zakopane, Poland. This magical place is 800km from Lithuania so a short ride by car and a great adventure.

We had a short 4 (2 days in transit, 2 days to explore) days to explore the place. Thus we ensured to make the most of it. That is to climb the highest peak, marvel at the mountain lakes and storm 1 more peak that passes through a beautiful meadow.

First thing first the rent in Zakopane is dirt cheap here as long as you pre-book before any major holidays or at least a month earlier. You can get a cottage in the mountains, an apartment or a hotel the price starts from 20$ per room and up to 200, I guess or soo. You can always find those special places that charge more for the same. We have rented an apartment for convenience and lack of time to search for something better. However, the place was really great!

The first thing we did when we arrived was to go on a small hike to the nearby hills to just feel out the place. We just couldn’t spend any more time sitting. Took us nearly 2 hours to hike up to the hill we wanted and come back home for a sleep. It was hard to fall asleep knowing that an exciting day is waiting for us.

The Highest Summit In Poland

Upon waking up we have decided to hike towards the two very beautiful lakes – Morskie Oko (1 395 m) and Czarny Staw pod Rysami(1 583 m) in the middle of the Tatras mountains. We parked our car in Palenica Białczańska paid parking (20 zlotych for the whole day and 5 zlotych for each person) and started our journey. We have walked up to the lake for around 7.5 kilometers and about 2 hours, with loads of tourists but it was totally worth it! The walk is not too complicated, as you can simply follow the route.

The lakes looked like something out of the Hobbit movies. With small paths around the lakes leading to the one track to the top of the mountain where the dragon is waiting for those who brave the hike. No sound rang out from the emptiness of space around the lake.

The idyllic scene took our breath away. Behind these lakes were our destination the 2.499m mountain top – Rysy. The mountain loomed in the not so far distance. We had to rush towards the top as we had to be back before the nightfall or be lost forever.

We gazed up at the rugose and rough-hewn mountains with a sense of awe before we started climbing. It was not easy. We wanted to turn around quite a few times. But the mountain beaconed us to keep on going. Showing us at every turn an ever more beautiful sight. To disappoint us at the top. By covering everything in fog the moment we reach the summit.

By going down the mountain I understood why the majority of accidents happen on the way back. It is simple, the mountain lulls your head with achievement so you would think the hardest part is over and lower your awareness. That’s when the mountain claims your life. Luckily for us, we were tired but still aware and managed to get down the mountain without any major accident just a few slips here and there. However, one of my colleagues got huge blisters that made him unable to climb down the rest of the ways. Thus near the mystic lakes, I gave him my shoes and went for a swim to acquire the blessing of the fairies.

Our day ended late at night, exhausted to the bone but nirvanic happy inside.

The Second Summit

The second day was spent on reaching a lower mountain for one we were still exhausted from the yesterday hike and for a second we wanted to see more with less energy spent. We still had to go back to Lithuania next day.

Before we could climb the mountains we had to cross a meadow that looked as if it had stepped from the pages of a storybook. The grass was Eden-green and thigh-high. The mountains in the distance had peaks that looked as giants fell asleep. A face there a hand over there. The sky above the meadow was a feast for the eyes. It stretched as far as the eye could see in a dome of cocktail-blue, punched with fluffy clouds. The place was truly magical. However, we had to hurry along if we wanted to reach the mountain tops and scratch the nose of the giants. The climb was easier than yesterday but much much hotter. The sun was burning us as if trying to prevent to reach the top. But we kept on and finally reach the summit. The view it showed allowed us to understand the reason sun tried to keep it for herself.

On the way back we had to cross a forest that once again looked like we just stepped through the sorcerer’s gates to the other world. The forest was tannin-brown. The grass was crispy under our feet. We looked up and the trees were skyscraper tall. Centuries-old trees with sprawling limbs guarded the darkness, leaving only small areas for the sunlight. Here in these small areas of sunlight, we could see bushes of blueberry that had a sweet taste of a meadow. The deeper we went the darker it got. It in sort reminded of an elven village described in the books with fresh springs and silver light playing insight never to be caught. Once we were out of the forest it felt once again as passing through a portal and back to the mortal world.

Authors

Simonas R.
Arune M.

P.s. Pictures are all originals. If you would like to copy or use them you have to get a permission from the authors.