22/July/2003: 10hours tough hike
Yes, I went hiking again. Was I out of my mind? Yes, I must have had. I always tell myself every time when I go hiking-"I must be insane!! Why do I torture myself by doing so? I am not going to do it again!!" So, what's wrong with me? Well, the magnificent view and feeling from the top make everything worth it!!!
High Tatras is one of main attraction in Slovakia for hikers and ski lovers. I went there in Feb when it's cover by beautiful snow. I promised Tero(Finland) that I will come back and go hiking with him in summer, so I did. The plan of hiking had been postponing several times because of weather forecasting. There were a lot of annoying reschedules and communications involved. However, everything finally fell into place. Tero's colleagues were so kind to take Kata(Hungary), Irenka(Latvia), Olla(Latvia), Anna(Ukraine) and me with them. Beside our 6 internationals group, there are Vlado, his 2 children, Igor, Mariana and Pista. Yes, we managed to fit 12 ppl into 2 cars.
We woke up at 5am and picked up our Russian-speaking group in Poprad. Irenka(Latvia), Olla(Latvia) and Anna(Ukraine) had been clubbing the night before and they only had 1 hour sleep! I don't know how they do it, but they did it!! We started hiking from Strbske Plesoat at 9am. It's an amazing experience for Irenka and Olla as the highest mountain(?) in Latvia is only 310m. And for Anna(Ukraine), it was so exciting to find someone to speak Russian again!!!! We had a rest in a cottage(2250m) and 3 "Russian" girls decided to stay, when the rest of us moved on. It wasn't too difficult until the last 200m. My legs are just not designed for climbing big step up and they started feeling like jelly. I started wondering why I kept hiking!! However, after 5hours physical challenge and pains, I DID it!!!
The Rysy peak(2499.5m) offer a breathtaking view at the surrounding panorama. It's on the border of Slovakia and Poland. I need a visa for Poland, but in here, no one was going to check my passport :P. My cellpone actually picked up Poland's network!!! It's really funny to see that everyone was searching for the cell phone to tell somebody his/her success. I looked around and had a wild idea. I started shouting "Hello~" and later "F**k off" in 2 languages. You can't blame me for doing so, as I had a very tough week emotionally and it's for my mental health!! I was much happier(more than just happy....more like under sugar high) after releasing all my negative emotions, I decided to join the cell phone club and made some phone calls to share my joy of being on the top of the mountain as well.
I had no problem of going down, but Kata(Hungry) and Tero(Finland)'s knees were getting really painful that they can't even walk properly.(I guess, sometimes it's great to have short legs..:P) It had been a long and tough hike and we finally got back to Zilina at 11pm.....mm....bed!!!!
Anna(Ukraine) with her high tech hiking gear-elegant purse
Some international from the right, Kata(Hungary), Tero(Finland),Irenka(Latvia),Olla(Latvia), Anna(Ukraine).......
Nice Slovak locals who were kindly enough to take us to High Tatras!! from the left, Mariana, Igor, at the top Pista and Vlado's 2 kids
Look!! The real mountain!!
Co? What? I need visa for Poland? Yeah, right!! Catch me if you can!!! I am at the top of mountain-2499.5m!!! I was at the left corner of the pic facing Poland and shouting all the bad word...:P Everyone was so busy SMS ppl they know about the big success of overcomeing the Rysy peak! Guess who did I call at 2pm in afternoon(SK) or 12am midnight(NZ)!!
Vlado with his 2 kids at the Rysy Peak!
Our "lovebirds" with broken "knees"
