1st Day: Kasprowy Wiersch
I highly recommend picking up a trail map before you head into Tatra National Park. Hiking without a guide is safe on many of the well-marked and well-maintained trails, but you should plan your route nonetheless. Getting lost or exhausted in the mountains, especially given the fickle nature of the weather and temperature at elevation, can be very dangerous.
We tucked in early around 9 a.m and organized our backpacks for the actual trek beginning the next morning – leaving our city clothes behind and unpacking our trekking gear. I should note here that when you’re backpacking the thing you need is ALWAYS at the bottom of your pack – no matter how strategically you load and unload each day. It’s really easy to make a mess of your surroundings no matter how organized you try to be.
Because there is so much to do here (there are like a thousand routes for walking and climbing) Kama stated goal for our first day of hiking was the Kasprowy Wiersch and second day to Morskie Oko. So around afternoon, we followed her and took a mini bus to the Kasprowy Wiersch.
There were moments that required a “we've come this far” ethic to push through, especially as for me it was too hard and I turn sour. All the way my friends encouraged me saying "brave you"!! :p
These were the moments that defined our trip to Zakopane, and were among the fondest of our entire trip to Poland. Our hard work was paying off. I felt alive, joyful, free.
For rock climbers, this is nothing. For the layperson, it’s a bit scary. In bad weather, it’s not recommended for either camp.
We let a few groups of hikers sidle past us and onto the chains while I negotiated and girls courage for the remaining climb – I weren't sure if it was something in which i was interested.
I had a chance to meet Poland President- Bronisław Komorowski. He was here for presidential election campaign. It was political rally in Zakopane.
Ten minutes at the top was enough – it was already late-afternoon, and we needed to get moving if we were to return to Zakopane before dark. The descent took us 5 to 6 hours.
Fortunately, this path is about as easy as they come – wide and well-groomed, built for afternoon strolls, not rigorous hikes. About 15 minutes got us to the exit of the mountains. Whew.............. :D Ok so you're probably thinking I never walked all the way down that mountain? You're right, we took the cable car instead.
However, with the amount of time it took to reach the top, and realizing how high up we were, I was forever grateful for the invention of the cable car!
2nd Day: Morskie Oko
We set off for a big green lake surrounded by mountains: Morskie Oko, “The Eye of the Sea” (elevation 1395m).
We woke up at 5.30am, took a taxi to the place called Polana Palenica. From there it is a 4-hour hike up to Lake Morskie Oko. Nothing prepares you for the beauty of this lake. It is the biggest lake in the High Tatras mountains and lies at about 1400 meter above sea level. We DREAMED of having the water very clear and has a beautiful emerald green colour!! but wait till i break the suspense.
From Polana Palenica it is like 9 km hike up to the lake awaits you (between three and four hours up).
All in all it was an exhausting 10 hour hike but definitely worth it. The lake Morskie Oko is one of the most beautiful I´ve ever heard but disappointed about the frozen lake.
After this we took a bus to Krakow city. :) And the best thing about hiking is always the part when you get back to your home, when you drop down on the bed and feel absolutely content with what you just achieved and happy with yourself and the world in general.
END!