First snow skying trips

November 13
Donovaly – Korytnica

This year’s skiing season started about 2 weeks ago. After the not-so-good last year season I have not been taking any chances and went skying as soon as there was enough snow to ski. So far I made a trip from Donovaly to Korytnica in Nizke Tatry mountains. The trip map shows red-marked trail from Donovaly to Hiadelske sedlo and blue trail from there to Korytnica kupele. That is the route I took. It was about 10 miles long, but because I was blazing the trail for most of the distance it took me over 4 hours to complete. The trailblazing situation was not helped by the fact that I broke my ski pole about a mile from start. I managed to limp to a hiker hut just below the Kecka ascend where I fixed the pole with a tape, shoe laces and a piece of iron that I found in the hut. The rest of the trip was not eventful. I saw fresh bear prints, but their maker was fortunately not around (as far as I could tell). There was not as much snow on the leg of my trip from Hiadelske sedlo down to Korytnica – Kupele (an old spa village) and it was all downhill so I managed to arrive to the main road connecting Ruzomberok with donovaly just in time to catch a bus that took me back to Donovaly where I left my car.
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The “patient” – my ski pole at the end of the trip. The iron is called “kramla” in slovak and is usually employed to fasten wooden beams together.

November 17
Stare Hory – Majerova Skala – Krizna – Turecka

trip map

My second trip was more ambitious as I was climbing from Stare Hory village at 480 meters to Krizna mountain at 1,568 meters above sea level (about 3,500 feet elevation gain) and covered distance 18 km (over 11 miles). The first part of the trip to Majerova Skala was supposed to take 2 hours 15 minutes, but because I had to cary my skis most of the way in snow over 2 feet deep (sometimes 3 feet) it took me 3 hours to get there. At that point I reached weather-beaten ridge of Velka Fatra mountain range which allowed me to put skis on and fasten my pace. In another hour and 15 minutes at quarter to three I reached the highest point of my trip – Krizna. I was not sure if I should continue toward the Kralova Studna pass and then descend to Turecka village or go back and descend on a ski run to the same village as the sun was going to set down in over an hour. I decided to continue as the weather was great – no wind, beautiful views and I could see the village deep below in the valley so there was not really any place I could get lost. This turned out to be a good choice as the descend from Krizna was fun due to the fact that most of the way the snow was deep and powdery. Only in several places I “found” spots with different snow quality and nosedive into it. I made it to the village just in time and some good souls gave me a ride to Stare Hory where I parked.

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View from Majerova Skala up towards Krizna
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Looking back to Majerova Skala

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View toward Donovaly and the Prasiva range in Nizke Tatry

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North of Krizna was opening a view toward Vysoke Tatry
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One more view of Vysoke Tatry and Prasiva

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