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The vast majority of the presented hiking and ski-mountaineering trails run out of permitted areas. According to valid (September 2007) TANAP rules for visitors, one can leave the marked path only when guided by an authorised person. Climbers can use hiking route for descend (membership in a climbing association is required). Membership in a climbing, ski-mountaineering or hiking association can't be considered as a permission. The aim of the guide is to provide objective information and it can't be considered as an incitement to TANAP rules violation.

Mountaineering and skimountaineering guide of High Tatras was primarily created for my private use, with the principal aim of not to get lost again in these beautiful mountains. Its extent has slightly grown as time went by, so I decided to make it publicly available to provide help and guidance. I update it continuously whenever I take another good picture or try a new route.

Although many Hight Tatras guides have been already published, the routes are described either in words [1] or by words and attached schematic sketches [2]. The most detailed and extensive, out of dispute, is Puškáš's monograph [3], containing plenty of climbing routes sketched directly on the photo. Nevertheless, sometimes it's way too complicated to find a hiking route there. Publications [4a,b] and e-guide of high quality on www.tatry.nfo.sk [4c] has been created recently but it also deals mainly with climbing routes. Common feature of [1], [2], [3] is their bad availability.

The guide presented at these web pages tries to combine useful features of [1], [2], [3] and availability of [4c]. Routes leading to a single peak are reported separately with attached topographical scheme and photos (usually from various viewpoints). A GPS track records are available since summer 2010.

Peak characteristics (like location, height, topography...) has been usually acquired from [3], or partially from [1], [2]. Routes were sketched directly to the topographical schemes [5]. The photos presented here were taken mainly by me or were adopted from my friends. Climbing routes weren't reported because guides [3], [4a,b,c] deal with this topic sufficiently. On top of that, a detailed description of route, information about timing, difficulty and attractiveness is added. Of course such features are subjective and reader can find them to be different.

Given timing doesn't include rest breaks as well as influence of weather, loosing the right way, bad physical shape ... Use of a rope and safety equipment (which always slows you down) is included in the timing. The above mentioned factors shouldn't be underestimated since the ascend time can be even doubled by them.

The Difficulty expresses a degree of technical problems (it's not a unit of danger or a body-performance demands) and is measured by UIAA scale:

CH - walking on an easy terrain, use of hands isn't necessary

I - the easiest form of climbing, hands are needed occasionally to keep balance. Beginners should be protected by rope

II - the rule of three solid points is necessary for safe progression. Holds are good. Ascent in more than 3 people on the same rope can be dangerous.

III - steep rock up to 90°, holds are good but it's necessary to use the work of arms occasionally. Belaying is recommended.

Difficulties II and III are a boundary between hiking and climbing and belaying techniques should be used (tying to each other without placing anchoring protection isn't sufficient). Climbing in more than 3 persons/rope is risky. Climbing skills and the knowledge of belaying techniques is essential to make such a route safely. However, the presentation of climbing safety guidelines isn't among the aims of this e-guide and the interested reader is advised to study the following textbooks [6a,b],[7],[8],[9]. Climbing helmet, climbing rope, seat and chest harness, belaying and rappelling equipments, carabiners,... are necessary.

Attractiveness is a subjective feature. Interesting panoramic view, "good" rock, exposed line ... increases it whereas lengthy walking on boulders/rocky debris, forcing a way through dwarf pine trees, moving on steep grass, climbing on a "bad" rock without a possibility to place an anchor, danger of falling rocks ... decreases it. It consists of three degrees: +,++,+++. The lowest degree is +, highest one is +++.

GPS track records are available since summer 2010. Tracks are exported as GPX files with attached information on track direction (from - to). Accuracy of a GPS device depends on terrain configuration, current number of satellites in the solid angle, etc... In optimal conditions it approaches 3-10 m.

Sooner or later, the vast majority of hikers and mountaineers fall for winter ski-touring or for a harder branch, ski-mountaineering. Not only a pair of skis unlock inaccessible winter nature but also replace the descend with a great downhill ride. There aren't too many ski-mountaineering guides covering High Tatras region. Information can be gathered from S.Klauco digest [10] and B.Stofan booklet [11]. Perhaps the best one is the e-guide made by M.Peto [12], which also deals with another interesting mountain ski-regions. However, author is an extraordinarily skilled skier and his guide is specializes in the routes ranging from hard to extreme. Webpage of I.Sikulova-Filova (a highly skilled skier who knows what she is writing about) can be a useful source of information, too.

Ski-touring routes in the presented e-guide falls under the "easy" category. Despite its low difficulty, readers are advised to pay sufficient attention to the polishing of off-piste skiing techniques before giving it a first try. After acquiring enough skill at the piste one should try skiing on various types of natural snow (powder, hard and icy, slush, firn, crust,...) at safe slopes without rocky/wooden obstacles. Ideal conditions for beginners can be found in Mala Fatra, Velka Fatra or Nizke Tatry.

Ski-mountaineering hardware is quite expensive and it's wise to be well informed before buying a certain set. Basically, there are light sets designated mainly for walking and easy skiing (mountain ridges crossing extending over multiple days, ski-mountaineering competitions, ...) and heavy sets for extreme freeride (the weight difference can be as much as 10 kg). Of course, there are also hybrid solutions combining good skiing properties with low weight. Basic ski-mountaineering set contains: ski-boots, skis, binding, (seal) skins, poles, helmet, crampons, ice axe and the avalanche kit (beacon + probe + shovel). According to my subjective experiences, it's better to buy an older (already used) set at the very beginning. Reader is advised to try long ski-touring trips as well as harder freerides during a period of 1-2 years before investing the money into a brand new set.

Depending on the route difficulty, a climbing equipment could also be necessary. Perhaps the biggest risk coupled with ski-mountaineering is the danger of an avalanche. Therefore knowing how to properly operate your avalanche kit, as well as the rescue algorithm is of the highest importance.

Ski-route difficulty is a hardly measurable quantity since it significantly depends on current snow and weather conditions (see I.Sikulova-Filova [13a]). However, steepness, difficulty, exposition and altitude difference remain always the same. This quadruplet of information has been used for the ski-route difficulty assessment. Steepness has been measured by pole-method (see HZS [14]).

Finally let me recommend the following:

- check the current avalanche risk at: www.laviny.sk [15]. The golden rule says: postpone your ski-trip if the avalanche risk degree is higher than 2,

- the lowest number of skiers in a group is 2. Make sure your avalanche set is fully operational and charged, as well as your cell phone. There must be a first aid kit in your backpack (optionally a splint, too),

- learn the avalanche rescue algorithm perfectly,

- check a snow integrity at least at the beginning of the slope and at its steepest stage (Norwegian test, Rutschblock test, see [15]). Leave the dangerous slope as soon as possible by a safe route,

- if possible, make your downhill route the same as your ascending route. It provides you the information on snow conditions and terrain obstacles in advance,

- don't ski simultaneously. Your friends should wait at the safe place until you reach another safe point,

- snow usually falls down from concave formations (ridges and ribs) to a convex formations (gorges, couloirs, gullies and valleys). It' s safer to avoid, if possible,  convex areas where snow accumulates.

!ATTENTION! The vast majority of the presented hiking and ski-mountaineering trails run out of permitted areas. According to valid (September 2007) TANAP rules for visitors, one can leave the marked path only when guided by an authorised person. Membership in a climbing, ski-mountaineering or hiking association can't be considered as a permission. The aim of the guide is to provide objective information and it can't be considered as an incitement to TANAP rules violation.