Border Crossing: Poland to Slovakia - Kasprowy Wierch
June 8 2023 | Tagged: Border Crossings
This is a flashback post, to June 2010 at the beginning of what would become an 18 month long trip. I hiked with all my stuff from Zakopane in Poland to Podbanské in Slovakia, over Kasprowy Wierch, a 1987m pass in the Western Tatras.
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I had a lot of fun this day!
I had arrived in Zakopane in the south of Poland and was staying at the Goodbye Lenin Hostel. I had been out hiking and had this crazy idea.
Was it possible to hike across the border from Poland into Slovakia, high in the mountains? I knew from my years in Switzerland that there were always paths in the mountains, that weren't always marked on maps but had existed for years. Used by shepherds and smugglers alike and crazy mountain runners.
I got back to town and went into one of the hiking shops and found the map that showed me it was indeed possible.
Zakopane to Kasprowy Wierch, the lowest pass at 1987m, was listed as 3 hours and down the other side, it was a further 4 hours to the small village of Podbanské.
I went on a day hike to Kasprowy Wierch to check it out. The path wasn't difficult. I had been running in and around Mûrren for 2 years. I was super fit. I was excited.
At the pass, I could see the track going down the other side, into Slovakia. I followed it a ways. It was clearly marked. I didn't foresee any issues.
The Goodbye Lenin Hostel was a great place for me. I spent my days hiking and in the evening, just enjoying. This was in the time before smartphones and the world of blogging. Back then all I did was upload photos to Facebook. This era was the best for me.
On the day of departure, Renata, one of the 2 girls who ran the hostel, gave me a big hug and wished me luck.
I loaded up with food for the day and had enough for a small delay if something went wrong.
Poland to Slovakia, alone in the Tatras mountains, on foot, Zakopane to Podbanksé.
I had arrived in Zakopane in the south of Poland and was staying at the Goodbye Lenin Hostel. I had been out hiking and had this crazy idea.
Was it possible to hike across the border from Poland into Slovakia, high in the mountains? I knew from my years in Switzerland that there were always paths in the mountains, that weren't always marked on maps but had existed for years. Used by shepherds and smugglers alike and crazy mountain runners.
I got back to town and went into one of the hiking shops and found the map that showed me it was indeed possible.
Zakopane to Kasprowy Wierch, the lowest pass at 1987m, was listed as 3 hours and down the other side, it was a further 4 hours to the small village of Podbanské.
I went on a day hike to Kasprowy Wierch to check it out. The path wasn't difficult. I had been running in and around Mûrren for 2 years. I was super fit. I was excited.
At the pass, I could see the track going down the other side, into Slovakia. I followed it a ways. It was clearly marked. I didn't foresee any issues.
The Goodbye Lenin Hostel was a great place for me. I spent my days hiking and in the evening, just enjoying. This was in the time before smartphones and the world of blogging. Back then all I did was upload photos to Facebook. This era was the best for me.
On the day of departure, Renata, one of the 2 girls who ran the hostel, gave me a big hug and wished me luck.
I loaded up with food for the day and had enough for a small delay if something went wrong.
Poland to Slovakia, alone in the Tatras mountains, on foot, Zakopane to Podbanksé.
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The photos above are from the days spent training. Below is the day I hiked from Poland to Slovakia:
I made light work of the hike up to Kasprowy Wierch. I had everything with me for an extended backpacking trip but it wasn't more than 10KGs.
I remember having a bowl of Zurek soup at the restaurant next to the cable car station, before heading down the other side.
It took me 3 hours 30 to get to Podbanské and with luck I hitchhiked to the next town of Liptovsky Hradok, where I stayed at the Pension Pod Skalou for 10€ with breakfast.
I chatted in German with the owner and in English with the bar girl.
The next day I took the train to Žilina, then Trenčin and Bratislava.
I remember having a bowl of Zurek soup at the restaurant next to the cable car station, before heading down the other side.
It took me 3 hours 30 to get to Podbanské and with luck I hitchhiked to the next town of Liptovsky Hradok, where I stayed at the Pension Pod Skalou for 10€ with breakfast.
I chatted in German with the owner and in English with the bar girl.
The next day I took the train to Žilina, then Trenčin and Bratislava.
Appologies for the low res photos!