Red Marks via Grzybowiec

Approach

We start the trip in Zakopane town going from the center by the streets : Koscieliska ,Kasprusie and Strazyska to the mouth of Strazyska Valley
where we enter Tatra National Park (TPN) area .

On the way through the town we pass many historical places nad monuments among others : Old wooden Church with famous old Zakopane cemetery ,Klimek Bachleda's house ,villa Atma where in years 1930-1935 resided famous Polish composer Karol Szymanowski and so on .

Zakopane center - Strazyska Valley : 2,5 km , 35 minute walk

Route Description

Zakopane - Strazyska Dolina Valley - Polana Strazyska Meadow(1000-1060) - Przelecz w Grzybowcu Pass(1311) - Grzybowiec Ridge -
- Siodlo Pass - Kondracka Wyznia Pass(1765) - Giewont(1894)

Red Marks ,9 km (5 km in the forests) ,1060 meters of height difference ,3 1/2 h or a bit more

We enter beatiful forests of Strazyska Valley passing after 500 meters Mlyniska meadow with TPN forester's house .
While we are slightly walking up the scenery becomes more and more interesting with amazing dolomite rock formations on our right - these are
Kominy Strazyskie (Strazyska's Chimneys) .
The valley narrows itself ,we also pass Edward Jelinek's rock with a plaque .Beatiful cascades on the stream just under our feet .
40 minutes from the enter to the valley we come to Polana Strazyska meadow with a few old sheperd's shelters (seasonal bar in one of them) .
Incredible Giewont's North Face view ...
Marked routes' crossing : black marks of Sciezka nad Reglami route ,yellow marks leading to beatiful Siklawica waterfall (500 meters ,a few minute walk)
and our red marks which turn right ,to the west into a small valley undercutting Lysanki(1447) massif from the south .
After a quarter the path turns right onto steep slope and climbs it by arduous serpentines till it reaches foresty Przelecz w Grzybowcu(1311) (In Grzybowiec Pass) . Another steep climb through damaged forest (winds ,woodworms) to the Grzybowiec ridge .
On the ridge there appears wonderful panorama of the nearby massifs of Giewont(1894) and Czerwone Wierchy(2122) .
Following red marks we enter dwarf mountain pine area and traverse Maly Giewont(1728) (Little Giewont) slopes passing one little rocky rib on our way
and in the end ascending saddle of Siodlo Pass on "the back" of Siodlowa Turnia(1647) . Great view of Malej Laki Valley extending under enormous
limy cliff of Wielka Turnia(1847) .After Siodlo Pass the route goes east again by the slopes of Maly Giewont to the Kondracka Wyznia Pass(1765)
(2 hours from Polana Strazyska) . 25 minutes of steep walk-up to the summit of Giewont(1894) .

The main ,upper section of the red marked Giewont route - Przelecz w Grzybowcu(1311) - Giewont(1894) summit is always being closed for tourists
(You can go on your own risk...) for winter season due to usual serious avalanche danger on steep ,exposed traverses or danger of slipping down from icy path

Essential Gear

Summer : Hiking/Trekking boots ,waterproofs

Winter : When conditions make it possible to use the route - crampons ,ice axe .

Miscellaneous Info

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