#27 Gerlach, Slovakia High Point

Summit of Gerlach, 2,655m / 8,709 feet Oct. 14, 2022

The High Tatras aren't as high as many mountain ranges around the world but they are certainly impressive and attract a fair number of technical climbers from around Europe. Gerlachovsky Štít is the highest in the range and rising up more than 6,000 feet above the valley floor, Gerlach is an imposing sight.

It is a requirement of the National Park to climb Gerlach with a certified guide and we were happy to do so after learning that the route high up is not marked and has some tricky exposed sections. In addition, an early season snowstorm dropped over 6 feet of snow on the mountain a week before our planned ascent, which we didn't believe until after looking at the Instagram page of our guide kuro.guide.

With the benefit of Kuro's firsthand knowledge of the conditions we came fully equipped with crampons, ice axes, climbing harnesses and helmets - and we put all of it to good use. 

Sliezsky Dom hotel, our home for 2 nights at 1,670m / 5,479 feet

Nice views on the approach hike with guide Kuro leading the way

The three of us started out from the Sliezsky Dom hotel around 7:45, and after 3,200 vertical feet of climbing we reached the top just before noon. We had the summit entirely to ourselves to enjoy the beautiful views, a snack, short rest and even reading a good book! The descent took us a little over 4 hours, getting us safely back to the trailhead and the very comfortable Sliezsky Dom less than 9 hours after we began. For the most part the weather cooperated nicely for us and the recent snow had consolidated making for stable conditions. I'll let the pictures and videos tell the rest of the story from an exciting climb of our 27th country high point!

Before I do I'll add an interesting fact about Gerlach. The mountain has the unusual distinction of being the highest peak in more countries than any other mountain. Due to the changing borders over time, since World War I it has been the highest point in Austria-Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, the Czech and Slovak Socialist Republic, and then the Czech and Slovak Federated Republic, and since 1993 the highest point in Slovakia. 

Taking a short break to read Steps to the Summit 😉