Direct summit hike to the High Tatras' "lookout point", Little Vysoká

Itinerary:

• From Tátraszéplak (Tatranská Polianka) railway station, we cover a short section without signage to the main street.
• From the center of Tátraszéplak, following the Z trail, passing by the Silesian House, we reach the Polish Pass (Poľský hrebeň).
• From the Polish Pass, the S trail leads up to the Little Vysoká (Východná Vysoká) peak and we descend there as well.
• We return to the Tátraszéplak railway station by the same Z trail and hike back the last hundred meters without signs.

Description:

Warming up on the Felkai Valley section, climbing along the forested stream side

Starting from the foot of the Felkai Valley (Velická dolina), from Tátraszéplak (Tatranská Polianka), a resort with barely a few houses, halfway between Lake Štrbské Pleso and Štrbské Pleso. The settlement, which also houses a sanatorium, was founded in 1888 as a resort to take advantage of the favorable air and sheltered southern slope of the Tatras. We start directly from the railway station, crossing the main road around the Tatras and then turning beside the sanatorium. Our ascent begins in a nicely growing sapling forest, following the Z trail that starts on the asphalt. After the first bend, we leave the path to the Silesian House, shortcutting its turns along a hiking trail. The 2004 forest damage severely affected the surrounding area, leaving the path lined almost everywhere with mixed, young, shrubby forest. We can still see some remaining representatives of the former old pine forest, so in places we pass by the impressive trunks of leafless, deciduous red pines from the time of the disaster. From several points, we see the towering peaks of Nagyszalóki and Gerlachfalvi, the neighboring Koncsiszta, and back the wide basin of the Poprad River. Just after leaving the road, we cross it again quickly and turn into the steep-sided valley of the Felkai stream (Velický potok). As a relic of a former glacier, a terminal moraine mound rose here, giving the stream the opportunity to cut deeply into the soft sediment. From here, at 1200 meters altitude, on much of our further route we follow this watercourse upstream to its source on the scree slope of the Gerlachfalvi peak's side.

At the last intersection equipped with a rest place, we depart finally from the asphalt road, climbing beside bent pine trees, following the tumbling stream amid larger boulders. With energetic steps, we leave behind even the path that encircles the stream flowing over stepping stones. In the evenly rising valley, we manage nearly half the total elevation gain without much excitement, over 600 meters from our starting point. Approaching the top of the rounded streambed, dwarf pines appear more frequently among the trees; finally, the pine forest thins out completely, giving way to shrubs more resistant to weather conditions.

Thanks to this, the landscape opens impressively around us: right in front rises the Virágoskert Tower (Kvetnicová veža), guarding the front side of the Gerlachpeak, its massive rock mass dominating the Felkai Valley. Opposite it, on the other side of the valley, stand the Garnet Towers, with the Felkai Tower at the front. Their several hundred meter high, nearly vertical granite walls tower over visitors in the valley, creating a dramatic effect. These impressive rock rises are popular climbing targets; thus, on good days and with some luck, we may see climbers attacking the harsh rock world on their seemingly impossible mission. Slowly, the ribbon of the asphalt road reappears, winding towards the nearby monstrous, renovated Silesian House (Horský Hotel Sliezsky Dom). If we wish not to interrupt the mountain experience, the path passes right beneath the house’s parking lot, allowing us to bypass the hotel under the gazing hotel guests. However, it is more practical to take the few-meter detour and rest in the building offering comfort and supplies.

The first stone-built hut was constructed in 1871 by the lake shore, beside the path leading to the Gerlachpeak. In 1878, the Hungarian Carpathian Association built a larger wooden shelter named after the Hungarian geographer János Hunfalvy, but unfortunately, it burned down. To replace the Hunfalvy shelter, the Silesian section of the MKE built the Silesian House in 1895. The enthusiastic tourist group also built a safe walking path to the Polish Pass and installed chains and securing points along the route to the Gerlach peak. Due to its popularity, the house was later expanded but burned down on November 30, 1962. Finally, by 1968, the concrete building still visible today was completed; the newly built Silesian House became a mountain hotel accessible by car for those seeking relaxation. The building underwent a complete renovation in 2010, with most of its exterior covered in wood.

Climbing on the granite walk trail of the Felkai Valley to the Polish Pass

We bypass the Felkai Lake (Velické pleso) on the right along a comfortable promenade paved with granite slabs. The mountain lake lying at 1666 meters altitude and 11 meters deep is surrounded by colorful granite blocks, reflecting the rows of surrounding cliffs and is thus an idyllic resting place if we skipped the comfort offered by the hotel. The relaxation is welcome because after a short elevation gain, the path gains momentum and winds up the scree slope with a big curve and turns below the Eternal Rain Wall (Večný dážď). At the rock steps forming in the middle of the valley, water always drips; the stream plunges nearby over a gentler granite fracture, giving the path its name. After a few serpentines, we reach the top of the lake wall. Nearly 150 meters above Felkai Lake, beautiful views unfold around us with the Silesian House and the Poprad River valley in the background. From here, we can first catch sight of the top of the Gerlach peak, shyly peeking out from behind the Virágoskert Tower. The normal route leading to the highest peak of the Carpathians also starts from here; the unmarked trail branches off from the main track. In front of us lies the Tatras' most beautiful wildflower meadow, Virágoskert (Kvetnica), forming a colorful plateau. Once a shallow lake, it is now a habitat rich in alpine flowers. We can spot the broad leaves of daisies all year round, but depending on the season, gentians, edelweiss, daisies, and many other smaller flowers color the meadow. Near the meadow's edge, there is a few-meter temporary lake where the largest water flow arrives from the east side of the Gerlach peak, from the Karcsmar corridor, a classic winter route to the peak.

We cross the meadow and continue climbing stepwise on a broad scree pile. Soon, the next lake, the narrowing Felkai Long Lake (Dlhé pleso velické), appears, above which barren granite block piles cover only the mountain slope. We climb about 200 meters more in the harsh rocky world until we arrive at the Polish Pass (Poľský hrebeň). Such a notable spot doesn't give in easily: a short rock rise blocks our way, but metal staples and chains help us overcome it. The spacious pass offers convenient opportunities for rest and contemplation; from here, we can see for the first time across the northern side of the High Tatras and the peaks aligned in the western continuation of the main ridge. The distinctive double-ridge Tatras Peak (Vysoká) and the Sea Eye Peak (Rysy), and beneath us the Frozen Lake (Zamrznuté pleso) shine blue, from where the Litvorova valley (Litvorova dolina) with its ice-carved, rounded Poduplaszki valley (Bielovodská dolina) stretches northwards.

Summit attack on Little Vysoká and the triumphant return

With a last push, we climb over 200 meters of elevation to the 2428-meter summit of Little Vysoká (Východná Vysoká). The peak's distinctive pyramid-shaped northern face drops down with a huge wall, so follow carefully the beaten path navigated by the S mark. Right above the pass, the trail goes through rocky rises, assisted by a few iron staples and chains to overcome the steep rock cut. We walk right on the ridge line, sometimes bypassing the granite pavement on the left or right.

After a few hundred meters, the summit slope widens, and the path continues to the right, moving away from the northern drop-off to the more comfortable southwestern side. We climb over endless granite piles, and summer snow patches are no longer rare here. If the trail crosses icy snow (firn), it is better to choose the more stable stones, if the direction is well visible. Climbing upwards, the scree slope narrows, eventually fully restricting and reaching the rocky summit. Around us, the space opens; the summit offers one of the most impressive panoramas of the range.

The most defining sight is the previously hidden eastern side: our gaze almost lifts off as the granite peak plunges into the wide basin of the Great Tarpatak Valley 400 meters below our feet. Numerous lakes are visible; the most striking is the jagged row filling the eastern horizon crowned by the Ice Valley and Lomnický peaks. To their left lies the typical pyramid-shaped, banded limestone rocky Béla Tatras, separated from the High Tatras granite mass. Turning right, the Bibircs and Nagyszalóki peaks form a separate summit group from the main ridge. In the opposite direction, the enormous mass of the Gerlach peak dominates the Felkai Valley, and from here, the gap below the summit cross is well visible, which distinctly breaks the ridge-shaped vaulted summit arc.

The return path follows the same route as our ascent, but be careful on the scree slope and especially on snow patches (if any)! Near the pass, on the rocky rises, it is easiest to lose the path, so if uncertain, turn back and find the marked trail. A mistake here can have serious consequences. From the Polish Pass, there is an interesting alternative if you still have enough strength and time. Descending on the Z trail on the northern side, you can connect to the K trail, circumvent the block of Little Vysoká, then descend through the Rovátka (Prielom) notch into the Great Tarpatak Valley (Veľká studená dolina). On this longer route, you can spend the night at the Long Lake shelter (Zbojnícka chata) and explore one of the largest and most beautiful valleys of the Tatras, arriving at Štrbské Pleso via Tarajka (Hrebienok).

Downward, the easiest path is naturally the same one we climbed. If exhausted from the summit climb or the weather worsens, remember that the Silesian House always offers shelter, meals, and accommodation.