Ski Touring

Ski Touring combines alpine hiking and skiing. It belongs among the very popular and increasingly common sports in the High Tatras. Everyone will find something for themselves here – from recreational skiers to racers.

Walking up ski slopes

For beginners, the ideal start for this sport are trips on machine groomed slopes, where it’s necessary to follow the White Code. Always ascend beyond the slope border marked with a portable bar marking or along the marked ascent route. In an effort to minimize collision situations there will be time reserved for skiers from 1pm – 4pm.

Very popular are ascents to Popradské pleso, Hrebienok or Sliezsky dom on access roads, where it is necessary to take into account pedestrians and their safety.

Riding in ungroomed snow

Before the first tours in open terrain, we recommend to train ride in ungroomed snow. You can find the best conditions mostly in the freeride zone next to the ski slope in Lomnické sedlo or try the old ski slope from Hrebienok.

Hikes in valleys

We advise consulting ski tours for enthusiasts with a mountain guide. The reserved areas in the High Tatras include the area of Soliskové sedlo and the crossing over Priečne and Baranie sedlo, i.e. the area of Malá and Veľká Studená dolina or Zmrzlá dolina. More information about the visitor rules and reserved places can be found on this map. The ski touring season in the Tatras lasts from December 15th to April 15th according to the currently valid rules.

For the more experienced ski tourers, Tatras offer hikes in the valleys, where you can experience an unforgettable descent in virgin snow or a climb to peaks with a beautiful view. These tours mostly lead outside the reserved routes, and can only be done with a mountain guide.

Of course, it is necessary to know the avalanche issues and the use of complete avalanche equipment (avalanche transciever – beacon, probe, shovel, or airbag backpack), verification of current conditions and warnings on the website of the Mountain Rescue Service www.hzs.sk or in the Tatra Information Centres. If you have no experience, take an avalanche or ski touring course first or go accompanied by a mountain guide.

4 tips for ski touring from Robo Gálfy

1. Sharpened edges – I recommend taking care of skis even during the season – have sharpened edges, tuned ski bases
2. Ski Crampons – in hard, icy terrain they save a lot of energy and help to avoid problems
3. Impregnation for ski skins – little can disgust a hike like a pile of snow wrapped under skis.
4. Ligntness = speed – choose light equipment, grams are kilograms and why carry an unnecessary load.

You can get ski touring equipment together with a good advice in the following places: