| Gerlachovský štít | |
| Mountain | |
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The South Face of Gerlach
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| Name origin: Village of Gerlachov | |
| Nickname: Gerlach | |
| Country | |
|---|---|
| Region | Prešov |
| District | Poprad |
| Commune | Tatra National Park |
| Range | High Tatras |
| Elevation | 2,655 m (8,711 ft) |
| Prominence | 2,355 m (7,726 ft) |
| Coordinates | |
| Geology | granite |
| Easiest access | scramble |
| Ascended by | Ján Still |
| - date | 1834 |
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Location in Slovakia
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Location in the Western part of the Prešov Region
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| Wikimedia Commons: Gerlachovský štít | |
Gerlachovský štít (Slovak pronunciation ; translated into English as Gerlachov Peak, Gerlachovský Peak or Gerlach Peak) is the highest peak in the High Tatras, in Slovakia, and in the whole 1,500 km (900 mi. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Gerlachov (Gerlahfalva Gerlsdorf is a Village and Municipality in Poprad District in the Prešov Region of northern Slovakia, under Slovakia (long form Slovak Republic; Slovak:, long form, is a Landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over five million The Prešov Region (in Slovak Prešovský Kraj) is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions. Poprad District ( okres Poprad) is a district inthe Prešov Tatra(s National Park (Tatranský národný park abbr TANAP is one of the nine national parks in Slovakia. High Tatras or High Tatra (Slovak and Czech Vysoké Tatry, Polish Tatry Wysokie) are a Mountain range on the borders between Slovakia The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit Granite (ˈɡrænɪt is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, Felsic, igneous rock. Scrambling (also known as alpine scrambling) is a method of ascending rocky faces and ridges Panorama tatierjpg|thumb|right|300px|Panorama of Tatras]]The Tatra Mountains, Tatras or Tatra ( Tatry in both Polish and Slovak) Slovakia (long form Slovak Republic; Slovak:, long form, is a Landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over five million ) long Carpathian mountain chain, as well as in northern and eastern Central Europe. The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians (Carpaţi Czech, Polish and Slovak: Karpaty; Ukrainian: Карпати Central Europe is the Region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and
Usually listed at 2,655 metres AMSL (8,711 ft), its exact elevation is actually 0. The term above mean sea level ( AMSL) refers to the Elevation (on the ground or Altitude (in the Air) of any object relative to the 6 metres (2 ft) lower. The pyramidal shape of the massif is marked by a huge cirque. A cirque ( French for " Circus " is an Amphitheatre -like Valley, or valley head formed at the head of a Glacier by Despite its relatively low elevation, the about 2,000 m vertical rise from the valley floor makes Gerlachovský štít soar. [1] Mistaken for an average mountain in the rugged High Tatras range in the more distant past, it has since played a symbolic role in the eyes of the rulers and populations of several Central European nations, to the point that between the 19th and mid-20thcentury, it had four different names with six name reversals. Panorama tatierjpg|thumb|right|300px|Panorama of Tatras]]The Tatra Mountains, Tatras or Tatra ( Tatry in both Polish and Slovak) Central Europe is the Region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and It managed to be the highest mountain of the Kingdom of Hungary, and of the countries of Czechoslovakia and Slovakia within the span of only about two decades of the 20thcentury. The Kingdom of Hungary (short form Hungary) was a considerable state in Central Europe that existed from 1001 to 1918 then from 1919 to 1946 Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Slovakia (long form Slovak Republic; Slovak:, long form, is a Landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over five million
Gerlachovský štít shares its geology and ecology with the rest of the High Tatras, but provides a worthwhile environment for biologists as the highest ground anywhere in Europe north of the parallel linking approximately Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna. Panorama tatierjpg|thumb|right|300px|Panorama of Tatras]]The Tatra Mountains, Tatras or Tatra ( Tatry in both Polish and Slovak) Munich (München; Minga is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. is the fourth-largest city in Austria and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg. Vienna ( in Wien; see also other names) is the Capital of Austria, and is also one of the nine States of Austria. The mountain used to be particularly treasured as the loftiest point to climb to by Czechs, eastern Germans, Hungarians, Poles, and Slovaks during the period of restricted travel in the 20th century. It continues to attract its share of visitors although the local authorities have been continually adding new restrictions on access.
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Gerlachovský štít literally means the "Peak (of the village) of Gerlachov". Gerlachov (Gerlahfalva Gerlsdorf is a Village and Municipality in Poprad District in the Prešov Region of northern Slovakia, under A Slovak colloquial name is Gerlach. The Slovak language ( slovenčina, slovenský jazyk, not to be confused with Slovenščina) sometimes referred to as "Slovakian" The Polish names are Gerlach or Gierlach, while its Polish colloquial names are Girlach and Garłuch. Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland. Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland. [2][3][4]
The peak's earliest recorded name was the Spiš-German[5] Kösselberg (Cauldron Mountain) on a map from 1762. Spiš (- Slovak; Latin: Scepusium, Zips Szepesség Spisz is a region in north-eastern Slovakia, with a very small area in south-eastern Carpathian Germans (Karpatendeutsche Felvidéki németek Slovak: Karpatskí Nemci) sometimes simply called Slovak Germans (German Slowakeideutsche [6] The Slovak name of the mountain was first recorded as Kotol, also meaning "Cauldron," in 1821. [7] Both names referred to the peak’s characteristic cauldron-like cirque. A cirque ( French for " Circus " is an Amphitheatre -like Valley, or valley head formed at the head of a Glacier by
The name that became common in travel books and other literature in the 19th century, however, is its current name linking the mountain to the village of Gerlachov at its foot. Gerlachov (Gerlahfalva Gerlsdorf is a Village and Municipality in Poprad District in the Prešov Region of northern Slovakia, under [8] It echoed the oldest known undifferentiated reference to the peaks on or near Gerlachov's municipal lands, Gerlachfalvenses montes (Latin with Hungarian elements for the "Gerlachov Village Mountains"), in a drawing of the High Tatras from 1717. [9] It also paralleled the name Gerlsdorfer Spitze (Gerlachov Peak)[10] used by the first person to identify it as the highest peak in the Tatras in 1838 (see below), which was rendered as gerlachovský chochol (Gerlach crest) in a Slovak version of his report in 1851. Gerlachovský štít ( translated into English as Gerlachov Peak, Gerlachovský Peak or Gerlach Peak) is the highest peak in the High Tatras [11] Several other mountains in the High Tatras have acquired their names from villages in the foothills.
Once it was determined that the mountain was the highest point in the region, the succession of the authorities that held control over it took an interest in its name and changed it periodically for symbolic reasons. In 1896, while Slovakia was part of Austria-Hungary, the highest peak of the Carpathians received its first government-sponsored name − after the contemporary head of state Emperor Francis Joseph I. Franz Joseph I Karl (- German, in English Francis Joseph I Charles, see the name in other languages) (18 August 1830 &ndash 21 November [12] Guidebooks sometimes did not catch up on this formal change. [13] After the dissolution of the monarchy in 1918, the mountain continued to be known simply as Gerlachovský štít because it belonged to the village of Gerlachov. Gerlachov (Gerlahfalva Gerlsdorf is a Village and Municipality in Poprad District in the Prešov Region of northern Slovakia, under The Polish government, claiming the territory of the High Tatras for Poland, simultaneously called the mountain Szczyt Polski (Polish Peak), but never gained control over it. High Tatras or High Tatra (Slovak and Czech Vysoké Tatry, Polish Tatry Wysokie) are a Mountain range on the borders between Slovakia Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland [12] The new Czechoslovak government changed the name to Štít legionárov (Legionnaires Peak) in honor of the Czechoslovak Legions in 1923, but the name was dropped in favor of the earlier Gerlachovský štít in 1932. Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Czechoslovak Legions ( Československé legie in Czech and Slovak were Czech and Slovak volunteer armed forces fighting together with the Entente powers [14] As a result of the Communist coup d’etat in 1948, the mountain was renamed once more − to Stalinov štít (Stalin Peak) in 1949. Joseph Stalin ( ნამდვილი გვარი ჯუღაშვილი|Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili; March 5 1953 was General Secretary of the Communist Party [15] Its traditional name Gerlachovský štít was restored yet again a decade later and has remained unchanged through the present.
Gerlachovský štít was not always considered the highest mountain in the Tatras. After the first official measurement of peaks in the Tatras in the Habsburg Monarchy in the 18th century, Kriváň (2,494 m) was considered highest. Habsburg Monarchy (alternatively Habsburg Empire) refers to the territories ruled by the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg, and then by the successor Kriváň ( is a mountain in the High Tatras, Slovakia, that dominates the upper part of the former Liptov County Other peaks aspiring to the status of the highest mountain at that time were Lomnický štít (2,633 m) and Ľadový štít (2,627 m). Lomnický štít (Lomnický peak is one of the highest and most visited mountain peaks in the High Tatras mountains in Slovakia. The first person to accurately name Gerlachovský štít as the highest peak was the forester Ľudovít Greiner in 1838. Ludwig Greiner was an influential 19th-century forest and lumber industry management expert who improved the effectiveness of woodland valuation methods in the Kingdom [16] Greiner’s measurement was formally confirmed by an Austrian Army survey party in 1868. However, it was generally accepted only after the Vienna Military Institute for Geography issued a new, authoritative collection of maps of Central Europe in ca. Central Europe is the Region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and 1875. [17][18]
The first confirmed ascent was made by Ján Still from the village of Nová Lesná in 1834. Nová Lesná (Alsóerdőfalva Neuwalddorf is a Village and Municipality in Poprad District in the Prešov Region of northern Slovakia In 1880, the routes through the Velická próba (Velická Challenge) and Batizovská próba (Batizovská Challenge) were secured by chains.
Only members of a national UIAA club are allowed to climb the peak on their own. Other visitors have to take a certified mountain guide. The two easiest routes, usually up the Velická próba and down the Batizovská próba named after their respective valleys, are protected by chains. Because of an exposed section along the Velická próba and tricky orientation especially on the ridge, both are among the more difficult routes without need for climbing gear in the High Tatras. [19] With no snow, guidebooks grade the routes as a II or III climb (UIAA scale)[1] or lower. In Rock climbing, Mountaineering and other Climbing disciplines climbers give a climbing grade to a route that concisely describes the difficulty In Rock climbing, Mountaineering and other Climbing disciplines climbers give a climbing grade to a route that concisely describes the difficulty [20] The total elevation gain is about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) for those who spend the night at the Sliezsky Dom Hotel[21] or are driven there by a mountain guide, and about 1,665 m (5,460 ft) for those who hike from Tatranská Polianka. Vysoké Tatry (literally High Tatras) informally Mesto Vysoké Tatry (literally The Town of High Tatras) is a town in the High Tatras In winter, Gerlachovský štít offers a challenging alpine climb, with mixed climbing and a risk of avalanches. [1]
The unmarked trailhead is on the green-marked trail leading up Velická Valley near the southern edge of the first plateau (Kvetnica) above the Sliezsky Dom. The equally unmarked, indistinct route to Gerlach veers off north-west towards the mountain's eastern slopes at the elevation of ca. 1,815 m (5,950 ft), but occasional cairns begin to appear farther on. The fastest and easiest descent is down the Batizovská próba. [19] Mountain guides always follow the route in the east-west direction, ascending from Velická Valley and descending into Batizovská Valley, in order to reduce logjams.
Two most popular multi-pitch routes for technical climbing are on the eastern and south-western walls. [19] Both are exceptionally long and situated on solid granite walls. Granite (ˈɡrænɪt is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, Felsic, igneous rock. The best season for climbing is mid September to mid October or until the snow falls. [1] Another good season lasts from late June to early August.
The route to Gerlachovský štít falls under the Tatra National Park ordinance, according to which hikers who depart from marked trails may be subject to fines unless they are UIAA members, or are led by an IFMGA-certified mountain guide. Tatra(s National Park (Tatranský národný park abbr TANAP is one of the nine national parks in Slovakia. The Union Internationale des Associations de Guides de Montagnes is the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations known alternatively by its French German and Camping is subject to similar restrictions. Rangers and some mountain guides are authorized to collect fines on the spot. Cairns that hikers build to mark the trailhead are periodically taken apart.
Although authors estimate that at least some of the manifestations of altitude sickness may appear at elevations as low as 1,500-2,400 m (4,900-7,900 ft)[22] and it affects the fit and unfit in equal measure, its incidence is reported as lower than 1% even at elevations of 4,600 m (15,000 ft)[23] and has not been reported in the Tatras. Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness ( AMS) altitude illness, or soroche, is a pathological condition that is caused by acute Low air pressure begins to have marginal but detectable effects at the summit (2654. 4 m; 8,708. 7 ft). Water boils at about 91. 5 °C (197 °F)[24] and arterial oxygen saturation is about 8% lower than at most visitors' places of residence,[25] but it is difficult to distinguish slight oxygen deprivation at the summit from fatigue caused by the exertion required to reach it. Oxygen saturation is a relative measure of the amount of Oxygen that is Dissolved or carried in a given medium Authors speak of possible minimal sensory impairment above 1,500 m (4,920 ft). Unlike fitness, age in itself is not a determinant factor in reaching the highest point in the Tatras. The famed Tatra guide Ján Počúvaj took clients to the summit of Gerlach until the age of 76. [26]
Like a 19th-century comment in a British guidebook, "impressive and picturesque",[27] modern hikers usually appreciate the panoramic view of the highest and many other peaks in the High Tatras, from Kriváň in the west to Široká in the north and Lomnický štít in the east. Kriváň ( is a mountain in the High Tatras, Slovakia, that dominates the upper part of the former Liptov County Lomnický štít (Lomnický peak is one of the highest and most visited mountain peaks in the High Tatras mountains in Slovakia. Farther on, but often visible, are the eastern Low Tatras in the south and part of the Belianske Tatras in the east. The Low Tatras or Low Tatra (Nízke Tatry Alacsony Tátra is a Mountain range in central Slovakia. Belianske Tatras (Belianske Tatry is a mountain range in the Eastern Tatras in North Central Slovakia Better than usual visibility, a rare occurrence except in the fall and winter, is needed to see the Stolické vrchy, Volovské vrchy, the Slovak Paradise region, and Branisko. Slovak Paradise National Park ( Slovak: Národný park Slovenský raj) is one of the nine national parks in Slovakia, situated in East Slovakia Branisko (or Branyiszko) is a mountain range in eastern Slovakia, between the Spiš and Šariš regions Quite exceptionally, visibility may extend to the Austrian Alps and the Polish–Czech Giant Mountains hundreds of miles away. Eastern Alps is the name given to the eastern half of the Alps, usually defined as the area east of the Splügen Pass in eastern Switzerland. The Karkonosze ( Polish) or Krkonoše ( Czech) also known as the Giant Mountains (Riesengebirge is a Mountain range in the [28]
Hikers' reported enjoyment of the view is at least partly attributable to their awareness that they are at the highest point in all of northern and eastern Central Europe. Central Europe is the Region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and Visibility is merely 10 km (6 miles) or less on most summer afternoons because of the amount of water vapor in the air or because of cloudiness (fog). Days with afternoon visibility of 50 km (30 miles) or more are common only later in the fall and in winter. [29] The view is partly blocked by the long ridge of Končistá in the west, areas near the mountain towards the south and north are obscured by the Gerlach massif itself. Several other summits in the High Tatras, including some with marked trails, offer more spectacular views with precipitous drops, varied scenery, and encompassing vistas. [30]
The effects of high-altitude weather on those who ascend Gerlachovský štít may be more pronounced than its altitude alone. The temperature gradient between the Tatra mountain resorts (900-1,350 m; 2,950-4,430 ft) and the summit can be steep. In atmospheric sciences ( Meteorology, Climatology and related fields the temperature gradient (typically of air, more generally of any Fluid [31] Low air temperature higher up can be masked by high insolation under clear skies, but will take its effect with increased cloud cover. Insolation is a measure of Solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given time [32] Combined with windy conditions, the impact may be considerably detrimental even without rain or snow. The summit disappears in the clouds for periods of time on most days,[33] which translates to fog at that elevation and possible disorientation[34] as well as anxiety.
While temperatures are somewhat lower on Gerlachovský štít because of its elevation, the weather and its potential impact on visitors is little different from other summits in the High Tatras both with and without marked trails. The typical daily weather pattern in the summer is a clear morning, clouds gathering by mid-morning—noon, occasional showers and storms in the afternoon. The chance of rain is lowest between 9-10 AM and peaks between 2-3 PM, with a drop-off after 6 PM. The frequency of storms with lightning (as opposed to rainstorms) on Gerlach's summit and on the other highest ridges is little different from lower elevations,[35] too, but people exposed to wind, (sometimes freezing) rain, and lightning have greater difficulty to cope. The nearest shelter for those who ascend Gerlach is the Sliezsky Dom Hotel, there are no natural shelters along the route.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air temperature 2–3 pm, Celsius |
-11 | -11 | -8 | -5 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | -1 | -6 | -9 |
| Air temperature 2–3 pm, Fahrenheit |
12 | 12 | 17 | 23 | 32 | 37 | 41 | 41 | 36 | 10 | 21 | 16 |
| Precipitation in centimeters |
12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 15 |
| Days with storms and lightning | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Days with summit 10+ min. in clouds (low visibility) |
21 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 |
| Days with rime ice | 19 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 19 |
| Days with snowfall[37] | 19 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 19 |
| Days with snow cover >1 cm (0. Hard rime is a white Ice that forms when the Water droplets in Fog freeze to the outer surfaces of objects 4 in) |
31 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 24 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 28 | 31 |
| Days with visibility >20 km (12. 4 mi) at 2–3 pm |
15 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 17 | 15 | 15 |