snowshoe trekking (2-3 days) in High Tatra? (6 persons)

GeertThreads: 2 Joined: Nov 27, 08	Nov 27, 08, 20:26 / #
Hello, On Saturday the 27th of December, I will arrive in Zakopane with 5 other Belgian people. On Sunday the 28th of December, we would like to start a 2-3 day hike on snowshoes with 1-2 nights in mountain shelters in the High Tatra. On Tuesday the 30th of December, we have to arrive again in Zakopane en then go to Krakow. We are looking for a beautiful, not too dangerous and not too crowded tour. Pure nature, with overnight stays at typical Polish mountain shelters/huts where meals are served! :-) We have a few 3 day tours in our mind: Zakopane -> Lysa Polana - Morskie Oko (NIGHT) - Schronisko Pieciu Stawach (NIGHT) - Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza - Lysa Polana -> Zakopane OR Zakopane -> Lysa Polana - Morskie Oko - Schronisko Pieciu Stawach (NIGHT) - Zawrat - Murowaniec (NIGHT) - Zakopane - Are these two tours possible in winter with snowshoes? Risque of avalanches? Do you really need a professional guide? Are these crowded tours? - Is the part Kasprowy Wierch - Zawrat possible in winter or do you need a guide? - Is it possible to stay in the mountain shelters/huts in winter and get meals? Cost? - Is it easy to hire snowshoes in Zakopane? Cost? Other suggestions/tips for 2-3 day snowshoe hikes, if possible without a guide? Thanks a lot in advance. Kind regards, Geert (from Belgium)

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07	Edited by: plk123 Nov 27, 08, 23:28 / #
http://english.pttk.pl/ http://katalog.pttk.pl/index.php?kat1=G%F3ry&kat2=Polska&kat3=Tatry the english part of the site is pretty sparse. i'm pretty sure all of the are open all winter and are foot accessible but not sure in between them. the other thing is snow shoes, not sure if those are readily available. also, unless you're an experienced mountain man, i am not sure if i'd be hitting the high tatras in the winter counting on the shelters and meals. morksie oko: lapinska.maria.webpark.pl/ piec stawow: http://www.piecstawow.pl/ceny.html avalanches can happen anytime up there, it really depends on the conditions. if you're not experienced winter and maintain person, don't do it.