Kiry - Pisana Glade - Krakow Gorge - Ornak shelter - Smreczyński Staw - Kiry: Tatra National Park.

A relatively relaxed hike through the Koscieliska Gorge to the Ornak Hut. The main path is well developed. There are a few caves left and right in the gorge that you can climb into. We left them out today. Entrance to the national park currently costs PLN 9 (09/2023).

🗺️ Start: Kira Parking 🎯 Destination: Kościeliska Valley 💵 Parking fee: PLN 50 💵 Ticket price to TPN: PLN 10 standard ticket I've been to Kościeliska Valley dozens of times, so I didn't see anything new. It's one of the places I like to go to when I don't have any ideas for a light mountain walk. We set off on the trail after 7 and there were already a lot of people, so it was going to be crowded. We took the green trail to the Shelter on Hala Ornak. The frost was making itself felt. The trail was generally very easy and pleasant. Even the lady on crutches could walk. We were at the parking lot after 11. 📝 Conclusions: * The highlanders are still charging big money for parking and cramming their cars like clothes in a closet. In the Beskids you can park for 15-20 PLN, and sometimes even for free, but here it's more expensive all the time, and parking lots are popping up like mushrooms after rain. * Entrance to the Park is also getting more expensive all the time. * Some people still can't navigate the trails. They walk in groups like sacred cows on the entire width of the road and don't even think about moving in front of someone coming from the opposite direction.

The hike starts in Kiry, a small district of Zakopane. First leads along the “Koscieliski” brook. After crossing the “Kantaka” gate, we enter the large meadow - “Wyżnia Kira Miętusia”, where sheep graze. In the local hut - Bacówka, you can try sheep's milk products (cheese - Oscypek, - similar to “Zéntyca” kefir). There are numerous hells that can be visited along the way. After we have passed the "polana pisana", the valley expands a little. At some point we will reach the PTTK Ornak refuge. Briefly stepped up went to the Szmerczynski lake. Small lake with benches in the middle of the forest. Nice leisurely tour 320 HM

Back quickly... Photos from the previous tour... Almost reached 7km/h... But the detour to a completely unnecessary and overcrowded restaurant cost me time... Otherwise it would have easily been 7km/h... Nice march... :-)

Beautiful route that is good for hiking. There are different routes with different levels of difficulty. Mountain hut with delicious food to recharge your batteries included. Lots of beautiful views of mountains and valleys. A visit to the cave is definitely worth it. Unfortunately, there is no longer any permanent lighting in the cave to protect the bats. That's why it's advisable to pack a flashlight or headlamp. There are other caves. But we haven't explored them yet.

A quick hike in Zakopane before I can check in. After having to pay the entrance fee, it was more like a highway with lots of people... But then there was a path a bit up... Icy... And lo and behold... great caves and the ideal place for lunch... The view and the cave were really great... It took a bit of time, but I was able to go at top speed on the highway... :-) Then back on the next tour... It was amazing... Despite the crowds on the main path, which is more useful for families with kids, it was a great round where you can pick up the pace and see beautiful caves...