Introduction

Javorová dolina (“Maple valley”) is an elongated valley in the north-eastern part of the High Tatras mountain range in Slovakia.

The general visitor can access the valley during the summer season, lasting from June to October. In winter, higher altitude areas in the Tatranský národný park (TANAP) must not be entered by tourists.

A demanding mountain tour I will depict in the following is crossing Javorová dolina, traverse the Sedlo sedielko mountain pass (2376 meters), descend to the Téryho chata (2015 meters), then through Malá studená dolina (“Small cold valley”) to the Zamkovského chata (1475 meters), and finish the tour in Starý Smokovec (1010 meters).

Javorová dolina, June 15th

Though actually being one of the more remote settlements at the periphery of the High Tatras, the starting point Tatranská Javorina (1000 meters) is not difficult to reach by public transport from Poprad-Tatry or Tatranská Lomnica. A bus departs at least hourly every morning and the fare is moderate (about three Euros at time of writing).

The trailhead has a green marking and lies next to the bus stop.

The tour’s first three hours are rather unspectacular from a mere mountaineering perspective. Of course the nature that unfolds in front of you, with the Belianske Tatry and the river Javorinka to the hiker’s left, is a delightful sight to behold.

When this first part is done, the appearance of the valley changes quite abruptly to a more or less bleak, mossy and steep terrain in Zadná Javorová dolina (“Rear Maple valley” would be a proper translation I think), with high mountains towering up menacingly in every direction.

Somewhat unusual, Zadná Javorová dolina and Javorová dolina are devoid of conspicious mountain lakes, barring one exception. Žabie Javorové pleso is a comparatively small lake a few hundred meters off the tourist trail, whether it is worth a short visit I can’t tell but what I can tell you it is a bit cumbersome to get there.

Important for me on this first day after the winter closure was one lingering question where will be encounters with more extensive snowfields, not at all an unlikely occurrence in the High Tatras in early summer.

I learned the situation at last and for certain as I reached the highest point at 2376 meters, after I had passed easily the handful of smaller snow piles that obstructed the way up to the actual mountain saddle.

The eastern slope was covered with a thick, wet and ominously looking white mass all the way down to Modré pleso (“Blue mountain lake” or “Blue tarn”; I am glad you asked, but a tarn is a mountain lake formed in a cirque) on 2189 meters.

Turning back and retracing my steps to Tatranská Javorina was not a desirable option, so I fetched my ice axe and climbed down the first hundred-odd meters in “free solo style”, lack of experience hence poor technique made this an exhausting endeavour.

After that, I was able to push forward in a more quickly manner for the slope flattened out a little, but I needed one and a half hours to cover the distance between Sedlo sedielko and the Téryho chata, usually this is supposed to take less than half the time.

Descending from the Téryho chata to Starý Smokovec is certainly something that should be easy. In fact, as this section is open all year round, I did not have to deal with any suspicious snow fields and could relax and enjoy the nature in the Malá studená dolina.

Alternative routes

Self-evidently, you can do the described tour the other way around, but take care not to miss the last bus in Tatranskà Javorina.

An alternative hike from Tatranská Javorina, in case of bad weather in particular, is a blue marked trail through the valley Zapadné Meďodoly at the foothills of the Belianske Tatry and across Kopské sedlo. You won’t encounter demanding and steep sections along the way here.

Furthermore, at Sedlo sedielko it is possible to make a visit to Malý Ľadový štít (2602 meters), what is, at least in dry weather, not difficult an ascent and a nice addition including some climbing and scrambling.

Featured image: Hrebeň Javorových veží (“Ridge of Maple Towers”)