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Your Krakow Pub Crawl Guides Guide To Hiking in Zakopane's Western Tatras

A Rude Awakening

So this blog is about a hike I did last week. Not about Krakow pub crawls, parties, drinking alcohol or dancing the night away. Nope, sometimes I'm healthy! Throughout this blog as my friends didn't want to be names I will refer to them all as my friend, my friends girlfriend, my friends girlfriends dad, mum sister etc.

When I agreed to go hiking in Zakopane, I didn't know that I was agreeing to be awake at 3:30 a.m. But hey, I was nudged awake by my mate in the wee dark hours, and I realized my error.

"Get up! Get up, we're going hiking. You said you would come." "What's the time?" I said, half asleep. He replied, "3:30. We leave at 4. Hurry up and get ready."

The Journey Begins

For those who don't know, Zakopane is often called the "winter capital of Poland". It's a popular resort town at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, known for its unique wooden architecture, vibrant folklore, and excellent skiing in winter. In summer, it's a gateway to some of Poland's best hiking trails.

So we're up early, driving to Zakopane. Everything's dark, no cars on the road. Apparently, we're leaving so early because the trail gets super busy. If you get there early, when nobody's around, you'll have it all to yourself.

A Chilly Realisation

I packed a jersey, some pants, and running shoes, thinking I'd be okay. But as soon as we got out of the car into the Western Tatras (Tatry Zachodnie), I realised my error. Mountains are cold… even when it's not winter haha.

Fun fact: The Western Tatras are part of the Tatra National Park, which was established in 1954 and is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The park is home to numerous rare plant and animal species, including the Tatra chamois and marmots.

Sunrise and Sweet Treats

As soon as the sun started coming up, I discovered for the first time how beautiful this side of the mountain was. The Western Tatras are known for their stunning landscapes, with jagged peaks, lush valleys, and crystal-clear mountain lakes.

Even better than that, I found out we had treats! My friend's girlfriend's dad is a baker, which is amazing! He made us all kinds of Polish treats like kokardki (sweet buns). The best sweet buns I had ever had!

The False Summit

We wanted to reach the top of the mountain before sunrise, but we didn't quite make it. The hike was reasonably hard but I've been running a lot so I felt pretty good. Me and my friend's girlfriend's dad got very competitive. The last or what I thought was the last climb I decided to run.

I sprinted to the top and looked back over the ledge waiting for everyone that I had just beaten. The top was stunning, clouds everywhere. It felt like standing on Olympus. Very, very cool.

The Long Journey Ahead

I thought, "That was awesome! Can't wait to head back down and go home." But looking around I noticed that even though we were pretty high there were slightly higher peaks off in the distance. "Nooooo wayyy". So I tentatively asked if we would be heading down now? Everyone laughed at me saying I used all my energy up and we aren't even half way. This was when I found out the hike would be around 42km.

For context, the Western Tatras have several peaks over 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) high. The highest peak in this range is Starorobociański Wierch at 2,176 meters (7,139 feet). Our hike likely took us through some of these challenging terrains.

Lessons Learned

So by the time we got down the mountain, I realised a few things:

1. Pace yourself. Don't show off like an idiot.

2. Bring lots of treats. They make the hike so much more enjoyable.

3. Getting up early is worth it. The trail was empty on the way up, but super busy on the way down.

A Delicious Finish

Oh, and we capped off the day with a Polish-style pizza topped with bacon, oscypek cheese, and cranberry. Delicious.

Speaking of oscypek, I've spoken about it on previous blogs. It's delicious! It's a smoked cheese made of salted sheep milk, and it's a local specialty of the Tatra Mountain region. It's been produced in Zakopane and the surrounding areas for centuries and even has a protected designation of origin status in the European Union. Trying it is a must for any visitor to the area!

Final Thoughts

This was one of my favorite day trips I've had here in Poland. Made even better by the beautiful Polish family I had the privilege of accompanying.

For anyone planning a similar trip, remember that the Tatra National Park has strict rules to protect its unique ecosystem. Stick to marked trails, don't litter, and respect wildlife. Also, always check the weather forecast and be prepared for sudden changes – mountain weather can be unpredictable!

And after your Zakopane trip if you're still in the mood to PARTY, don't forget to come join me on the krakowanimalscrawl, till next time!