// Trip Reports  

Report name	The Ladies College - Slovakia Mala Fatra 2005
Date submitted	Sep-05

The group began their Duke of Edinburgh's Award Gold Expedition with a short flight from Guernsey to Stansted airport, where I met them with yet more equipment to force into their already full kit bags. The team of six friends from the island were Abigail, Lucy, Lucia, Emmie, Chantelle and Chloe.

We flew from Stansted to the Slovakian Capital, Bratislavia, where we were met at the airport by our in country guides Petr and Andrea. Despite being nearly midnight, the team's excitement for the coming expedition was high and gained a new level still when our VW minibus turned up with playboy bunny seat covers and fairy light decorations inside!

Day one saw us on our first acclimatisation walk from our hotel in the village of Vratna. Trekking and climbing fixed ladders through the stunning ‘Janosikove Diery Canyons’. Passing and climbing over waterfalls and streams and stopping at view points that look out across the forested Mala Fatra, with the chance of seeing eagles.

Day two and we were walking up a steep ski run, minus snow of course, towards the start of the horseshoe ridge that leads to ‘Velky Krivan’ at 1,708m and the highest point in this part of the Tatras. The ridge and the summit views were stunning, as were the meadows, full of wild flowers, that stretched out below us on either side and down to the surrounding valleys. Despite finding the climb up to the start of the ridge arduous, the girls were glad to have made it to the top for the views and the exciting descent that followed.

The next day saw us all catching an early bus from our very nice but very yellow hotel in Vratna, to the nearby village of Varin and the start of the four-day Gold Expedition. The trek began with a short walk out of the town to the town's old castle perched on top of a rock outcrop overlooking the main river. Once past this, the climbing toward the main ridge began in earnest with the team's full expedition sacks making the going tough in places.

Around lunchtime, what had sounded like distant artillery shots or blasting at a quarry somewhere nearby, turned out to be a fast moving summer storm laden with marble sized hail. After about twenty minutes of hiding under trees from the hail storm bombardment, the storm passed over and the sun returned to dry us all out. The rest of the day stayed warm and fine and saw us camping at the bottom of a ski run in stunning meadows and with the use of a giant open-fronted wooden tepee to cook in and sit around a big open fire.

Day two of the expedition saw less climbing and the opportunity to eat as many wild blueberries as you could manage. The weather was perfect for walking and for those who walked quietly enough there was plenty of wildlife to see, including foxes, deer and woodpeckers. Needless to say the girls saw very little due to plenty of talking and laughing, but maybe that was a good thing!

Our camp this night was tucked away by a clearing in the forest, with a natural spring once again being our source of fresh water and for those brave enough to endure the very cold temperature, a very refreshing open air shower. That night another open fire saw us relaxing under the stars and acted as a deterrent to wild animals as we were now getting deeper into bear territory!

Day three and we continued along our undulating ridge to ‘Klak’ the highest point of our route and a beautiful rocky buttress that stands clearly above its forested surroundings. Once again, the views and the weather were stunning and provided an excellent photo opportunity. Our camp this night was the best of all, situated at the top of a large wild meadow just below the summit of ‘Klak’. Once again the wild camp had its own supply of water from a natural spring and a large open fire, as well as a tiny hunting cabin complete with wood stove and axes for fire wood collection. Probably one of the most idyllic wild camps I’ve ever stayed at and enjoyed by all.

Day four saw a few more big descents and ascents as we made our way to the village of Cicmany and the end of the expedition. Some of the descents got the better of the girls, who turned up in the village at around 6pm looking like they had been purposely sliding down the muddy paths on their bums. A good meal and cold drink were then enjoyed at a local hotel, before a short walk to our last night’s camp just outside the village.

The next day we relaxed in Cicmany and visited the local museum before being bussed to a nearby hotel where much deserved showers were enjoyed and a trip to a local swimming pool and hot tub finished the expedition off in style.

The following morning we headed by minibus (our playboy bunny seat covers again) to Bratislavia and enjoyed a day’s sight seeing, eating, more eating and shopping in the historic old town. We flew out of Bratislavia back to Stansted early the next morning and said our goodbyes.

Thanks to Petr and Andrea for a great trip and a special well done and thank you to the girls for being such a fun and motivated group. Big thanks for the bear...we never did see a real one!

Doug McGraghan, Adventureworks expedition leader