Last year I travelled to the High Tatra mountains in Slovakia a few times to visit my old friend Štefan, whom I know since the 80ies. I have been there so many times, but it was only last year I noticed the so-called Sherpas who carry large weights on their back with a rather improvised rack made of wood and shoulder straps cut from firehose. Having been a necessity in former times, today it is also a popular way to train your endurance. Many sherpas have other professions and just pick up the rack from time to time. And certainly not for the little money, but for all kinds of reasons be it training, medidation, enjoying nature or for the challenge. Six huts in the High Tatra mountains are still served by sherpas and they seem to be the last ones in Europe. In Slovakia they have been acknowledged as part of the national immaterial heritage.
So last autumn I went again to the Tatra which greeted me with its wonderful colours.
Meeting the Sherpas, I was fascinated by their spirit and philosophy. In order to dive deeper into the issue, I climbed up to the highest hut, Chata pod Rysmi at an altitude of almost 2.300m, (with only about 10 kilos and my camera). Although the sherpa business is mostly a man’s world, you can also find some women here and there. That is how I met Denisa who was going to come up to the highest hut, the next day. So I spent the night at the hut and got up early in the morning to walk towards her on the track, but it was so misty, that I could hardly see the mountains, let alone the track. I had no clue when she would reach the edge of a steep rocky slope where I had planned to meet her. But I was lucky. Just when I was about to give up, she emerged out of a thick wall of mist and fog and I could accompany her the last 300 meters with my camera.
Once a year, the famous Sherpa Rally takes place leading the the Chaty pod Rysmi as the point to reach. Whoever feels like it can take part. Since I was up on the hut anyway, I waited for the weather to clear up and made my way downwards to meet the raceres who are not all sherpas, but often sportsmen going on a slightly different kind of exercise. While men have to carry 60 kilos up the hill, it is 20 kilos for women. Here are some impressions.
To be continued this year…
Best wishes, Petra
P.S. I reorganised my website a bit, which is one of the reasons you have not heard from me for some time. There might be still some flaws in it, but take a look and let me know what you think about it.
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