Mountain guide: Taking children on some mountain climbs calls for social workers

Climbing irons enable people to climb steep, icy mountains but they will not protect them from falling, mountain guide Tibor Hromádka claims.

Tibor Hromádka has been a climber and ski-mountianeer since 1983. He has worked and climbed in High Tatras, Alps, Dolomites, Rocky Mountains, Yosemite, Pamire and in Himalaya. Tibor Hromádka has been a climber and ski-mountianeer since 1983. He has worked and climbed in High Tatras, Alps, Dolomites, Rocky Mountains, Yosemite, Pamire and in Himalaya. (Source: Courtesy of Tibor Hromádka)

Recently, frozen slippery snow caused several falls, which resulted in four fatalities in the Slovak mountains. In the freezing conditions in the Tatras during winter, an inexperienced person can die on a crowded hiking path where in summer pensioners can walk easily, mountain guide Tibor Hromádka says. Good equipment alone is not enough according to him: people have to learn how to fall safely.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

Sme: Why are people dying these days in the Tatras?

Tibor Hormádka (TH): This is the natural consequence of the current situation in the mountains. There is always a risk that cannot be avoided, and now the risk is further increased by the current conditions.

SkryťTurn off ads

Moreover, during holidays and school vacations, and when the weather is fine, more people come to the mountains.

Sme: What conditions do you mean?

TH: First, there was a thaw, and precipitation in the form of rain. Then it got cooler, so that the soft snow turned into ice. This also happens on the marked routes where many people pass. So the impression arises that nothing can happen to hikers there. But on the popular path to the Téry mountain chalet,there is a steep slope – and if you fall and cannot stop falling you can die.

The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.sk
Subscribe now for full access

I already have subscription - Sign in

Subscription provides you with:
  • Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk
  • Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail)
  • PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, emailed directly to you
  • Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk

Top stories

The tent sauna at Zlaté Piesky.

Have you ever bath in a sauna tent? You can try it at Zlaté Piesky

In addition to this sauna typical for Japan, sauna lovers can try four more outdoor saunas.


29. mar
Volkswagen will make all-electric versions of the Porsche Cayenne luxury SUV.

News Digest: Volkswagen Slovakia to produce all-electric luxury SUV

LGBT+ minority could face new difficulties, a suspect is charged in the Daniel Tupý murder case.


24. mar
Filip Toška holding chard in the hydroponic Hausnatura farm.

How a Mayan doomsday prophecy took a Slovak to hi-tech agriculture

Hydroponic farm run out of former telephone exchange.


9. mar
A cup of coffee with a furry friend could help them find their new forever friend - and get you a new companion.

Weekend: Mingling with felines in Bratislava's cat cafes

Take a trip to mountain tarns, old-timey cinematography and cats.


31. mar
SkryťClose ad