Tatra Mountains. Hard -working picnic of TOPR rescuers. Statistics and current conditions

26 people during the four days of picnics were helped by TOPR rescuers in the Tatra Mountains. The most serious events concerned four people who collapsed at a high height. As the rescuers emphasized, six people went to the mountains despite the lack of preparation necessary even in good weather.

Despite the good weather in the highest Polish mountains, rescuers had their hands full. According to the Tatra Volunteer Ambulance Service, rescuers helped in the Tatra Mountains during the picnic (from 1 to 4 May) 26 people. This is less than last year, when they helped 37 people, but more than two years ago – then 11 people needed help.

During the May 2023, however, the weather discouraged from going to the mountains. This time it was sunny, so crowds of tourists set off in the Tatra Mountains.

Falls, trips, hiking without preparation

The most serious interventions concerned four people who fell from high altitudes. Three of these falls took place in the area of ​​Rysy. “It is still one of the most dangerous places in the Polish Tatras” – emphasized TOPR rescuers.

According to the summary of the Tatra Volunteer Ambulance, 10 people needed help after slipping or mistaken. “It shows how important focus is even on seemingly easy fragments of the trail,” the rescuers pointed out.

In turn, six people did not have adequate equipment or skills to move in conditions prevailing in the higher parts of the mountains. According to rescuers, there were also two cases of sudden illness requiring help.

There were no fatal accidents in the Polish Tatras in the picnic. However, earlier – on Sunday, April 27 – Two tourists were killed in the area of ​​Rysyand three other people were downloaded by lifeguards from the summit.

“Thank you to all tourists who have been responsible for going to the mountains. We remind you for the others – good weather does not eliminate threats, and the spring conditions in the Tatras are still very demanding. Especially above the shelters there is snow and ice – appropriate equipment (crayfish, ice ax, helmet) and the ability to use them are necessary” – we read in a picnic summary of TOPR.

Difficult conditions in the Tatra Mountains after a picnic

After a picnic in the Tatra Mountains, tourists must prepare for difficult conditions. Although we already have spring in the calendar, in the upper parts of the mountains the landscape resembles winter here and there – there is snow. It is slippery, and this threatens to fall from a high altitude.

As the Tatra National Park informs in its tourist communication, due to rain and rain with snow on the trails, it is wet, slippery and muddy. “The low cloud ceiling significantly reduces visibility above the upper forest border, which can lead to loss of orientation in the field and crazy” – warn the naturalists.

“In the upper parts of the Tatra Mountains, especially in Żlebach and on the north side, there is still a significant amount of snow. In the morning it is hard and frozen, while in the afternoon, as the temperature increases, it becomes wet and disappearing. Moving in these parts of the Tatra Mountains, you should have experience in winter mountain tourism and appropriate winter equipment (Raki, Czekan, helmet). TPN tourist communication.

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