03 August 2009

Kmeťov Vodopád

What this walk lacked in vertical, we made up for in distance and speed.  Along the path from Podbanské, we were treated with fresh wild blueberries almost the whole way -- which was excellent until I spotted this sign:
 
Whoops! They tasted even better when they were verboten.
After a few kilometers, the famous peak Kriváň, a symbol of Slovakia, becomes visible.  Look for it on the tail of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cent Slovak euro coins:
Kriváň, on the right, hiding behind the clouds.


Finally, we got to the waterfall, the tallest in the High Tatras:

where the water was cool and tasty, and the forest was a verdant green.  This was a nice change from large parts of the walk, where the forest has been destroyed by some kind of bug that's killed much of the pine forest.

This walk was really more strenuous than it appeared.  The next day I was a bit sore, which could be the result of my shoes nearing the end of their usefulness -- but even though it's a level walk in a beautiful valley with wild blueberries along Kôprovský potok, it requires more effort and strength than it appears.  Forewarned is forearmed!

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