r/trailrunning • u/interdit_et_oublie • 2m left
High Tatras Fall-Winter
3 days and 90k + 4500m elevation in High Tatras, Slovakia, where the mountains went from colorful autumn to a winter wonderland with 1m snow. It is my most favorite place on Earth for trail/sky running / mountaineering. This was my first time running in big mountains on snow, it has been equally ecstatic and humbling. I dnf’d three summits that I’ve previously done due to snow/wind conditions, not wanting to end up on the news like so many in these mountains.
I run in Norda 005 so while they performed greatlyon rocks and with added spikes on the snow and icy rocks, they were of course inevitably soaked wet like one hour into each run. Never been a winter trail person and having avoided goretex shoes, after learning how amazing snow running is, I want to invest into something more snow/winter-durable. Any of your current favorites are welcome; I’m considering Merrell Agility Peak 6 gtx.
I also want to give a massive shoutout to my new friend (colorful clothes in the pictures), a local in his 50s who turned out to be a very humble ex-trail racer who’s won lots of local trail races and scaled all 106 peaks in the mountain ridge. He took me up for a run from the foot of the mountain ridge at 7am for 14km and 1300m elevation without stopping at his “relaxed” pace. Mountain folks never cease to amaze me.