| Gerlachovský štít | |
|---|---|
 Gerlachovský štít as seen from Granátová lávka | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,654.4 m (8,709 ft) |
| Prominence | 2,355 m (7,726 ft)[1][2] |
| Isolation | 510 km (320 mi) to Hochwildstelle |
| Listing | Ultra Country high point |
| Coordinates | 49°09′50.5″N20°08′02.5″E / 49.164028°N 20.134028°E /49.164028; 20.134028[3] |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Peak (of the village) ofGerlachov |
| Language of name | Slovak |
| Geography | |
  Gerlachovský štít Location in Prešov Region, Slovakia Show map of Prešov Region Gerlachovský štít Location in Slovakia Show map of Slovakia | |
| Location | Tatra National Park,Prešov, Slovakia |
| Parent range | High Tatras |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | granite |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1834 by Ján Still |
| Easiest route | Scramble |
Gerlachovský štít (Slovak pronunciationⓘ, translated into English asGerlachov Peak, German:Gerlsdorfer Spitze, Hungarian:Gerlachfalvi-csúcs), informally referred to asGerlach, is the highest peak in theHigh Tatras, inSlovakia, and in theCarpathian Mountains. Its elevation is usually listed at 2654.4 mabove sea level. The mountain features a vertical rise of approximately 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above the valley floor.[4]
Mistaken for an average mountain in the rugged High Tatras range in the more distant past, it has since played a symbolic role in the eyes of the rulers and populations of several Central European nations, to the point that between the 19th and mid-20th century, it had four different names with six name reversals. Due to geopolitical changes, it was successively the highest mountain of theKingdom of Hungary, and ofCzechoslovakia,Slovakia and then Czechoslovakia again within the span of less than three decades of the 20th century.
Gerlachovský štít shares its geology and ecology with the rest of theHigh Tatras. With the travel restrictions imposed by theEastern Bloc, the mountain was particularly treasured by Czechs, East Germans, Hungarians, Poles, and Slovaks as a high mountain available for them to climb. Although local authorities have since restricted access to the peak, it continues to attract its share of visitors.
Gerlachovský štít means the "Peak (of the village) ofGerlachov". TheSlovak colloquial (unofficial) name isGerlach. ThePolish official names areGerlach orGierlach, while itsPolish colloquial names areGirlach andGarłuch.[5][6][7] The origin of the name of the village of Gerlachov itself is uncertain. It could be named after a lord of the area, or after the gravel in a nearby river.[8]
The peak's earliest recorded name was theSzepes-German[9]Kösselberg (Cauldron Mountain) on a map from 1762.[10] The Slovak name of the mountain was first recorded asKotol, also meaning "Cauldron", in 1821.[11]
Its current name became widely used in the 19th century, and links the mountain to the village ofGerlachov (Carpathian German: Gerlsdorf)) at its foot.[12] The nameGerlsdorfer Spitze (Gerlachov Peak) was used by the first person to identify the mountain as the highest peak in the Tatras in 1838;[13] this was rendered asgerlachovský chochol (Gerlach crest) in a Slovak version of his report in 1851.[14]
Once it was determined that the mountain was the highest point in the region, the succession of the authorities that held control over it took an interest in its name and changed it periodically for symbolic reasons. In 1896, as part ofAustria-Hungary, it was named after state EmperorFrancis Joseph I.[15] After the dissolution of the monarchy in 1918, the mountain continued to be known simply asGerlachovský štít because it belonged to the village ofGerlachov. The Polish government, claiming the territory of theHigh Tatras for Poland, simultaneously called the mountainSzczyt Polski (Polish Peak), but never gained control over it.[15] The newCzechoslovak government changed the name toŠtít legionárov (Legionnaires Peak) in honor of theCzechoslovak Legions in 1923, but the name was dropped in favor of the earlierGerlachovský štít in 1932.[16] As a result of theCommunist coup d'état in 1948, the mountain was renamed once more − toStalinov štít (Stalin Peak) in 1949.[7] Its traditional nameGerlachovský štít was restored yet again in 1959.[17]
Gerlachovský štít was not always considered the highest mountain in the Tatras. After the first official measurement of peaks in the Tatras during the period of theHabsburg monarchy in the 18th century,Kriváň (2,494 m) was considered the highest. Other candidate peaks for the status of the highest mountain at that time wereLomnický štít (2,633 m) andĽadový štít (2,627 m). The first person to accurately name Gerlachovský štít as the highest peak was the foresterĽudovít (Ludwig) Greiner in 1838.[13][18][19] Greiner's measurement was formally confirmed by an Austrian Army survey party in 1868. However, it was generally accepted only after the Vienna Military Institute for Geography issued a new, authoritative collection of maps of Central Europe inc. 1875.[20][21]
The first confirmed ascent was made by Ján (Johann) Still from the village ofNová Lesná in 1834.[22]
Only members of a nationalUnion Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA) club are allowed to climb the peak on their own.[23] Other visitors have to take a certified mountain guide. The two easiest routes, usually up theVelická próba and down theBatizovská próba named after their respective valleys, have been protected by chains since 1880.[24] Because of an exposed section along theVelická próba and tricky orientation especially on the ridge, both are among the more difficultscrambling routes in the High Tatras.[25] With no snow, guidebooksgrade the routes as a II or III climb (UIAA scale)[4] or lower.[26]
The total elevation gain is about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) for those who spend the night at the Sliezsky Dom Hotel[27] or are driven there by a mountain guide, and about 1,665 m (5,463 ft) for those who hike fromTatranská Polianka. In winter, Gerlachovský štít offers a challenging alpine climb, with mixed climbing and a risk of avalanches.[4]
Two multi-pitch routes for technical climbing are on the eastern and south-western walls.[25] Both are exceptionally long and situated on solidgranite walls.[4]
The route to Gerlachovský štít falls under theTatra National Park ordinance, according to which hikers who depart from marked trails may be subject to fines[28] unless they are UIAA members, or are led by a certified mountain guide.[23]
The effects of high-altitude weather on those who ascend Gerlachovský štít may be more pronounced than its altitude alone. Thetemperature gradient between the Tatra mountain resorts (900–1,350 m or 2,950–4,430 ft) and the summit can be steep.[29] Low air temperature higher up can be masked by highinsolation under clear skies, but will take its effect with increased cloud cover.[30] Combined with windy conditions, the impact may be considerably detrimental even without rain or snow. The summit disappears in the clouds for periods of time on most days,[31] which translates to fog at that elevation and a risk of disorientation.[32]
While temperatures are somewhat lower on Gerlachovský štít because of its elevation, the weather and its potential impact on visitors is little different from other summits in the High Tatras both with and without marked trails. The typical daily weather pattern in the summer is a clear morning, clouds gathering by around noon, and occasional showers and storms in the afternoon. The chance of rain is lowest between 9–10 am and peaks between 2–3 pm, with a drop-off after 6 pm. The frequency of storms with lightning (as opposed to rainstorms) on Gerlach's summit and on the other highest ridges is little different from lower elevations.[33]
| Climate data for Lomnický štít,49°11′43″N20°12′47″E / 49.19528°N 20.21306°E /49.19528; 20.21306, 2,635 m (8,645 ft) amsl, (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1952–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 5.0 (41.0) | 6.2 (43.2) | 7.5 (45.5) | 10.0 (50.0) | 16.0 (60.8) | 21.0 (69.8) | 19.5 (67.1) | 24.0 (75.2) | 14.5 (58.1) | 13.0 (55.4) | 11.1 (52.0) | 10.0 (50.0) | 24.0 (75.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −7.3 (18.9) | −7.7 (18.1) | −5.8 (21.6) | −1.7 (28.9) | 2.9 (37.2) | 6.9 (44.4) | 8.7 (47.7) | 9.0 (48.2) | 4.5 (40.1) | 1.1 (34.0) | −2.7 (27.1) | −6.2 (20.8) | 0.1 (32.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −10.1 (13.8) | −10.6 (12.9) | −8.9 (16.0) | −4.7 (23.5) | −0.2 (31.6) | 3.5 (38.3) | 5.2 (41.4) | 5.6 (42.1) | 1.6 (34.9) | −1.6 (29.1) | −5.3 (22.5) | −8.8 (16.2) | −2.9 (26.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −12.9 (8.8) | −13.4 (7.9) | −11.8 (10.8) | −7.5 (18.5) | −2.9 (26.8) | 0.6 (33.1) | 2.4 (36.3) | 2.9 (37.2) | −0.9 (30.4) | −4.1 (24.6) | −7.8 (18.0) | −11.5 (11.3) | −5.6 (21.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −30.8 (−23.4) | −30.0 (−22.0) | −31.3 (−24.3) | −22.8 (−9.0) | −17.0 (1.4) | −12.0 (10.4) | −8.0 (17.6) | −11.0 (12.2) | −12.2 (10.0) | −19.9 (−3.8) | −28.9 (−20.0) | −30.0 (−22.0) | −31.3 (−24.3) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 176.9 (6.96) | 170.3 (6.70) | 182.1 (7.17) | 165.3 (6.51) | 149.1 (5.87) | 156.5 (6.16) | 193.7 (7.63) | 140.8 (5.54) | 120.3 (4.74) | 126.3 (4.97) | 154.0 (6.06) | 167.1 (6.58) | 1,902.4 (74.90) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 16.5 | 16.1 | 17.2 | 15.9 | 16.2 | 15.9 | 17.0 | 12.9 | 11.8 | 13.1 | 14.2 | 16.7 | 183.4 |
| Average snowy days | 20.3 | 19.0 | 21.6 | 19.9 | 16.1 | 8.3 | 5.7 | 4.6 | 9.4 | 13.8 | 17.5 | 19.6 | 175.8 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 70.7 | 73.6 | 74.8 | 80.9 | 85.0 | 84.9 | 84.4 | 81.3 | 78.2 | 73.1 | 74.5 | 72.0 | 77.8 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 124.0 | 129.1 | 164.8 | 172.6 | 168.9 | 159.3 | 168.7 | 179.6 | 166.4 | 165.8 | 121.1 | 111.2 | 1,831.5 |
| Source:NOAA[34][35] | |||||||||||||
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