#6: [29-Sep-22]

#5: [11-May-15]

#3: [20-Nov-09]

#2: [07-Aug-05]

#1: [22-Jun-01]

03-Sep-2011 -- Continued from 49°N 019°E.

This is the most challenging Confluence Point on my trip along 49°N and thus I reviewed the reports of the previous visitors very carefully. They used to attack this point either from the south or from the west. I had been in the area six years ago and scouted the approach from the north east. In all case the CP requires a couple of kilometres hiking and walking uphill and all approaches do not differ much.

Thus I decided to try "my" approach. Drove from my hotel in Liptovský Mikuláš to the east, turned south in the village of Štrba, followed road 018147 until I reached a crossing at a bend (49°01.04'N,020°01.93'E, altitude: 813 meters), 3 kilometres beeline distance to the point.

I parked my car, grabbed my electronic gear, put drinks and food in my rucksack, applied sun block and donned my mountaineering boots.

At the crossing a paved forest road leads to the west. One could drive on this road, but there is a (open) barrier and a traffic sign, which prohibit any vehicle traffic. Despite of the traffic sign I encountered bicycles (should be OK, because it is a labelled biking trail) and a couple of cars. I am not sure if all of them had an official permission to drive on this road and I also cannot tell you if the barrier will ever be closed! So if you drive then on your own risk!

It was a pleasant hike in the chilly sunny morning on the road along the Čierny Váh creek. Three kilometres further at a crossing (also with an open barrier) I turned to the south-east. Following the road I came to an area with a big glade at the slope of a hill. My GPS receiver told me that I was at an altitude of 848 metres, 490 metres off the point and I needed to climb the hill!

After a short break I started my ascent in a stream bed which contained only little water. There were no better ways visible and to climb cross country through the grass seemed not a better option. Slowly climbing the steep stream bed I managed to come as close as 70 metres to the point, but I wanted to get all zeros. Thus I continued in the bed until I reached the top of the ridge and went on the same elevation through the high grass until I got all zeros at an altitude of 1041 metres!

I enjoyed the fantastic views and rested a bit. From here I saw that wood workers built a couple of tracks and for the return way I wanted to use them. I tried, but finally ended up again in a stream bed, which I used for the descent.

I took the same way back to my car and reached it 3¾ hours after I left it. I was relieved that I managed to reach the Confluence Point without big difficulties (but with some drops of sweat) and had a very enjoyable hike at perfect weather conditions.

After a snack I entered the car and continued my way to visit 49°N 021°E.