Genesis

I created this blog to provide substantial and strictly factual information from the trips I have ventured. It happened to me very often to be looking for hiking tips on specific region, mountain and the internet is rich with blog information on that. Problem is I need to dig down through the wall of text to extract the basic and essential information. I want to save you that trouble and give only the facts, trying to keep emotions out (though I can’t be objective 100% cases).

My aim is to give information detailed enough to persuade you into a trip not because of great views during it but because it is more predictable and safe. I rely mostly on gps device and assume you would do the same. That’s why I don’t cover the whole path with detailed description, I limit only to show the key moments that require attention or are interesting in another aspects. I try to add any additional information about the terrain, ascents but it’s just a wordy description and not a map per se. To get as much reliability as you need I would advise to follow the gpx track and even better try to prepare a mental model of the trip in your mind by analysing the track before you get into the field. Gps is still only a device that can let you down. I try to upload only the gps track I have hiked myself therefore giving you certainty it is not just a line on the map but actual and viable walk-through.

Having said that keep in mind that most of the conditions I present have a volatile tendency. Some paths may change over time, prices, timetables are being altered. Still I think it is valuable to add this info to get an overall picture because we should all assess trip making decisions on our past experiences - especially those that require certain set of skills that in key moments can cost us our lives.

Know your body, know your gear, know your skills, get to know the trip - and enjoy it

Rating

Atractiveness - though subjective I try to asses the trips according to some factors. I value uniqeness of the landscape - views on the path, detachment from civilization, shape of terrain. I prefer quieter paths with less tourists around. For scrambling/climbing/ferrata trips the quality of the rock and how the trail line is dragged within is what matters. In the end, I may rate the trip based on endorphines it provoked.

- for connoisseurs only
- you probably have seen better
- good enough
- really worth the effort
- trip of your lifetime

Condition - I rate the trip according to my overall effort experience. As we are all aware that can vary depending on physical and mental state. Lack of sleep, improper nutrition, past infections, work overload - all of that matters on the way and believe me will step in sooner or later. Sometimes we are tricked by our minds and only the numbers like distance and speed show the facts. I look mostly from the intensity perspective - so a lot of condensed ascents in short time in uneven terrain will be rated higher than long walk in more approachable and relatively mild one.

- tiny to small effort, lack of steep ascents and descents, mostly under 3 hours , no difference in bodily fatigue before or after trip
- small effort, limited number of milder ascents and descents, occassional short steep ascents, feels good to be seated afterwards
- noticeable effort, longer strechtes of ascents with steeper sections, experienced pleasant fatigue but nothing a good night sleep wouldn't cure
- significant effort, long steep climbing sections or long distance with fluctuating altitude, evening won't take long and probably absolute freshness in the morning is out of question. Repeating the trip next day is not considered as pleasant.
- huge to extreme effort, long and time consuming steep climbing sections or very long distance walk with relatively steep stretches, scenario where you are able or barely able to grab something to eat before falling asleep. Repeating the same trip the following day is unlikely.