Baranie rohy

Baranie rohy ("Ram's Horns"; Polish Baranie Rogi, German Grünseespitze, Hungarian Zöld-tavi-csúcs) is a rocky 2526 m peak in the Slovak High Tatras. It rises above the resort of Tatranská Lomnica, about 15 km north of Poprad, in the Prešov Region; the high mountain hut Téryho chata lies to the south. The nearest settlements in our OSM data are Tatranská Javorina (about 8 km), Podspády (9 km) and Ždiar (9 km). Polish sources also give a newer measurement of 2530 m (earlier estimates: 2526 or 2536 m).

The peak lies next to the main High Tatras ridge, between Ľadový štít (2627 m) and Jahňací štít (2230 m). The massive mountain has two tops separated by the Barania škára notch: the main south-eastern top and the north-western one (Vyšná Barania strážnica). The main top stands about 100 m off the main ridge and so belongs to the mighty spur of Lomnický štít; the deep Baranie sedlo saddle (2389 m) separates it from neighbouring Spišský štít (2483 m). A characteristic feature is the broad scree plateau above the south face, known as the Barania galéria. The mountain towers over the Čierna dolina, the Five Spiš Tarns basin and the Veľká Zmrzlá dolina; its water flows both to the Dunajec and to the Poprad.

How to get there / routes

No marked trail leads to the summit. The mountain lies in the Tatra National Park (TANAP), where the boundaries of the Javorová dolina, Dolina Bielej vody kežmarskej and Studené doliny reserves meet, so free access is forbidden. Still, Baranie rohy is one of the easiest unmarked peaks above 2500 m: the normal route leads over the Baranie sedlo – from Chata pri Zelenom plese through the Veľká Zmrzlá dolina or from Téryho chata through the Five Spiš Tarns basin – and is allowed only with a mountain guide.

Marked trails lead to the starting huts:

• Chata pri Zelenom plese – red trail from Ždiar via the Široké and Kopské saddles or from Skalnaté pleso via Veľká Svišťovka; yellow from the Kežmarská Biela voda junction up the Zelené pleso valley.
• Téryho chata – green trail from Zamkovského chata or from Tatranská Javorina up the Javorová dolina and over Sedielko.

The Lomnický štít cable car runs nearby.

What you can see from the top

The rocky top gives an all-round panorama: the surrounding High Tatra peaks – Lomnický and Pyšný štít, Kežmarský štít, Čierny and Kolový štít, Ľadový štít – the Belianske Tatras ridge and, in good weather, part of the Poprad basin, the Low Tatras, the Volovské, Slanské and Levoča hills, the Orava Beskids and the mountains of southern Poland.

Nature and history

The name is explained by the mountain's shape: seen from the north-west it resembles a ram's head with two horns; other "ram" names also cluster around the Baránia kotlinka basin. The German and Hungarian names refer to the nearby Zelené pleso Kežmarské (Green Lake). The first recorded summer ascent was made before 17 September 1867 by Fr. Józef Stolarczyk and Fr. Ambroży Reformat (Tomasz Trausyl) with the guides Wojciech Gąsienica Kościelny, Wojciech Ślimak, Szymon Tatar senior and Jędrzej Wala senior. The first winter ascent was by Tibold Kregczy, Lajos Rokfalusy and Zoltán Votisky on 17 April 1911. Many climbing routes run up its faces.

Safety, season and rules

This is high-alpine rock terrain without paths: only with a guide and proper equipment. TANAP's high-mountain trails, including the approaches to Téryho chata and over the saddles, are closed every year from 1 November to 31 May. The weather changes fast and snow lingers in the gullies. Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (HZS): 18 300 (+421 18 300) or 112.

Interesting facts

• Baranie rohy belongs to the Great Crown of the Tatras.
• Its main top stands not on the main ridge but about 100 m off it.

Photos: Rafik k, CC BY-SA 4.0; Rafik k, CC BY-SA 4.0; Krzysztof Dudzik-Górnicki (User:ToSter), CC BY-SA 3.0; Rafik k, CC BY-SA 4.0; Pavol Svetoň, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.