Chopok

Chopok (2,024 m) is a summit in the central Low Tatras in Slovakia and the third-highest peak of the range after its neighbours Ďumbier (2,046 m) and Štiavnica (2,025 m). It stands on the main ridge, in the part called the Ďumbier Tatras, right on the border of the Žilina and Banská Bystrica regions: the northern slopes fall to Liptov and the Demänovská valley, the southern ones to the Bystrá valley above the Hron. The town of Brezno lies about 15 km to the south. The whole summit is inside the Low Tatras National Park (NAPANT).

Chopok's neighbours are Dereše (2,004 m) to the west, Konský grúň to the north and Konské (about 1,880 m) to the east, beyond which the ridge continues to Ďumbier. Below the summit to the north-east lies a large glacial cirque with the small Lukové tarn. The summit dome itself is a pile of large granite blocks; a few dozen metres below it, at about 2,000 m, stands the mountain hut Kamenná chata pod Chopkom, and west of it are the top station of the cable cars, a telecommunications tower and a weather station.

Getting there / trails

• Cable cars. The easiest way up is with the lifts of the Jasná resort: from the north (Demänovská dolina) and from the south (Srdiečko – Kosodrevina). Since December 2012 both sides have again been linked by cable cars over the ridge. Timetables and prices change every year — check with the operator before you go.
• Red markings — the Cesta hrdinov SNP (Heroes of the Slovak National Uprising trail, here also the European E8 route) along the main ridge: from Ďumbier in the east and from Dereše in the west. The path skirts the summit dome; a short spur leads to the top.
• Blue markings from Demänovská dolina via Luková — the climb up the northern slope.
• Yellow markings from the south — from the Trangoška and Srdiečko stops in the Bystrá valley.

A short panoramic path runs near the top station. Chopok is a common starting point for the ridge walk to Ďumbier and the General Štefánik hut, and on via Besná to the Čertovica pass.

The view

The all-round panorama takes in most of the mountains of central and northern Slovakia. The most striking view is of the High Tatras; Liptov and the Hron valley are clearly visible. On a clear day you can pick out the Choč Mountains, Poľana, the Veporské and Stolické vrchy, the Orava Beskids with Pilsko and Babia hora, Oravská Magura, the Kriváň part of the Malá Fatra, Vtáčnik, Sitno and even Kékes in Hungary.

Weather and wind

The weather station on Chopok has been measuring since 1 December 1954. The mean annual temperature is −1.1 °C; the record low of −31.5 °C was measured on 17 January 1963 and the record high of 22 °C on 9 August 2013; annual precipitation is about 1,034 mm. Chopok is one of the windiest places in Slovakia: the mean wind speed is 9.3 m/s, and on 14 April 1988 a gust reached 51 m/s (184 km/h). Even in summer you need a windproof jacket, hat and gloves on the ridge, and in fog it is easy to lose the path.

Skiing and tourism

Chopok's slopes are the heart of the Jasná Nízke Tatry resort, the largest ski area in Slovakia: Jasná on the north side (Luková, Záhradky, Otupné) and Kosodrevina and Srdiečko on the south. In summer the same lifts carry walkers, so the top is busy, especially at weekends.

Safety and rules

The Low Tatras ridge is genuine high mountain terrain: the weather changes quickly, summer brings thunderstorms, and in winter and spring there is avalanche danger off the pistes. Keep to marked trails and follow the rules of the Low Tatras National Park; the park administration may close individual sections temporarily, so check napant.sk before you set out. When the lifts are not running (strong wind, maintenance) the walk down takes several hours — leave a time reserve. Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (HZS): 18 300 (from a foreign phone +421 18 300) or the general emergency number 112; the HZS app is worth installing.

Photos: Pudelek (Marcin Szala), CC BY-SA 4.0; Wikipedysta:Gower, CC BY-SA 2.5; EmilZatopek at Czech Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0; Pe3kZA, CC BY-SA 4.0; Pe3kZA, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.