Dereše

Dereše (Polish Deresze, Hungarian Deres) is a 2004 m summit on the main ridge of the Slovak Low Tatras. It is the fourth highest peak of the range and the lowest of its four two-thousanders (after Ďumbier, Štiavnica and Chopok). It rises above the resort valley of Demänovská Dolina, about 16 km south of Liptovský Mikuláš, on the border of the Žilina and Banská Bystrica regions. The massif belongs to the Low Tatras National Park (NAPANT).

Dereše lies on the ridge between Chopok (2024 m), about 1.4 km to the east, and Kotliská (1937 m) to the west; further west the ridge slowly descends towards Poľana and Chabenec. A massive side ridge with the peaks Pálenica (1658 m) and Baba (1617 m) runs south from the summit, separating the Vajskovská and Bystrá valleys. To the south the slopes are moderate and even, while to the north the mountain falls in sheer walls and deep gullies into the Dereše cirque at the head of the Demänovská dolina. The northern side belongs to the Váh basin, the southern one to the Hron.

How to get there / routes

• The red Heroes of the SNP trail (Cesta hrdinov SNP, part of the European E8) crosses the summit along the main ridge. The quickest way is to take the cable car up Chopok (from Jasná in the north or from Krupová in the south) and walk about 1.4 km west along the ridge. The stretch Chopok – Dereše – sedlo Poľany – Poľana – Kotliská – Chabenec takes about 2 h 25 min.
• Yellow trail from Tále – along the ridge via Mesiačik, Baba, Pálenica and the Príslop saddle: about 4 h 50 min up, 3 h 25 min down.
• Green trail – from Dolná Lehota through the Vajskovská dolina.

What you can see from the top

The rocky ridge and the high summit give a clear all-round view: most Low Tatra peaks, the High and Western Tatras, the Chočské vrchy, Oravská Magura and the Beskids, the Malá and Veľká Fatra, the Štiavnické vrchy, Javorie and the Stolické and Veporské vrchy. To the south you look into the Bystrá and Jasenská valleys and towards Poľana, to the north over Liptov.

Nature and history

The Dereše massif is built of the granites that form the crystalline core of the Low Tatras. The northern cirques are classic glacial basins at the head of the Zadná voda valley. The south-western part of the massif belongs to the Skalka national nature reserve. Chamois can be seen on the ridge and near the summit.

The southern slopes are used for skiing in winter: a ski-lift line runs from the south-east almost to the summit, and to the north-east, in the Demänovská dolina, lies Jasná – the largest ski resort in Slovakia. Dereše is also popular with ski tourers.

Safety, season and rules

The ridge is fully exposed to wind, fog and storms, and the weather changes quickly. The Dereše cirque and the northern slopes are considered avalanche-prone, so in winter and spring follow the avalanche forecast and do not leave the marked route off the pistes. The usual national park rules apply: stay on marked trails and leave no litter. In the Slovak mountains help comes from the Mountain Rescue Service HZS: 18 300 (+421 18 300) or 112.

Interesting facts

• The Hungarian name Deres is regarded as the original form of the mountain's name.
• The scenic path on the summit is surrounded by hundreds of cairns.

Photos: Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 3.0; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0; Gower, CC BY-SA 2.5; Volod, CC BY 3.0; maczopikczu, CC BY 3.0; I would appreciate being notified if you use my work outside Wikimedia. More of my work can be found in my personal gallery., CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.