Frčkov

Frčkov is a 1585 m summit in the central part of the Greater Fatra (Veľká Fatra) in Slovakia, the second highest in the range after Ostredok. It belongs to the Hôľna Fatra subunit. The main ridge here carries the boundary of Martin and Ružomberok districts in the Žilina Region, and the lands of Blatnica and Liptovské Revúce meet on the summit. The nearest settlements as the crow flies are Turecká (about 5 km) and Staré Hory (6.6 km). The mountain lies in Veľká Fatra National Park.

Frčkov is a rise on the main ridge between Krížna in the south and Ostredok in the north, about 1 km south of Ostredok; some maps also mark a top called Noštek between Frčkov and Krížna. This fairly level ridge section is collectively called Pustolovčia. Like its neighbours, Frčkov is built of relatively soft marls, so it has gentle shapes and is entirely covered by meadows. To the west it sends a massive, steep shoulder dividing the Veterné and Rovné valleys – the highest levels of the Dedošova dolina; to the east it drops to the Klinčeky side valley of the Suchá dolina.

How to get there / routes

Only the red trail – the Veľká Fatra ridge trail (Veľkofatranská magistrála) – crosses the summit, so from the valleys you can reach it only via neighbouring peaks:

• From the north – from Ostredok.
• From the south – from Krížna.

Polish sources describe the whole ridge section from Chata pod Borišovom via Nad Studeným, Ploská, the Chyžky saddle, Koniarky, Suchý vrch, Ostredok, Frčkov and Noštek to Krížna: 9.9 km, 640 m of height difference, about 3 h 30 min (2 h 40 min in the opposite direction).

What you can see from the top

Grassy Frčkov, in the central and most attractive part of the range, is a popular viewpoint. North and south are partly blocked by its mighty neighbours, but thanks to its height you can see many ranges: besides the Greater Fatra peaks, the Lesser Fatra, parts of the High and Low Tatras, Poľana, Vtáčnik and even Lysá hora in Moravia.

Nature and history

Like the whole central ridge of the Greater Fatra, Frčkov is a treeless meadow on soft marls. Its slopes, falling into the heads of the Dedošova and Suchá valleys, are significant avalanche terrain. For hikers, as Polish authors note, the summit matters mainly as a landmark on the ridge route between Krížna and Ostredok.

Safety, season and rules

In Veľká Fatra National Park you may walk only on marked trails. The broad treeless ridge is exposed to wind and storms, it is easy to lose your bearings in fog, and in winter the steep slopes are avalanche-prone – check the avalanche forecast. Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (HZS): 18 300 (+421 18 300) or 112.

Interesting facts

• Frčkov is only a few metres lower than Ostredok, the highest peak of the Greater Fatra.
• The ridge between Krížna and Ostredok is called Pustolovčia.

Photos: Pe3kZA, CC BY-SA 3.0; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0; Pudelek, CC BY-SA 4.0; Pudelek, CC BY-SA 4.0; Michal Jakubský, CC BY 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons.