Ostredok

Ostredok is the highest peak of the Greater Fatra (Veľká Fatra) at 1,596 m. It lies in the central part of the range, in the Hôľna Fatra, above the village of Liptovské Revúce, about 16 km east of Turčianske Teplice, on the boundary of the Ružomberok and Martin districts of the Žilina Region. The whole mountain lies in the Veľká Fatra National Park. Curiously, Slovakia has as many as six summits called Ostredok.

Ostredok has two tops on the main ridge: the main southern one (1,596 m) and the slightly lower northern one (1,593 m) 350–400 m away, joined by an almost level rounded crest. The tops are indistinct but completely treeless, so nothing blocks the panorama. To the south, beyond a shallow saddle, stands Frčkov (1,586 m) and then the nodal Krížna (1,574 m); to the north Suchý vrch and Ploská. The slopes are smoothly shaped and steep; in winter avalanches threaten in many places. Ostredok's prominence is 672 m, 14th among Slovak summits. The eastern slopes feed the Revúca river (its source lies less than a kilometre from the summit) and its tributary Lopušná, the western ones the Gaderský potok flowing to the Turiec.

The height story

Until 2015 maps showed the northern top (1,592 m) as the highest point of the Greater Fatra. In summer 2015 the Slovak Hiking Club placed a sign on the southern top reading «Pustolovčia / 1595 m / highest point of the Veľká Fatra». Measurements by the Geodetic and Cartographic Institute in Bratislava confirmed that the southern point is higher, and in 2016 the names commission moved the name Ostredok to it, with a height of 1,595.58 m (rounded 1,596 m). The name «Pustolovčia» stayed with the meadow on the slope, and the old spot now carries the signpost «Ostredok – rázcestie».

Getting there / trails

• Red markings — the 49 km Veľkofatranská magistrála along the main ridge, passing over the summit. The section from the hut below Borišov via Ploská, Chyžky and Suchý vrch to Krížna is 9.9 km, about 3 h 30 min (2 h 40 min in reverse).
• Green markings from the Dedošová valley (Drobkov) via the saddle behind Štrochy to the «Ostredok» junction — 3.7 km and 740 m of ascent, about 2 h 20 min up and 1 h 25 min down.
• The shortest approaches are from the east, from Vyšná Revúca (the upper part of Liptovské Revúce) or from Staré Hory.

Ostredok lies far from roads, so it is much quieter here than on the popular summits of the Tatras or the Lesser Fatra.

The view

The all-round panorama takes in almost the whole Greater Fatra, the Lesser Fatra, Oravská Magura and the Beskids, the Western, High and Low Tatras, the Veporské vrchy, Poľana, Javorie, Vtáčnik, the Strážov Mountains and the Moravian-Silesian Beskids. Occasionally, in perfect visibility, you can see mountains in four neighbouring countries: Kékes in Hungary, Schneeberg in Austria, Lysá hora in the Czech Republic and Babia Góra in Poland.

Nature

The smooth grassy relief of the summit is due to soft rocks: here the ridge is built of marls of the so-called Krížna nappe, while the rocky Štrochy on the western shoulder are harder limestones. Because of past human activity the tree line has been lowered to 1,260–1,350 m, and the dwarf-pine belt has disappeared completely on Ostredok. In the heads of the surrounding valleys, at 1,000–1,200 m, fragments of primeval fir-beech forest survive.

Safety and rules

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

Photos: 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; Pe3kZA, CC BY-SA 3.0; Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0; David Paloch (Caroig), CC BY-SA 2.5; Pudelek, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.