Východná Vysoká

Východná Vysoká ("Eastern High One"; Polish Mała Wysoka) is a pyramid-shaped peak 2429 m high (more precisely 2428.6 m) on the main ridge of the High Tatras in Slovakia. It stands above Nová Polianka, about 15 km north-west of Poprad; the Zbojnícka chata hut lies to the east and the Sliezsky dom mountain hotel to the south. It is a junction peak: here the main ridge, coming from the Poľský hrebeň saddle, turns north to the Prielom notch, while a mighty side ridge runs south-east over Bradavica to Slavkovský štít.

Three large valleys meet below the summit: Velická dolina to the south, into which the mountain descends in gentle scree slopes, and Veľká Studená dolina to the east and Svišťová dolina (part of Bielovodská dolina) to the north-west, above which it drops in steep walls. "Vysoká" (high) in the name refers to the excellent view rather than to record height, and "Východná" (eastern) distinguishes it from the higher Vysoká to the west. The Polish and former Slovak name "Little Vysoká" dates from the 1870s.

How to get there / routes

Východná Vysoká is one of the few High Tatra peaks reached by a marked trail, so no guide is needed.

• Yellow trail from the Poľský hrebeň saddle (2200 m) along the main ridge to the summit; the hardest passages are protected by chains. About 1 h up and about 35 min down.
• From the south (green) – the trail from Tatranská Polianka past Sliezsky dom through Velická dolina to Poľský hrebeň.
• From the north (blue) – from Lysá Poľana through Bielovodská and Litvorová dolina. This is the longest and, according to Czech guides, the most beautiful approach: Bielovodská is the longest valley on the northern side of the Tatras, and the walk to the summit takes 6–7 h on average.
• From the east (blue) – from Veľká Studená dolina past Zbojnícka chata over the Prielom notch, with a descent to Hrebienok.

Most people set off from Starý Smokovec, Tatranská Polianka or Lysá Poľana. The path from Poľský hrebeň to the summit was built in 1892–1893 as an extension of the so-called Silesian path.

The view from the summit

The panorama from Východná Vysoká is considered one of the finest and most complete in the High Tatras. Right opposite rises the broad massif of Gerlachovský štít; you can also see Vysoká and Rysy, Svišťový štít, the group of Ľadový, Pyšný and Lomnický štít, the sharp ridge of Bradavica with Slavkovský štít, and in the distance the Belianske Tatras. Three valleys – Bielovodská, Velická and Veľká Studená – lie at your feet. In clear weather the view reaches the Orava Beskids, the Levoča Hills, Branisko, the Volovské and Stolické vrchy, Kráľova hoľa and the mountains of southern Poland and northern Hungary. A panorama plate on the summit names the peaks.

Nature and history

The boundaries of three TANAP national nature reserves – Bielovodská dolina, Velická dolina and Studené doliny – meet on the summit. The north-western walls fall to Zamrznutý kotol with the Zamrznuté pleso tarn, from where the water drains to the Dunajec; the Velická and Veľká Studená valleys drain to the Poprad river.

The first people on top were most likely poachers, herb gatherers or treasure hunters – the nearby Poľský hrebeň saddle was once a smugglers' route. The first documented ascent is attributed to the Hungarian physician László Jármay (1888), after whom the peak was proposed to be named Jármay Peak; the name never caught on. The first winter ascent was made on 22 March 1910 by Hermann and Otto Schweickhart and János Vigyázó. In the 1930s a three-metre iron cross was planned for the summit, but the idea was dropped after protests by hikers and conservationists on both sides of the border.

Safety, season and rules

• The peak lies in the high-mountain zone of the Tatra National Park (TANAP): the trails are closed from 1 November to 31 May, and hiking is allowed only in daylight and only on marked trails. Current restrictions are on the TANAP website.
• The climb from Poľský hrebeň is short, but the whole route is a full day in high mountains. Take care on the chained sections in wet weather, and in summer start early to avoid afternoon thunderstorms.
• Rescue: Mountain Rescue Service HZS – 18 300 (+421 18 300), general emergency number 112.

Interesting facts

• The Polish name Mała Wysoka ("Little High One") is still in use, although Slovaks replaced it with Východná Vysoká back in 1922.
• By height it is the fourth Tatra summit open to hikers, after Rysy, Kriváň and Slavkovský štít.
• As early as 1966 the Slovak author Július Andráši called it one of the most visited peaks of the High Tatras, thanks to its easy access and view over the whole range.

Photos: Krzysztof Dudzik-Górnicki (User:ToSter), CC BY-SA 3.0; Adrian Tync, CC BY-SA 4.0; Kristo, CC BY-SA 3.0; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jarorox, CC BY 3.0; Paweł Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.