Route:
Tatranská Polianka (1005 m n.m.) – horský hotel Sliezsky dom (Selesian House) (1670 m n.m.) – Sedlo Poľský hrebeň (The Polish Ridge saddle) (2200 m n.m.) – Východná Vysoká (2429 m n.m.)
Return way: the same or choosing an alternative – a pass through the Sedlo Prielom (Prielom Saddle) to Veľká Studená dolina (Great Cold valley) and then to Starý Smokovec
Elevation gain: 1424 m
Duration: all-day – 8:25 h ( ↑ 4:45 ↓ 3:40)
Fitness level of difficulty: 3/3
Technical level difficulty: 2/3
Starting point:
• Tatranská Polianka
• Starý Smokovec
• Lysá Poľana
Chalets along the trail:
• Sliezsky dom
From Tatranská Polianka there is a 7 km long paved road along a tourist trail to the mountain hotel Sliezsky dom (takes about 2 h). From the Silesian House, the path passes by Velické pleso (Velické tarn)(1665.5 m.a.s.l.), Velický waterfall and ascends below the rocky threshold Večný dážď (Eternal rain) to the terrace of the valley named Kvetnica. It becomes slightly steeper before reaching Dlhé pleso (Long tarn) (1929 m.a.s.l.) and the very end of the Velická valley. This is followed by more technically-demanding an ascent to Sedlo Poľský hrebeň (Polish ridge Saddle) equipped with protection elements (duration 2 hours). From the saddle, the path leads across Svišťová, Litvorová and Bielovodská valleys to Lysá Poľana, or it is possible to cross from Svišťová dolina (Marmot valley) through the Sedlo Prielom (2288 m.a.s.l.) to Veľká Studená dolina. The ascent from the saddle of Poľský hrebeň continues along well-secured path right to the top of Východná Vysoká ( 45 min).
On the way back you will use the same route. From the Silesian House you can continue along the Tatranská magistrála (Tatra Highway) via Hrebienok to Starý Smokovec (takes about 1 h 50 min). An alternative return from the saddle of Poľský hrebeň is to use the above-mentioned cross-over through the saddle of Prielom to Veľká Studená dolina and then to Starý Smokovec.
Views from the top:
The summit offers beautiful views of the Bielovodská valley, and of the highest Tatra peak – Gerlachovský štít (2655 m.a.s.l.), Zadný Gerlach (2630 m.a.s.l.), Velický štít (2319 m.a.s.l.), Vysoká (2547 m.a.s.l.), Rysy (2499 m.a.s.l.) and Lomnický štít (2633 m.a.s.l.).
