July 6th is Statehood day in Lithuania – a public holiday commemorating coronation of the only King of Lithuania – Mindaugas (1253 AD). We at Adeo Web have decided that the best way to celebrate such an occasion is to go for an adventure ourselves. So on July 5th we finished up our tasks for the week, packed our traveling bags and set off to an all-nighter trip to Tatra mountains in Zakopane, Poland.
Day 1
Our first morning stop in Zakopane was at a local hotel where we grabbed a strong breakfast and headed out to the misty Tatra forests. Just before reaching the starting point of our hike, dark clouds above our heads opened up and unleashed a rainfall on us. However, our team always comes prepared and a little shower could not stop us – we headed out towards the mountaintops.
After a few hours of uphill hike, we have reached our lunch spot with a magnificent view. The rain has stopped and raincoats have finally come off. Our explorers got the chance to appreciate the mind-clearing evergreen forests of Tatra to the fullest extent.
The rest of the day was spent marching through challenging conditions of the mountain trail. Even though the trip was demanding and tiresome, we moved together as a unit. Before the nightfall we have reached our resting point exhausted, but proud of our achievement. The views surrounding our hotel hidden deep in the mountains were a reminder, that together we can overcome any challenges thrown at us.
Day 2
On the second day of the trip, our group split into two teams. Team one went off to the lovely town of Zakopane to enjoy their well-deserved rest. There is no better way to relax on your day-off than in a steaming hot outdoors swimming pool surrounded by the mountains. This was followed by going out for a winning combo of pizza and drinks, and hopping back to the pool again.
In the meantime, the rest of the team were determined to press on and reach even higher mountain tops. The Nine Walkers have set course to Giewont and Kopa Kondracka peaks. However, everyone knows you can’t skip the second breakfast with a glorious cup of coffee in such a magical place.
A few hours of steep uphill hike and we are on the top of Kopa Kondracka summit at 2,005 m above sea-level. This peak is a special one because it borders Slovakia and Poland. Due to this, we had the chance to cross the country border and have a refreshing break on top of a mountain in Slovakia.
Our second summit on day 2 was even more ambitious. Even though Giewont peak is a bit lower (1,895m), you can’t just walk right up to it. Since the trail is too steep and slippery, we had to use special chains nailed into the rocks. Climbing on all fours in a place where a simple slip would result in broken bones (or worse) definitely helps you concentrate. In the end, we were rewarded for our struggles with the most astounding views so far.
After these thrilling experiences the way down, although long and rigorous, did not seem as intimidating. Our adventurers pressed forward with a few quick stops to appreciate the beauty of Tatra and promised to come back for more. Looking back at the peaks we have conquered seemed like a surreal experience.
Finally, we have reached our resting place for the night, met up with our relaxed and cheerful team members and went out for a feast. Poland has once again surprised us with immense meal sizes that in turn gave birth to a few new inside jokes. After a not-that-short game of “Citadels” board game (a running tradition in Adeo Web travels) we were finally ready to go to bed. Exhausted, but happy being a part of this amazing team.
Day 3
Early in the morning, after a quick breakfast, we set off towards Lithuania. The way home is always shorter and with a high concentration of brilliant minds and interesting topics to discuss the time flew by quickly. Our team has reached Lithuania more confident in each other and closer than ever. It’s inspiring to be a part of this incredible team and we’re looking forward to conquering even higher mountains in the future.
Special thanks goes to Neringa from BTS for helping us organize this trip.
