The last sherpas of their kind in the world. These are our Slovak mountain load bearers who regularly supply mountain chalets. They carry tens of kilogrammes of cargo on their backs several times a week. Mountain load bearing is so unique that it has been put on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Slovakia in 2018.
Mountain load bearing is a rarity worldwide. Although load bearers have been gradually replaced by various means of transport globally and most chalets abroad are supplied by cable cars, helicopters or cars, this unusual profession has been preserved in the High Tatras to this day. It requires physically and mentally strong individuals as they are usually accompanied by heavy loads and adverse weather conditions on their journeys.
They can be met on the way to 6 Tatra chalets they supply in any weather, in every season. Bowing humbly under tens of kilos of load, they ensure that nothing is missing in the mountains and represent Slovakia’s traditional cultural heritage.
All material for mountain chalets are carried by load bearers on specially adapted back frames.
They carry food and daily necessities, heating fuel, building materials, gas cylinders, barrels of beer and Kofola drinks, and accommodation items or souvenirs to ensure the operation of mountain chalets.
Loads weighing 60 kilogrammes or more are attached to special frames of various shapes and materials. Wooden frames equipped with straps are the most commonly used ones.
Mountain load bearers supply six chalets in the High Tatras: Chalet below Mt Rysy, Zbojnícka chalet, Rainer’s chalet, Zamkovský’s chalet, Téry’s chalet, and they carry materials from the cable car station at Skalnaté pleso to Skalnatá chalet. Other chalets are accessible by cable cars or motor vehicles. On the way to the chalets, mountain load bearers often surpass themselves and break old records.
Mountain load bearers have always had a competitive spirit. Few of them openly admit it, but each harbours a desire to be just a little better than their friends or colleagues. To be faster with a load than last year. This idea laid the foundation for various Sherpa races. All Tatra load bearers annually test their strength and skills in their competitions.
Since 1985, brave load bearers have gathered annually to test their strength and skills in a unique race – the Sherpa Rallye. They put 60 kilogrammes onto their backs and set off on the course to surpass themselves and achieve their personal best. For women who are not afraid of challenges, there is the Lady Rallye, where they can demonstrate their strength and endurance by carrying 20 kilogrammes.
The so-called Load Bearer’s Hundred, known as Juraj Petranský Memorial, represents an even more demanding race version. The name indicates that men carry 100 kilogrammes and women have 30 kilogrammes on their backs. They cover a 2.7-kilometre route from Hrebienok to Zamkovský’s chalet, with an altitude difference of 190 metres.
The Load Bearer’s Hundred is a tribute to Juraj Petranský, who, like many other young men from all over Slovakia and the Czech Republic, succumbed to the charm of the High Tatras and made a living by supplying local chalets. He was just under 27 years old when he was killed by an avalanche while carrying supplies to Téry’s chalet in Malá Studená dolina (valley) in March 2000.
Do you want to experience an adrenaline rush and hike with a load on your back? If so, we have a great idea for you! How about trying load bearing frames with loads on the route from Popradské pleso to the Chalet below Mt Rysy during the summer? At the beginning of the route, there are “small” loads such as coal and daily necessities, which you can carry on your back and deliver to the chalet.
Your courage and endurance will be rewarded not only by a great sense of accomplishment but also by a mug of warm tea at the end of your effort in the chalet. So, if you feel ready for this challenge, don’t hesitate to try load bearing – a unique experience.
If you’re interested in the history of mountain load bearers in the Tatras, visitRainer’s hut. It is just a 30-minute walk from the upper funicular station at Hrebienok. There you will meet one of the living load bearing legends, Peter Petras, and you can also see his small museum of mountain load bearers. Along with experiences and stories about mountain load bearers, you can enjoy excellent tea made from local herbs. Let yourself be enchanted by the atmosphere of this place full of history and natural charm.
In Starý Smokovec, there is a unique and one-of-a-kind Tatra mini Sherpa museum dedicated to the unusual profession of Tatra load bearers.
Štefan Bačkor, who passionately and devotedly created this project, has made a space full of fascinating artefacts and stories that reveal the importance of mountain load bearers in the Tatras. This gem that offers a new perspective on the culture and heritage of the Tatras is located in the so-called Swiss House in Starý Smokovec. Meet the mountain load bearers who have been part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Slovakia since 2018 and are vying for UNESCO listing.
In addition, the Sherpa café there serves delicious coffee and you can also spend a night in this oldest building in Starý Smokovec.
The history of the High Tatras is full of fascinating legends, including load-bearing records that literally reach other dimensions. These records document the challenges and achievements of carrying supplies to various mountain chalets, taking into account their weight and the time needed to cover specific routes. The keeper of the Skalnatá chalet, Laco Kulanga († 2020), was among the legendary load bearers whose performances have been immortalised in all significant chalets such as Zamkovský’s, Skalnatá, Téry’s, Zbojnícka and Chalet below Mt Rysy. To imagine his incredible effort, consider these figures: He brought loads exceeding 200 kilogrammes to Zamkovský’s chalet from Hrebienok. Once, he carried 151 kilogrammes to Téry’s chalet.
Other notable names among legendary load bearers include Peter Petras from Rainer’s hut and Viktor Beránek from the Chalet below Mt Rysy. Their achievements are an unforgettable part of the history of the Tatras.
Photos: Martin Maličký
Implemented with the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Slovak Republic.
Copyright 2024 Region Tatry.
