Czerwone Wierchy
(literally: Red Peaks) is the name of four summits of West Tatra:
Kopa Kondracka, Małołączniak, Krzesanica and Ciemniak. Krzesanica,
the highest, goes up to 2122 MASL. On the side of the ridge from Kopa
Kondracka lays Giewont. Being close to Zakopane, it's often chosen as
tour destination.
Through Czerwone
Wierchy goes quite easy route, but because of elevation and trail's
lenght, it would be recommended for tourists with good physical
condition. Additionally, during bad weather, this trail can cause
some spacial orientation difficulties. You can choose between two
paths through Czerwone Wierchy: from Kościeliska Valley to
Kondratowa Clearing shelter or vice versa. The first option is
described here. It's more convenient to leave the car in town center,
and then go to Kir by public transport, than to search for
connections to car left at Kościeliska Valley parking on late
afternoon.
And so, we begin
our journey in Kiry. Let's head to the route leading through
Kościeliska Valley's floor (green signatures). We pass the TPN
ticket booth to find ourselves in wide Lower Kira Miętusia clearing.
At its end, just before the river bridge, we turn left behind red
signatures. After around one hundred meters the trail turns sharply
turns right. At this level the approach begins. At first we go
through dense forest, we pass Upłaz Clearing and approach a small
rock known as Piec. Further, already above forest, we go on Chuda
Przełęczka. From there we can go down green trail through Tomanowa
Valley into Kościeliska Valley shelter. Next we go uphill towards
Ciemniak, which should be reached 3 hours after departing from Lower
Kira Miętusia bridge. If the approach took us longer amount of time
or we're not sure about weather, then we can consider returning the
same way.
After reaching
Ciemniak we go a little bit lower towards the pass, to begin
Krzesanica approach. From there we walk the vast, grassy ridge facing
Małołączniak. On its peak the blue trail branches, which leads
through Kobylarzowy Żleb (chains) back to Kościeliska Valley. Red
signs, however, lead us further towards Kopa Kondracka, which we
arrive on after conquering significant lowering of Mołołącka Pass.
Kopa Kondracka offers few possibilities of descent. It seems that
most convinient is to go a bit futher after red signatures for a Pass
under Kopa Kondracka. Next we should turn left and guide ourselves to
Kondratowa Clearing shelter by green signs. Finally, there is the
blue sign trail leading through Kalatówki to Kuźnice.