On the top of Krížna again, 31st Oct 2009
One could wonder why a man sets out for the Big Fatra`s main crest`s hill, Krížna, again and again.
The reasons are several. The majesty of the main ridge, its sheer slopes scarred by the avalanches and beautiful views. We had two more,
Tanja who was to see this beauty for the first time and the fact, we chose Túfna valley as our ascending trek with visiting its two caves.
The previous night we arranged the event at some wine.
At 6:00 a little shopping, a few minutes later we sit in the bus. The driver was really obliging, for a 2 Euros surcharge he stopped off the bus stop (turd).
Well, we washed it down with Ru (Um from other company). Above Harmanec, we can feel the chilliness. Gradually, we relieve our bladders, soon turn to Túfna.
We snap pics (Otep), chatter (Ivka), march (me, Miro), listen (Tanja) and for the time being do not fall (Natália). All change at a two hundred meter climb
up to the cave Lower Túfna. After finding the bars are unlocked we dash into. Having two weak lights (thanks Peter, clear we are not speleologists) we may
fight the cave darkness. In a half light we admire the limestone sinter decoration and snap as mad. I would not recommend it for claustrophobics but the
close spaces and passages appeared wonderful to me. After about 68m of inspection we rested in the final room of 5x2,5x2,5m adorned with white limestone.
After a precipitous descend, comic in some places, we soon stand in front of the Upper Túfna. It is nearer to the path but in the same steep slope.
Its entering is even more majestic than of the first one. The bowels must strike a man, too. Compered to the first one it is more spacious. Its supposed
lenght can be divided into four parts. The first is a sheer narrowing darkening start up to a bank which is steeply declining to the second part which
could be named Big Hall. In its 100% darkness those who do not know it surely fail to notice the thidr part, a tunnel, which is extremely tight passage
between the Big Hall and the last part, a Little Hall. The claustrophobic and obese will not enjoy this, since you hardly crawl through this 6m tunnel.
As far as I am concerned, it adds to the atractivity of this cave greatly. We reach the Little Hall with also splendid white embelishment. Someone gives
a cry at once - "a bat!!! ", this time not intended as a joke. From the ceiling actually hang 10-12cm bodies of stiff lookers. Calmly we snap some pics
which they do not notice. At the gods light we see we all carry souveniers in a shape of limestone-mud cover. Superb so long, or we have it behind? = the
renowned wind of Krížna.
After an hour slog along the path to Kráľova Studňa, we, at last, see the hotel in a new dress. Golly! It is blowing.
And begins to grow chilly rapidly. What temperature damn it did they forecast? We put on the last layers, Tanja is
feasting her eyes on the proverbial checkerboard dwarf pine which belongs to this place. Freeze through we ascend to
the known architectural monument, some snapping, some sweating, particulary our youngest Nasťa. On the top of Krížna I
take a summit photo of Tanja, and Peter says we need not wait for his endless tripod shooting. So we meet on The Majer`s rock.
Tanja is amazed, I hope, so are we with the back sight of the ridge spotted with snow and the deep blue sky. Here, the people
crowd as to a church, ironically though this place could be taken as a hallowed spot. Wow, we are about 15 of us here. After an
agreement we fly down in a new record and catch the 15:50 bus. Apropos, we set off at 7:15.