A hike for people who want more
Ferrata of the Mountain Rescue Service
Winter at Martinské hole doesn’t just mean skiing on groomed slopes. Enjoy a traverse of the beautiful snowy and icy via ferrata on the hills using via ferrata sets, climbing irons, and an ice axe.
Via ferrata has a special atmosphere in winter
The stream and iron cables disappear under snow and ice. To overcome them, you will need climbing crampons and an ice axe. Experience working with via ferrata equipment even during winter and overcome snowy and icy walls or waterfalls in the canyon of the Pivovarský stream. If you dare, we can arrange a winter via ferrata passage for you with an experienced mountain guide. You will also learn a lot of useful information about equipment, weather, and safety, which you can apply on future hikes.
About the trail
The HZS via ferrata on Martinské hole belongs to the first via ferrata in Slovakia. This beautiful hiking trail in the Lúčanská Malá Fatra was built by members of the Mountain Rescue Service, the Kriváň Ski Mountaineering Club, and several volunteers.
Discover the canyon of the Pivovarský stream
Along the entire length of the trail, there are bridges, ladders, cascades, ponds, and waterfalls. An interesting feature is also a filled-in adit with carts and a mining machine, which you will see already in the lower part of the canyon. The via ferrata is secured in various places with steps and steel cables. On the route, there are also two rope bridges over the stream with lengths of 11 and 12 meters.
The HZS via ferrata splits in the upper half into two variants
The left side is less demanding and belongs to the category with difficulty “B”, the route that continues through the gorge on the right overcomes a large waterfall and has a difficulty of category “C”. Both routes merge at the place where there is a summit register and a cross.
The treak goes from bottom to top
The HZS ferrata is accessible from the city of Martin – Stráne district, where you can park or get off the bus at the final public transport stop. At the end of the trail, you can return the borrowed via ferrata set, refresh yourself at the Nová Ponorka restaurant, and take advantage of other services and activities in the resort.
Route
Before setting out on a via ferrata during the winter, it is necessary to check the current conditions on the mountain rescue service’s website. After heavy snowfall, conditions may arise where there is a risk of avalanches in the canyon or falling into a stream. In some places, securing elements may be under a layer of snow and ice, making the passage not recommended or even technically impossible. Winter equipment must include climbing crampons and an ice axe.
- TRAIL NAME AND map: FERRATA HZS
- ACCESSIBILITY: SUMMER 1.6. – 15.9., WINTER 1.11. – 15.4.
- schall SCALE: B/C
- TIME INTENSITY: 5 – 6 h
- TRAIL LENGTH: 5,5 km
- ELEVATION: 785 m
What can we help you with?
During a winter group climb with a guide, we provide the option to rent equipment (harness, fall arrester, helmet). Weapons (ice axe, crampons) must be owned.
You can challenge yourself not only at work but also while climbing the HZS via ferrata on Martinské hole. Book a guide with your friends or colleagues for a via ferrata tour and explore this beautiful hiking trail under the supervision of a professional, who is a licensed international mountain guide UIMLA.
For more information or to book a guided tour, contact our Infoline: +421 43 430 6000
