Kasprowy Wierch
Kasprowy Wierch (Polish pronunciation: [kasˈprɔvɨ ˈvjɛrx]; Slovak; Kasprov vrch; sometimes in Kasper Peak)[1] is a peak of a long crest (ridgeline) in the Western Tatras one of Poland's main winter ski areas. Its dominant southern crests, WSW and ESE, mark the border with Slovakia. It is accessible in most conditions by foot and daily by cablecar.
| Kasprowy Wierch | |
|---|---|
| Kasprov vrch Kasper Peak | |
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,987 m (6,519 ft) |
| Coordinates | 49°13′55″N 19°58′55″E |
| Geography | |
  Kasprowy Wierch Location in Poland | |
| Location | Poland and Slovakia |
| Parent range | Western Tatras |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | First winter tourist ascent by Poles: Klemens Bachleda and Karol Potkański in c. 1890 |
History
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From 1910 onwards Kasprowy Wierch became very popular among ski tourists so much so an aerial tramway or téléphérique, reaching almost to the summit, was built between 1935 and 1936 as such it is one of the oldest in Europe. As part of its modernization, the cabin aerial ropeway was closed for a period until December 2007. In 1938 meteorological and astronomical observatories were built here. One of the faint Kordylewski clouds, at or circling the L4 and L5 librations points of the moon, was first photographed here by Kazimierz Kordylewski in 1961.
Geography
The mountain is at the crossroads of four crests, two of which coincide with footpaths, incorporating steps, bounding Poland and Slovakia and in times without snow the steep paths heading into both countries south and north are quite easily traversable. The slight apex of the four steep crests (peak itself) is just north of the border, which is deemed to be a straight line relative to the two dominant ridges.
Crossing the border between Poland and Slovakia is not restricted, since both countries are members of the Schengen area.[2] Users of the cable car change cars midway in their ascent/descent, at mount Myślenicke Turnie. At the top station is a large restaurant/café/information office building with further ski lifts outside.
The mountain is very popular among hikers from Poland, because of its easy accessibility, both on foot and by the cable car. However, it's much less visited from the Slovak side, because the ascent from the nearest settlement in Slovakia involves a lengthy (11 km) approach up a remote valley Tichá dolina.
Climate
Without the existence of a summer, the climate is of tundra (Köppen: ET), as found in the highest areas of the Alps.[3]
| Climate data for Kasprowy Wierch (ridge), elevation: 1,991 m or 6,532 ft, 1961–1990 normals and extremes | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 7.2 (45.0) |
7.8 (46.0) |
9.4 (48.9) |
14.2 (57.6) |
18.1 (64.6) |
19.9 (67.8) |
21.7 (71.1) |
20.4 (68.7) |
19.8 (67.6) |
15.7 (60.3) |
10.7 (51.3) |
8.3 (46.9) |
21.7 (71.1) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −5.6 (21.9) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
0.2 (32.4) |
5.0 (41.0) |
8.3 (46.9) |
10.0 (50.0) |
10.1 (50.2) |
7.2 (45.0) |
4.1 (39.4) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
2.0 (35.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −8.4 (16.9) |
−8.4 (16.9) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
2.2 (36.0) |
5.1 (41.2) |
6.8 (44.2) |
6.9 (44.4) |
4.3 (39.7) |
1.3 (34.3) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
−7.0 (19.4) |
−0.8 (30.5) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −11.2 (11.8) |
−10.9 (12.4) |
−8.9 (16.0) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
2.8 (37.0) |
4.3 (39.7) |
4.6 (40.3) |
1.8 (35.2) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
−9.8 (14.4) |
−3.3 (26.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −30.2 (−22.4) |
−27.9 (−18.2) |
−27.9 (−18.2) |
−15.5 (4.1) |
−12.7 (9.1) |
−7.6 (18.3) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
−8.2 (17.2) |
−15.2 (4.6) |
−20.8 (−5.4) |
−28.0 (−18.4) |
−30.2 (−22.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 124 (4.9) |
110 (4.3) |
118 (4.6) |
141 (5.6) |
173 (6.8) |
223 (8.8) |
208 (8.2) |
195 (7.7) |
131 (5.2) |
111 (4.4) |
127 (5.0) |
140 (5.5) |
1,801 (71) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 15.3 | 14.9 | 16.4 | 15.9 | 16.7 | 17.2 | 15.9 | 14.4 | 12.9 | 11.9 | 15.1 | 17.0 | 183.6 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 90.0 | 97.0 | 120.0 | 124.0 | 141.0 | 124.0 | 140.0 | 149.0 | 134.0 | 139.0 | 78.0 | 75.0 | 1,411 |
| Source: NOAA[4] | |||||||||||||
Cable cars and chairlifts
The cable cars are extremely popular and tourists regularly have to wait up to 3 hours to buy tickets – roughly the same time it would take to ascend the mountain on foot. The cable car service has caused environmental concerns and protests in 1935 and 2006.
In 1961–1962 and in 1967–1968 chairlifts were built on the slopes and they run in two sections.
Gallery
A weather station on top of Kasprowy Wierch
Kasprowy Wierch in winter
Kasprowy Wierch seen from Malolaczniak
Kasprowy Wierch cottage
Mountain trail to Kasprowy Wierch
References
- Nuclear Science Abstracts 15(23), 1961, p. 3994.
- Crossing the border on Kasprowy Wierch was strictly prohibited between 1918 (breakup of Austria-Hungary) and 2007 (Poland and Slovakia entering the Schengen Area).
- "Kasprowy Wierch Climate Kasprowy Wierch Temperatures Kasprowy Wierch Weather Averages". www.kasprowy-wierch.climatemps.com. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- "Kasprowy Wierch (12650) – WMO Weather Station". NOAA. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
External links
- Zakopane – Kasprowy Wierch webcam
- Kasprowy Wierch cable-car – access information.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kasprowy Wierch. |