CROWN OF EUROPE — GERLACHOVSKY STIT PLANNING CHECKLIST
Research checked: 31 October 2026. Diary / photographs: September 2025.

BEFORE BOOKING
[ ] Confirm the actual mountain guide and current professional qualification
[ ] Agree the route, season and conditions with that guide
[ ] Give an honest account of your fitness and exposure experience
[ ] Confirm client ratio for the actual route and conditions
[ ] Confirm who completes registration and which documents to carry
[ ] Confirm the meeting place: Tatranska Polianka or Sliezsky dom
[ ] Confirm walking approach, transfers and return arrangements separately
[ ] Read weather cancellation, date-change and turnaround costs
[ ] Keep a genuinely usable weather reserve
[ ] Protect recovery and onward travel

PACKING
[ ] Tested mountain boots accepted by the guide
[ ] Dry spare socks and blister supplies
[ ] Waterproof jacket and trousers
[ ] Warm insulating layer and appropriate clothing
[ ] Dry spare clothing protected from water
[ ] Suitable gloves, hat / buff and sun protection
[ ] Climbing helmet: supply and fit confirmed
[ ] Climbing harness: supply and fit confirmed
[ ] Technical equipment agreed with the guide
[ ] Seasonal snow / winter equipment if appropriate
[ ] Food, drinking water and a reserve
[ ] Headtorch and spare power
[ ] Charged phone and protected power bank
[ ] Offline mapping for the approach and regional context
[ ] First-aid and personal essentials
[ ] Emergency protection as agreed for the outing
[ ] Poles that can be securely stowed for climbing
[ ] ID, insurance information and saved contacts
[ ] Offline bookings and transfer confirmations
[ ] Overnight kit appropriate to the accommodation
[ ] Camera equipment that can be put away safely
[ ] Route and expected return left with a reliable contact

IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS
- This is mountaineering terrain, not an ordinary marked summit hike.
- Qualified independent climbing and authorised club training have specific conditions.
- A guide booking is the normal route for a visitor without the relevant qualification.
- Legal access, activity hours and conditions depend on the date and route.
- Hotel access does not imply that every summit route or nearby trail is open.
- A party guiding quote is not the same as a per-person quote.
- A transfer to Sliezsky dom is not a transfer to the summit.

EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Slovak mountain rescue HZS: 18 300.
European emergency number: 112.
If a local short number will not connect, use 112.
Know the location, route, people involved, injuries and current conditions.
Follow rescuers' instructions. Do not rely on mobile coverage everywhere.

CURRENT SOURCES
TANAP mountaineering: https://www.tanap.sk/horolezectvo-2/
Guide directory: https://www.nahvsr.sk/zoznam-horskych-vodcov/
HZS warnings: https://hzs.sk/category/podmienky-a-vystrahy/
Weather: https://www.shmu.sk/ and https://meteo.hzs.sk/
Avalanche information: https://www.laviny.sk/
Rescue insurance: https://hzs.sk/poistenie/
Hotel reception: https://www.sliezskydom.sk/sk/kontakt

A planning reminder, not a climbing topo, navigation track or live conditions report.