The Tatra Mountains, a stunning range straddling Poland and Slovakia, are known for their breathtaking views and unique ecosystems.
However, beyond the well-known traditions, music and cuisine, the real unsung heroes are the Tatra Sherpas—locally called "nosiče"—who transport supplies to remote mountain huts.
The last of their kind
While Polish Tatra huts are mostly supplied by roads and lifts, Slovak huts in high-altitude regions rely entirely on human strength.
Sherpas, named after the famous Tibetan mountaineers, carry everything from food to gas, water, and cleaning supplies, all while braving harsh conditions—extreme cold, heat, and the steepest trails.
The Sherpas provide essential support to huts like Chata pod Rysmi (2,250 meters) and Zbojnícka Chata (1,960 meters). They also bring down waste, urging hikers to do the same.
The only way to transport essential supplies is by human strength — the work of sherpas.
An extraordinary tradition
The profession has a tradition of over 150 years, with most porters beginning their journey at a young age. One of the oldest sherpas, 78-year-old Peter Petras, still carries heavy loads up to mountain huts a few times a week.
And he's not even the oldest carrier; ages range from 17 up to 79. However, only the toughest remain in the demanding job.
The Code of the Sherpas
Being a Tatra sherpa is not just a profession — it's a way of life governed by unique rules, which include taking a shortcut through a waterfall to avoid tourists, delivering the load regardless of its weight, refusing help from others and not letting tourists try on a Sherpa’s pack.
Though breaking these rules won’t result in formal penalization, it nevertheless hits a Sherpa's pride and honor.
The Sherpa rally: a test of strength
Every year, porters get together in a test of strength and to celebrate a successful summer without losses at the Tatra Sherpa Rally. It’s a competition with a tradition.
In 1985 Viktor Beránek, Tatra Sherpa and landlord of the Chata pod Rysmi, founded the event. The rally aims to bring people together – Sherpas, landlords and locals.
The first winner back in 1985 was Viktor Beránek, who completed the long mountain route with a 60 kg load in just 1 hour and 31 minutes. Each year the trail and the destination are different but the load stays the same: exactly 60kg for men and 20kg for women.
Last year in October the route led from Smokowieckie Siodełek to Zbójnicka Chata in the Staroleśna Valley, which is 6.5 km in distance and 750 m in elevation. 92 Sherpas started the race and 92 reached the finish line, all exhausted but happy.
The race also commemorates Juraj Petransky, a porter who tragically lost his life in an avalanche.
Laco Kulanga, known as the "King of Tatra Sherpas," holds the record for carrying a staggering 207.5 kg to Zamkovského Chata. On his 50th birthday, Kulanga celebrated surpassing one million kilograms of goods carried during his career.
Despite their unparalleled strength and experience, sherpas have lost their lives in the mountains they serve. Their names are immortalized on memorial plaques at the Symbolic Cemetery near Ostrava.
Honoring a legacy
Despite their unparalleled strength and experience, sherpas have lost their lives in the mountains they serve. Their names are immortalized on memorial plaques at the Symbolic Cemetery near Ostrava.
For those venturing into the Tatras, encountering a sherpa is a humbling experience. As they ascend with their colossal loads, hikers instinctively step aside, offering gratitude and admiration to these extraordinary mountain heroes.
The sherpas' dedication and sacrifice serve as a reminder of the dangers inherent in mountaineering, adding a sobering perspective to the breathtaking beauty of the Tatras. Their presence on the trails is a poignant symbol of resilience and courage in the face of adversity.
Future of Tatra sherpas
The sherpas' dedication and sacrifice serve as a reminder of the dangers inherent in mountaineering, adding a sobering perspective to the breathtaking beauty of the Tatras. Their presence on the trails is a poignant symbol of resilience and courage in the face of adversity.
Although the mountain sherpa profession has been submitted for UNESCO's list of world heritage sites, it is unclear how long the legacy will last.
As advancements in technology continue to provide alternative methods for delivering supplies to mountain shelters, it is widely believed that drones will eventually take over transporting supplies to the mountain bunkers.
For now, Sherpas remain integral to the Tatras, but their legacy hangs in the balance.
As advancements in technology continue to provide alternative methods for delivering supplies to mountain shelters, it is widely believed that drones will eventually take over transporting supplies to the mountain bunkers.
For now, Sherpas remain integral to the Tatras, but their legacy hangs in the balance.
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