On Friday, June 24, 2022, many tourists, mountain lovers and journalists headed to Martin to enjoy a Ferrata day at Martinské hole accompanied by experienced instructors. The event was prepared by the Martinky Winter Park in cooperation with members of the Veľká Fatra Mountain Rescue Service, FatraSki and Penzión Ferrata.
Ferrata day was created thanks to the cooperation of organizations that support tourism. The goal of the activity was to present Martinské hole as a summer tourist destination, as the Martinky Winter Park resort is primarily known for its ski slopes with natural snow. Summer in Lúčanská Mala Fatra brings many experiences and attractions that you only need to talk about and develop.
“Martinské hole are visited by thousands of tourists during the summer, many of them also come thanks to the via ferrata. Thanks go especially to the members of the HZS Veľká Fatra, who stand behind this beautiful trail and have been taking care of it since 2013. We believe that we will be able to help in the development and maintenance of the via ferrata, and together with other partners in the tourism industry, we will increase the attractiveness of Martinské hóle during the summer. We are preparing also other events in cooperation with the city of Martin, FatraSki and the Regional Tourism Organization. where we are members. We are convinced that the mutual cooperation of organizations in the tourism industry brings results, which is evidenced by Ferratový day,” said the event coordinator Matej Bórik from the Winter Park Martinky.
The opening of the Ferrat day was attended by the organizers of the event together with the mayor of Martin Ján Danko and the member of the city council, and at the same time the chairman of the regional development and tourism commission Dalibor Steindl. “I am happy that Ferrata HZS was built among the first via ferratas in Slovakia. Martin has a beautiful neighborhood and it also includes Martinské holes. I believe that Martinské holes will become a tourist destination that will attract people not only from Martin, but also from all over Slovakia and abroad, not only in winter, but also in summer,” the mayor of Martin Ján Danko addressed the participants of the ascent.
Ferrata HZS in the Pivovarský potok valley has a rich history
The most important attraction of Martinské hole is the Ferrata HZS, the preparation of which was participated by the members of Skialp Club Kriváň, members of the regional center of HZS Veľká Fatra and several volunteers and friends of HZS.
Before the climb, you can rent a via ferrata set, which consists of a helmet, a seat, a fall absorber and gloves), without a set the progress on the trail can be risky. In terms of difficulty, Ferrata HZS is classified as B and C, while it is not suitable for children under 10 years of age. The length of the route is almost 5 kilometers, while you overcome an elevation of over 770 meters. The trail is always accessible from June 1 to September 15 and from November 1 to April 15.
Already at the very beginning, there was once a mining tunnel, from which a buried portal, part of the rails, mining carts and a rock crusher have been preserved. Therefore, in addition to climbing on secured places and bridges, visitors can also enjoy learning about various artefacts. However, the fauna and flora, which are described on several information boards, are also attractive. There are several waterfalls and sections on the trail that especially attract photographers and social media enthusiasts to share their stories. At the last section, the via ferrata splits and continues in two levels of difficulty, A/B and B/C.
Both variants will then connect at the cross and the top book, where visitors can sign. This is followed by a short walk through the forest and an exit at the cottages on Martinské holy, where you can enjoy refreshments and then ride the mountain scooters back to the beginning – to the final stop of the public transport buses that take you to the center of Martin.
