Winter trip - Falcon Valley

February 2020 · 3 min read

I am not far from the Slovak Paradise National Park. It is a national park with many gorges and waterfalls. At this time of year, even beautiful waterfalls will excel even more and in my opinion they are the most beautiful in winter.

One of the gorges that I have not gone through in winter is Sokolia Valley.
Here is the largest waterfall in the national park. But we are doing it from the beginning.

In the early morning hours we arrive at the parking lot, where our steps are heading along the White Stream to the mouth of the Sokol Dolina. On the way, we sometimes have to wade through the stream from one side to the other. One would say that it will be frozen in February. However, this winter is warm and Biely Potok did not freeze. The only thing that was frozen was the stones we were supposed to cross over to. One by one, we walked again and again on the stone and with the help of sticks we managed to overcome this obstacle almost without any problems. I just managed to stomp my foot into the water. Fortunately, I wore waterproof high boots that passed this onerous test.

After about two hours of walking we arrived at the mouth of the valley. We refreshed ourselves and went on.

After a while we reached the first waterfall. My mild discoveries, when I was afraid that due to the higher temperatures of the waterfalls will not be frozen, fortunately did not come true. From the Rocky Waterfall was the Rock Icefall.

We were delighted to take a picture and set out to meet the highest, Veil Waterfall.
His grandeur at this time of year took our breath away. A small stream that flows through the valley can create such beauty.

Závojový waterfall is in several places overlaid by bridges. Thanks to this we can see it and enjoy the beauty from every side.
We climb the ladders and continue on.

Soon we find ourselves in the ice kingdom. The last of the waterfalls - Vyšný waterfall created a wide strip of icefall, which in the confined space, which resembles a room, looks impressive.

We have to climb a few meters of height to the top of the gorge. It's lunch time, so we'll pack lunch under the gazebo and add energy. There is still a way back.

Since Sokolia Dolina is one-way, we cannot go back the way we came. From several options we choose to return via Clause. And I think we did well. The dam was frozen, a friend even tried for himself the strength of the ice and the backlight that lit up allowed me to win with the camera.

This dam sometimes served as a reservoir of water. The woodcutters cut down the trees they threw into the White Stream. When the brook was full of trees, the dam was released and the wood was flushed down to the offer, where it could be loaded onto wagons and processed. Our ancestors were very wise.