Two dead in Polish Tatras on hard snow

Late-September snow in the High Tatras left a hard, icy cover. According to TOPR for 2–7 October, that cover drove a wave of serious accidents: two hikers died and several others suffered life-threatening injuries. Despite repeated warnings about difficult conditions, many people still went out underprepared. None of those who fell from height carried full crampons and an ice axe — only tourist microspikes (raczki), which do not hold on steep hard snow.

The hardest days were 3 and 6 October near Zawrat pass and in Zawratowy Żleb: helicopter crews twice performed CPR after snow falls; both victims died later in Zakopane hospital. The same period brought critical rescues below Kozią Przełęcz, evacuations from Rysy, Świnica–Zawrat and Szpiglasowa Przełęcz, and people stuck on chains or off-trail. Other calls were leg and facial injuries after slips on the hard snow.

TOPR again stresses that tourist microspikes help only on easy, gentle valley paths; on steep snowed and icy high-mountain slopes you need proper crampons on stiff boots, an ice axe and a helmet — plus the skill to use them.