We have had another wonderful “Day with an expert” spent on the route Smrekovica – Rakytov, also thanks to the Swiss-Slovak Cooperation Program, thanks to which we provided bus transport from Martin to Smrekovica.
This day began with our group of more than 50 people at the Granit Smrekovica hotel and then we followed the green hiking trail through Močidlo and Skalná Alpa to Rakytov with amazing views.
The theme of the day was again the very popular BOTANY and we were professionally guided along the entire route by the botanist of the Administration of the Veľká Fatra National Park – Ing. Viktória Chilová. Since we were passing through a valuable and rare primeval forest area, we also took the help of a nature ranger, Bc. Miroslav Gejdoš, who explained how it is appropriate to behave in the territory of the national park and answered many curious questions of visitors.
The highway between Smrekovica and Rakytov is crossed by the Skalná Alpa forest. Spread
and on both sides of the main ridge at the end of the Skalná valley and on both sides of the Dvorisko meadow. This area was under strong pressure from pastoralism, to which the Veľká Fatra owes its attractive scenery for tourists, where meadow and forest complexes alternate in a colorful mosaic and open up unique views. Only a few people probably know that “alpa” is the historical name for a mountain pasture. However, grazing had a fatal impact on the forest in places, which nature will deal with for many centuries. The Rocky Alps primeval forest stands out for its diversity, represented by up to six different types of forests – beech forests, spruce forests and relict pines. The wildness of the northwestern slopes of the Rocky Alps overgrown with spruce forest with rowan trees, where dwarf pine trees naturally converge along the rocky ridges to the beech forest zone. This part is not part of the primeval forest due to the strong influence of forests in the past. Nevertheless, it is an important botanical site.
At the top of Rakytov, those interested could try working with a compass and a map (practically try orientation in the field) and although it was a completely new experience for many children, they did it brilliantly and we are glad that they were excited about this activity.
The weather was amazing, the participants went home pleasantly tired, slightly tanned, but above all again full of a lot of new knowledge and experiences.
You will find out about the next event soon… 😊
Supported by the second Swiss-Slovak Cooperation Programme, which contributes to the reduction of economic and social disparities in the EU
