European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 20, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Slovakia the lube of the mountains Best reason to see Slovakia deep forests cover the Low Tara mountains called Nike Tatry. Is Peter Jaeger by Theresa Bujnoch since their velvet divorce in january of 1993, the czech Republic and Slovakia have been working at defining their separate identities separate Border guards separate currencies and a separation of the old state run tourist Agency. While the czech Economy is expected to grow faster As world investors Home in on its More Urban and educated work Force Slovakia retains custody of a prize natural treasure. Slovakia has the Best mountains. The High Patras after half an hour of hiking across Loose rocks and exposed roots the Trail dears the treeline. To the North a Pedestal of Barren Granite peaks looms through the. Clouds offering a stunning glimpse of the Range called the Patras.  Dogtooth mountains straddling the slovak Border with Poland in North Central Slovakia have Jong served As an alternative to the Alps for crowds of East european hikers and skiers. Now westerners Are discovering the Steep and rugged Patras at a not so Steep Price the Patras Are the northernmost and highest mountains of the 744-Mife-Long Carpathian Range which Arches South into Romania. Easily the major attraction of the Patras Are the Vysocke Tatry or High Patras. This condensed and jagged Cluster of mountains reaches Heights of close to 8,910 feet above sea level. Nestled in the High Patras Are More than 100 Alpine lakes called jams which slow moving glaciers have silently Cut into the Rock Over thousands of years. What the Patras Don t offer in Altitude they make up for with animals. The Tara Range lies within the boundaries of the Tara National Park or Tanap. Inside the Park roam protected Chamois Deer Roebuck marmots arid reportedly Brown bears wild boars eagles even Lynx. The High Patras Are also Home to a Long Row of historic spa villages tucked away against the Southern slopes of the mountains the largest is stary a Mukovec a base Camp of sorts for the majority of excursions into the High Patras and the Headquarters for Tanap. The town first attracted visitors to its local Mineral Springs in 1793. Stroske Pleso overlooks the largest Tarn on the slovak Side of the Patras. This Village played Host to the 1970 world ski championship and features a Large sporting Complex that includes a number of ski jumps lifts and ski shops. Like most of the dozen or so settlements in the High Patras Stroske Pleso also offers a wide Range of accommodations from first class hotels to campsites. At the current Exchange rate double rooms at the world class hotel Patria go for about $45 per night for a double. As in the rest of Slovakia accommodations Are the biggest expense for visitors unless you choose to Camp meals Are cheap. A hotel restaurant dinner consisting of meat potatoes salad and two Beers routinely runs about $.4. ,. The Only drawback to the High Patras can be the crowds. The entire Tara National Park which includes the West and East Patras receives about 5 million visitors a year. During the High season in August and september Park officials say it is easy to understand Why some of the popular trails like the trip to Skok Waterfall Are so wide and so worn. For this reason it also pays to explore the less known Mountain regions to the West and to the South trading off the Majestic High Tara scenery for a clearer View. The Low Patras a local Man referred to the Low Patras As the Kleine Patras the German word for Small. And As you View this Range from the craggy peaks of its Northern neighbors they do appear More docile. The Low Tara mountains called the Nike Tatry have a subtler Impact. The Range is More extensive and unexplored. As one experienced american hiker put it they just seem Wilder More foreign than any place else 8 stripes Magazine january 20, 1994