European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 20, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Slovakia the grand hotel in Star Smo Kovec left and Stroske Pleso in the High Patras right. For is Theresa Bujnoch for is Theresa Bujnoch the Road to Jasna in the Low Patras left. Zilina is a typical Small town in Slovakia below. Is Peter Jaegers a polor Jangor i be  from the High Tara villages it s about an hour s drive to Litovsky Mikulas. From there the Road South leads to the ski resort Village of Jasna and the Northern Boundary of the Low Tara Range. The area appears to have no shortage of Beds. Signs along the Roadside advertise Auto campsites and private rooms and the ski resorts offer very comfortable accommodations at a reasonable Price less than $20 a night for a single at the Junior hotel Jasna the Road South from Litovsky Mikulas to Jasna also passes by two noteworthy caves Slovakia s ice caves Demano ska Ladova Jas Kyna open All year. Chilly Tours Are available for both. In Jasna a chairlift takes hikers to Chook Mountain 6,679 feet and from there it s about a two hour hike above the treeline to the Peak of Dumbier 6,808 fee which holds the oxymoronic title of the tallest of the Low Patras. East of the Chook Ridge according to the real guide for the czech and slovak republics the real wilderness  to continue hiking into the densely forested Region be sure to take along some Good Trail maps and a reliable guide Book from Home since few maps come in English. Accommodations May also be limited in this isolated area. West of the Patras though smaller and less demanding than even the Low Patras the rolling mountains in the Mala Fatra Range offer 5,280-foot peaks interrupted by peaceful valleys of grazing sheep. The most striking Valley is Ratna Dolina on the Northern Ridge of the Mala Fatra which makes a powerful first impression. High chiselled Rock Cliffs Frame the Valley s Entrance.  but Steep scamper up the Roadside Trail provides a rewarding View of the Plains you just left and the mountains you Are about to enter. The City of Zilina and the Small Village of Terehova offer accommodations and stores to Stock up on supplies. Terehova is the Home of Juraj Janosik a Robin Hood like hero of slovak Mountain folklore. On the Way into Ratna Dolina Drivers encounter a Peculiar tribute to the 18th Century character an aluminium statue on a Hill overlooking the Village. After entering the Valley a few ski resorts and hotels offer accommodations. A Fork in the Valley to the South leads to the site of a chairlift which will take hikers up to a High Saddle Between the mountains celeb 5,435 feet and Velky Krivan 5,640 fee the highest in the Range. More than just a bargain after comparing the prices and the comparable scenery to a trip to the Alps travellers will find Slovakia s mountains a bargain to visit. But More than a cheap getaway Slovakia offers an escape from the Well heeled tourists associated with Beautiful locations in Europe. Less refined less quaint you la find no postcard Flower boxes Here and providing less Upkeep Slovakia s mountains reflect the country itself. Theresa Bujnoch is a free4anc Wontor living in Germany. January 20, 1994 stripes Magazine