Slovak Tourist Club Members Gain Access to High-Mountain Peaks Without Mandatory Guides, Raising Safety Concerns

Members of the Club of Slovak Tourists (KST) will be permitted to climb nearly 50 Tatra mountain peaks and rock towers without a licensed mountain guide, following a rule change that expands access for those who complete a basic high-altitude hiking training course. Previously, that same certification only allowed movement in the mountains under the supervision of an instructor. Under the new arrangement, KST members who complete the basic course may ascend the designated peaks independently, while a further group of over 100 summits — including Gerlachovský štít, Slovakia's highest peak at 2,655 metres — remains accessible to them as part of supervised training with a certified high-mountain instructor. The change effectively grants KST members a privileged status compared to the general public, who are required to hire licensed mountain guides for access to restricted high-mountain terrain in the Tatras. The Tatras, a mountain range straddling the Slovak-Polish border and home to some of Central Europe's most demanding alpine terrain, have long had access restrictions in place for safety and conservation reasons. Slovakia's Mountain Rescue Service (Horská záchranná služba), which responds to emergencies across the country's mountain regions, has expressed concern that the loosened restrictions could lead to an increase in rescue operations, as hikers with only basic training may find themselves unprepared for the technical and weather challenges that high-altitude Tatra terrain presents.