Nighttime Rescue Operation on Tępa
Two Polish climbers were rescued from Tępa in the Slovak Tatras after being stranded overnight. HZS carried out a challenging operation in harsh conditions.
Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (Horská záchranná služba – HZS) successfully rescued two Polish climbers who got stuck on the northwest wall of Tępa (2,286 m) during their ascent of the Andráši-Gálfy route. The men, aged 31 and 38, were caught off guard by nightfall. Due to weak signal reception, rescuers maintained contact via SMS to determine their exact location. Four HZS rescuers from the High Tatras station set out to assist them.
Challenging Conditions and Successful Rescue
The rescue team secured the route with fixed ropes before reaching the stranded climbers. “Upon arrival, we provided first aid by warming them up,” stated an HZS duty rescuer. Using rope belays, the team safely guided the climbers down to Popradské Pleso, where their friends awaited them. The demanding operation lasted through the night in difficult weather conditions. Tępa, located in the Slovak Tatras, is not accessible by marked trails but features several climbing routes.