Droga Kochańczyka, M3

Tatras in January. We climbed Droga Kochańczyka, M3, on the Środkowa Grzęda in the Kocioł Kościelcowy.

Kocioł Kościelcowy, Środkowa Grzęda / Droga Kochańczyka

M3 (II WHP) / 3 pitches / ~110 m / granite, NE aspect

The line was put up in 1996 as a training route for the winter climbing school at Hala Gąsienicowa, and that is still what it is: three pitches, around 110 metres, slabs and depressions with a chimney and patches of frozen grass in between. Nothing hard at M3, but properly wintry, and a good place to be when the bigger objectives are out.

It faces northeast into the cirque and the whole approach and lower part is snow, so it wants a settled snowpack — this is not a line to be on with avalanche danger. A standard rack plus a couple of ice screws covered it.

Logistics

Approach

From Murowaniec on the blue trail towards Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy, across the lake and up to the Środkowa Grzęda — roughly 1.5 hours. Descent back to Murowaniec about an hour.