Vel'ká Fatra, Slovakia--Tlstá and Ostrá loop

In mid-November, I spent a long weekend in the Vel'ká Fatra, a national park in western Slovakia.  It was a fantastic trip, in some gorgeous mountains I'd never been to before.  Even the weather cooperated:  cloudy but not rainy and warm for the season.  The clouds often lent the landscape a beautiful, mysterious feel.

The first day, I took a fantastic hike that included one castle whose ruins I could explore on my own, two caves which were also free to explore, and two gorgeous and very different mountain peaks, with a lot of fun trail between.  All that in one day.  I felt very blessed.  

Me at the trailhead, the beautiful Gaderská Dolina, near Blatnica:

Blatnica Castle:

Views from the castle:

From inside the first cave:

Inside the second cave (Mažarná):

Just some little views from the trail:

Approaching the top of Tlstá Peak ("fat peak"):

Views from Tlstá (1373 meters above sea level):

Views of the trail ahead, near Ostrá:

The last scramble to the top of Ostrá, complete with chains to help you climb the rocks:

And this hole you have to climb through:

Fantastic trip.  So much variety and natural beauty.  I didn't quite get back before dark, but almost.  And once I was back in Gaderská Dolina, I found the energy to run half the rest of the way to the bus stop and got there about two minutes before the bus came.  Total success of a day.

Mileage estimate:  18.4 km, 1067 meters elevation gain (11.4 miles, 3500 feet).