Shelters not gratis hotel
Their purpose is to shelter us from acute discomfort or inclement weather, to provide a dry and sheltered place to rest, snack and replenish our strength. They are available for as many pilgrims as can fit in them. Thus, space in the shelter cannot be reserved, nor can anyone be forced out of it.
The only condition for their use is, in fact, respectfulness - for each other and for the surrounding nature.
It is only possible to spend the night in the nature of the national park in case of emergency
Spending the night in a sleeping bag on a marked trail, in a shelter or in a shelter is permitted in the KRNAP area in terms of legislation. However, it is necessary not to interpret this possibility in your own way and not to abuse it. We can spend the night on the ridges in the fragile nature if we unexpectedly find ourselves in an emergency. When planning multi-day trips or crossing mountains, we should use mountain huts.
Why is staying overnight in KRNAP a problem?
There are two main reasons. First of all - in the evening before going to bed and in the morning after waking up, each of us needs to take a leak. In the best case, for a short one. The huts are not equipped with toilets or sinks for spitting out toothpaste. So all the unwanted waste, including paper (at worst wet wipes) ends up in their surroundings.
The second serious problem is the disturbance of nightlife on the mountain. As Michal Skalka, head of the environmental education department of the KRNAP Administration, says: "Even if the nightwalker is quiet, doesn't cook, sleeps on the path, nature knows about it." The frequent stay of tourists in the night nature can shift the circadian rhythms of the Krkonoše wildlife by several hours.
Read more about why roosting and bedding down in the national park is a problem in Michal Skalka's excellent article.
