Tragic Death of Two Experienced Poles in the Slovak High Tatras

On Wednesday evening in the High Tatras, one of the most tragic accidents of this season occurred. The victims of the avalanche that descended in the area of the Mięguszowiecka Valley in Slovakia were two Poles: 41-year-old Ali Olszański and 31-year-old Marek Patola. Olszański was a cult figure in the extreme sports community, considered a pioneer of Polish freeride and ski mountaineering. His companion, Marek Patola, was an equally experienced enthusiast of mountain expeditions. Both skiers had the necessary equipment and extensive climbing experience, which, however, did not protect them from the elements. The beginnings of organized rescue in the Tatras date back to 1909, when after the tragic death of composer Mieczysław Karłowicz in an avalanche, the Tatra Volunteer Rescue Service (TOPR) was established. Since then, despite the development of technology and warning systems, winter in these mountains remains a deadly dangerous period due to the specific terrain conducive to snow slides.Controversy was sparked by the last moments before the tragedy, which Olszański documented on social media. In a recording made just before the avalanche descended, the athlete commented on the conditions on the slope, which later prompted a reaction from Slovak rescuers. Horská záchranná služba (HZS) issued a statement distancing itself from amateur safety assessments published on the internet. Rescuers emphasized that the third degree of avalanche danger was in effect at the time, and the subjective feeling of snowpack stability can be a deadly trap. The death of the ski mountaineers moved not only colleagues in the field but also the wider public, reminding everyone of the unpredictability of high mountains. „HZS nezadáva žiadnym súkromným osobám ani inštitúciám posudzovanie stability snehovej pokrývky na verejné účely v rámci lavínovej prevencie.” (HZS does not commission any private individuals or institutions to assess snowpack stability for public purposes within avalanche prevention.) — Mountain Rescue Service (HZS) Analysis of accident statistics in the Tatras indicates that while falls from heights are the most common cause of death, avalanches constitute the most treacherous risk factor during the winter period. The operation to recover the skiers' bodies was complicated due to weather conditions and the risk of secondary avalanches in the Mięguszowiecka Valley. After the tragic event, the families of the deceased and representatives of the skiing community appealed for respect for privacy and refraining from hasty judgments about the actions taken by the athletes during their last expedition.