Tragedy in the Tatra Mountains: Legends of Polish Freeriding Killed in Avalanche in Slovakia

On Wednesday evening, a tragic accident occurred in the Mięguszowiecka Valley area of the Slovak High Tatras, claiming the lives of two outstanding Polish athletes. The victims are Ali Olszański, considered a legend of Polish freeriding, and ski mountaineer Marek Patola. Both skiers were individuals with exceptionally high mountain competence, equipped with modern ABC kits. Unfortunately, the powerful pressure of the snow masses proved fatal, and the called-for rescuers from the Slovak HZS service could only locate the bodies and transport them to Poprad. The history of Polish mountaineering and extreme skiing is inextricably linked to the Mięguszowiecka Valley, which for decades has attracted daredevils with its demanding walls and gullies. It is precisely in this region of the Tatra Mountains that the difficulty level of ski descents is among the highest in the entire mountain range.The event gained additional notoriety due to the alleged statements of the victims before the tragedy. Media reports emerged about social media posts in which the skiers were said to have suggested that conditions in the mountains were safe. This prompted a firm reaction from the Slovak side, which reminded that on the day of the accident, a second-degree avalanche danger level was in effect. Rescuers emphasize that a subjective assessment of snowpack stability, even when made by professionals, should never replace official meteorological bulletins. The tragedy has triggered a wave of moving tributes within the climbing community, where the victims were described as "golden people" and "fearless enthusiasts." „HZS zdôrazňuje, že hodnotenie stability snehovej pokrývky zverejnené súkromnými osobami by sa nemalo považovať za oficiálne bezpečnostné pokyny.” (HZS emphasizes that assessments of snowpack stability published by private individuals should not be considered official safety guidelines.) — Mountain Rescue Service (HZS) An analysis of the circumstances of the incident is currently underway to determine whether the avalanche was triggered spontaneously or mechanically during the skiers' passage. Experts point out that statistically, the highest number of accidents occur at the second, "moderate" avalanche danger level because conditions appear deceptively safe. The families and friends of the victims, despite immense grief, stress that both athletes lived for a passion that was more important to them than safety in the lowlands, although they always tried to minimize risk through professional gear and training.