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Rescuers opposed to closing Polish mountain trails

PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk 15.01.2016 13:20
Rescuers have voiced opposition to suggestions that trails in Poland’s southern Tatra mountains should be closed during the winter after a series of fatal accidents.
Photo: flickr.com/Michal SleczekPhoto: flickr.com/Michal Sleczek

"Restricting access to the mountains is, in our opinion, difficult and unnecessary (...) the risk of an accident in the mountains will always be there," said the Tatra Volunteer Search and Rescue Service (TOPR) and the Tatra National Park authorities in a statement sent to the PAP news agency.

Over the Christmas and New Year period, six people died in a series of accidents in the Tatras at a time when there was little snow but much ice on trails.

During a meeting of the Polish parliament’s physical education, sport and recreation committee earlier this week, MPs asked mountain rescuers whether trails should be closed in the winter.

"I am opposed to closing Tatra trails in the winter. We want to increase emphasis on education throughout the country, so that we can bring up the young generation with greater knowledge about the mountains, about nature.. " said TOPR chief Jan Krzysztof .

Poland’s southern Tatra Mountains are a big draw for skiers and hikers in the winter, and are also popular during the summer months. (pk)

Source: PAP

tags: Tatras
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