Drège Gully

Drège Gully (Żleb Drège'a) is a gully about 400 metres long in the western face of Granaty in the Tatra Mountains, which descends towards Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy. It is not a trail or a place to visit: the sources describe it as treacherous, and fatal accidents have occurred in it in the past.

Course of the gully

The gully leads up to Skrajna Sieczkowa Przełączka, between Pośredni Granat and Skrajny Granat. In the upper part it is fairly gentle and wide, with a few small steps. In the lower part it ends in a chimney more than 100 metres high, almost vertical and overhanging in many places.

Why it is dangerous

According to the description on Wikipedia, the gully is a dead-end trap for hikers who in poor visibility lost the trail and descended towards it. After several slides they end up above a chimney that cannot be overcome without abseiling, and the way back up is already impossible. Climbers going up it have also died in it.

Origin of the name

The name comes from the hiker Jan Drège, who on 22 August 1911 died here first, when he got lost on Orla Perć and began to descend straight towards the visible Czarny Staw. The next known accident, in July 1914, ended with an action by the Tatra Volunteer Rescue Service (TOPR).

Practical information

• The place lies in Tatra National Park, in the area of Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy, at a distance of about 1 km.
• No trail leads to the gully. In poor visibility keep to the marked route and do not leave the trail towards the pond.
• The gully is viewed from below, from the pond, in the area of the Gąsienicowa Valley.