Kozie Czuby, Mountain arête in Tatra Mountains, Poland
The Gemsenbastei is a narrow rocky arête in the Tatra Mountains in Poland, with steep drops on both sides. It runs at high elevation and forms part of a jagged ridgeline with sharp rock edges throughout.
The Gemsenbastei was shaped during past ice ages, when glaciers carved through the rock of the Tatra over long periods. This slow erosion left behind the hard stone edges that form the ridge seen today.
The name Gemsenbastei comes from the German word for chamois, an animal commonly seen on these rocky slopes. Visitors who walk quietly and look carefully may spot one moving across the stone.
This arête should only be attempted by experienced climbers, as the terrain is exposed and requires confidence on steep rock. Going with a local guide who knows the area well is a good idea before taking on this route.
The name of the ridge contains a German word even though it sits within Poland, where Polish is the everyday language. German names like this one appear across the Tatra because many early mountaineers who explored and named these formations came from German-speaking regions in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
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