If you looked at the mountain Krizna from the highway from Zvolen to Banska Bystrica, it would never occur to you that you’d be able to get up there on a bike. An impressive peak, albeit meadow-like, with a steep south slope and sharp ridges just commands respect. Knowing that on this hill, 1928 there was the most tragic avalanche in Slovakia, which buried 18 people, 15 of them children, your respect changes to awe. And knowing you’ll be downhilling the path of this avalanche, the awe changes to fear. That’s Krizna – the death hill – the white killer. But don’t be too scared – it’s a white killer and you’ll be here in summer. The hill doesn’t murder bikers. Yet of course, there already has been some broken collarbones and hair-raising falls.
Fac et vives.