 Only members of a national UIAA club are allowed to climb the peak on their own . Other visitors have to take a certified mountain guide . The two easiest routes , usually up the Velická próba and down the Batizovská próba named after their respective valleys , are protected by chains . Because of an exposed section along the Velická próba and tricky orientation especially on the ridge , both are among the more difficult scrambling routes in the High Tatras , although it 's rather climbing , since there are many moments when one must rely on ones hands to hold ones bodyweight . With no snow , guidebooks grade the routes as a II or III climb ( UIAA scale ) or lower . The total elevation gain is about 1 @,@ 000 m ( 3 @,@ 300 ft ) for those who spend the night at the Sliezsky Dom Hotel or are driven there by a mountain guide , and about 1 @,@ 665 m ( 5 @,@ 463 ft ) for those who hike from Tatranská Polianka . In winter , Gerlachovský štít offers a challenging alpine climb , with mixed climbing and a risk of avalanches . 
