October 13, 2025
The Upper Silesian Railways has various trains from Wroclaw into the Sudeten Mountains, southwest of the city. Plan A was to go to Karpacz, then climb Mt Sňežka *Czechia's high point) from the Polish side before descending into Czechia. Given the forecast for clouds and sleet at the Sňežka summit, Plan B took shape: go to the ski town of Szklarska Poręba Górna.
The train went straight through the plains to Świebodzice, where the climbing began to a plateau at Podgórze. Leaving Gelenia Gora, the train climbed again to Szklarska Poręba Górna (1). Dropping some of my bag's contents at a hotel and getting some provisuons, I headed up the cobbled streets of the town to the Wysoki Kamień trailhead. The mountain's summit tower was visible from the railway station.
The trail rises steadily along an old fire road at a relatively steady grade, steepening just before the summit. A good number of people, including families, were out enjoying this relatively dry day, greeting each other with "dzień dobry" (good day). Various streams tinkled across the path from the recent rains.
The tower was closed, but some hikers emerged from a stone hut with pieces of apple tart. I popped in and was delighted to discover that the tart was still warm from the wood-fired oven (2). The sweeping views from the summit encompassed the town below, and views into Czechia, including cloud-covered Sňežka.
The (mainly yellow) Fall colors appeared to be nearing their peak. The clouds were now more common than the sun, with the shadows dancing across the hillsides. After more than an hour at the summit, descent was via the same route back to town. Overall 4.25 miles with a 1,200 foot vertical rise, not counting the 200 foot rise back to the hotel from dinner in town.
(1) I can't quite get my toungue around the pronunciation of the town. Górna means Upper; en-route we passed Szklarska Poręba Dolna (lower).
(2) I think I was the only person not to buy one of the myriad beers on offer at the hut.
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