Do not look for the Czorsztyn-ski ski station in Czorsztyn, but in the nearby Kluszkowce. More precisely - on the slopes of Mount Wdżar.
And the mountain is special: not only was it once a volcano, andesites were mined from its slopes, we will experience a magnetic anomaly here, and a dragon has also lived on it.
With a dragon in the background
Let's start with the ski slopes. A 550-meter-long two-person chairlift takes you almost to the very top of the aforementioned mountain, which rises 767 meters above sea level. It has a conical shape that reminds us that it was a volcano in ancient times. From the top there is a nice view of the Czorsztyn Lagoon, the Pieniny Mountains and the Tatra Mountains. A dragon is sitting on an egg near the viewing platform. It is a metalwork structure reminiscent of the legend of the dragon that once lived on this strange mountain: he was said to be the son of the Wawel dragon.
Family skiing
Hence, you have two routes to choose from: kilometer long, marked in red as medium-difficult and blue, easy, two hundred meters longer. The second ride can be made a bit more attractive by using the red abbreviation.
To complete the set we have a 450-meter ski lift for the corresponding length of the easy route and a small, 100-meter lift for complete beginners. The routes are snowed, groomed, illuminated, there is a rental and ski-service. Around the slope you will find extensive dining facilities, and below the chair station, the "Pod Wulkanem" inn.
Worth knowing» Wdżar Mountain is located on the Gorce side of the Snozka Pass, which separates Gorce and Pieniny Mountains.
» There are crystalline andesite rocks of volcanic origin here. In the entire Polish Carpathians, we will see them only here and on Mount Bryjarce on Szczawnica. In the quarry excavation you will find a vertical plate-shaped andesite vein that cuts through a shoal of flysch rocks. On the slope there is an andesite hill.
» On the top of the Wdżar mountain and the hilltop we will observe a magnetic anomaly: the compass does not want to point to the north. In the quarry, which has been closed for years, you can practice rock climbing.
The station is one of those we call "family" stations, moreover, she wrote it down in the name. It is worth knowing that with the pass bought in Czorsztyn-ski, we can use the slopes in the Polana Sosny ski resort in Niedzica.
Coafter skiing?
All in all, an interesting place for those who do not have to spend the whole day on the slopes, and who want to combine skiing fun with walks around the area and visiting local attractions. There are some here.
First of all, it is worth replacing your downhill skis with cross-country skiing and going around the volcanic hill around, or going on a longer trip into the unknown. You can also do it on foot, on a walking path.
On the slopes of the mountain there is a gutter for a year-round toboggan run. The descent is 900 meters long, and the trolley can reach a speed of 40 km per hour. In winter, however, the track is usually closed, and it is only opened for larger groups.
You can finally visit the ostrich farm and the sheep farm, try real oscypek, buncu and żentyca. And visiting the castles in Czorsztyn and Niedzica and the church in Dębno (on the UNESCO list) are obligatory items on the program of your stay.
The text comes from the resources of the Open Sightseeing Guide