It takes a good hour and a half to reach the top of Skrzyczne. There is nothing to cheat - this is what the ski weekend in Szczyrk looks like.
Szczyrk stretches in the valley along the Żylica stream and extends into hamlets scattered on the slopes of the mountains. The ski slopes here are also scattered around. And there are quite a few of them: 31 lifts support almost 60 km of slopes. It is a pity that they are not connected with each other: neither by the ski bus, nor by the common ski pass. Let's visit the most interesting of them.
Following, like most newcomers, we start from the bottom: the 500-meter Zapalenica lift on the left side of the road allows you to use two routes: gentle, long (1200 m) and a bit boring and shorter (800 m), behind it's a bit more demanding. Maybe for starters. Not crowded.
Next: Beskid and Beskidek - two slopes located above the hamlet of Biła. The Beskids are longer, the route is 1,200 meters long, gentle, quite wide and relaxing. Beskidek is a short, steep slope for sportsmen (800-900 m). Between them there is still quite a short lift on Wyrobiska. You don't have to wait too long. Unfortunately - for each separate pass. There are plans to connect both lifts with a common toll system, connecting routes and an additional plate, and even creating one resort with the Brenna located on the other side of the ridge. But when will it be?
Skrzyczne
Skrzyczne (or COS) we will recognize by the swirling crowd. The two-seater chairlift, still the same for years, is no longer able to take all comers. But when we wait our time and cover less than three kilometers and a 700 m difference in levels, we will stand under the snow-covered tower and admire the beautiful view. With a bit of luck, we will even see the Tatra Mountains. You can go back in three or four ways, along a total of 14 kilometers of routes. After this, of course, the most attractive black route, 2.8 km long, which has FIS approval for all alpine skiing competitions. In the Red Cascade, narrow, usually a lot of ice and stones.
Czyrna -Solisko
There are 21 kilometers of routes in Czyrna-Solisko (or GAT). However, already in the parking lot, you have to make a decision: turn right towards Malinów or left towards Małe Skrzyczne. In Malinów (Pręgni), the routes are rather gentle, conducive to recreational riding. Only this one, Golgotha leading down … To bypass it, it's like being in Rome, not seeing the Pope.
Now her name is somewhereshe forgot, but the route (no. 11, red) was once a challenge: narrow, moguls, stones, fear. Now it is groomed, illuminated - when there is enough snow, it's a pleasure.
The eight routes of Mały Skrzyczne are not crowded, everyone goes their own way. Whoever feels strong chooses the black, difficult one. If it's not closed. Who wants to laze, drives blue or green (easy), exposing his face to the sun during stops. Those who crave views reach the very top, from where a vast panorama opens from Skrzyczne to Klimczok. Unfortunately, they all meet downstairs. Queues for lifts to the horizon.
Finally, at the very end, under the Salmopolska Pass - the White Cross. This year's ski season in Szczyrk began here. Before Christmas, there was not enough snow, so they brought it: from the surrounding meadows, from the forest. And they succeeded, they took off first. There are two short lifts with easy slopes, just right for beginners. But they have one advantage: snow - when it falls, it will fall until spring.
Where to stay?
The accommodation and dining facilities in Szczyrk are huge. It is known that the city is alive with skiers and skiers. Just open one of the websites below, and we will find suggestions for every budget.
But not always skis dominated in Szczyrk. Until the twenties of the last century, there was a village here, and its inhabitants worked mainly as shepherds. Szczyrk for skiers was discovered by those who had had enough of the overcrowded Zwardoń. You could get there by rail, and the number of adepts of the new sport was growing day by day. They started to download Skrzyczne and Klimczok, although until 1932 there was not even a proper road here. It was a different place than now, but also different skiers. They had no lifts, they threw their skis over their backs and painstakingly hauled them up into the mountains. Or they trampled the slope to exercise. Soon, on the slopes of Skrzyczne, a ski club hostel from Bielsko was built, and a few guesthouses and holiday homes in the valley. After the war, the construction of ski lifts began, and in 1959 the chairlift to the top was set up. Large holiday centers have sprung up, mainly belonging to Silesian mines. Most of the guests came here from Silesia. And they dominate here to this day.
Sample ticket prices:
- Czyrna - Solisko or GAT (Małe Skrzyczne and Malinów) - a point system, lifts usually cost 3.80 or 3.90 per ride. You can also buy temporary tickets: daily PLN 62, half-day PLN 38, weekly PLN 335.
- Skrzyczne or COS - points system, usually 4.50 for entering each of the lifts. There are no time tickets.
- Beskidek: 3.5 PLN for one entry, 60 PLN - day, 280 PLN - week
- Beskid - PLN 2 one entry
- White Cross - PLN 1 one entry