Hi hikers!
For last Saturday, I did not plan any extra hike, just a simple one in The Beskydy Mountains in Czech Republic with a need to start and end the journey close to train station preferably, all else was just a stroke of luck. Let us see how it went then ;-)
The journey begins in a little town, Vendryně (some 300m a.s.l.), close to larger city, Třinec. The green tourist trail leads the way, after few kilometers, it is taking me by this decaying farm with funny black and white billy goats. Also mind the black billy goat on the right with white goatee and white spot on head. I still wonder what colored combination the guy inside the goat shelter was endowed with.
Moving on, the next significant stop is peak with 947m a.s.l., Malý Javorový. They have a nice chalet there, so why not to have a breakfast there? This is how *ordinary *breakfast of hikers in Czechia could look like: a beer with something. Lemonade-like dark beer with lemon flavor by Litovel, ideal for cyclists (4% alc.), and the home-made pie with plum jam and cottage cheese. As a matter of fact, they serve 4-5 (don't recall exactly) different beers by Litovel on tap at this chalet (including my favourite half-dark Gustav 13°).
Full of energy, marching on. Thickness of snow cover could be above 20cm. Luckily, previous hikers trampled down a narrow track in the snow, so all good. On the top of that, temperature above zero, no wind, very sunny. Ideal conditions in the end ;-)
This stage of route navigates through forested peaks, like Javorový, Šindelná, Ropice, Velký Lipový, Příslop with altitude of each of around 1km. That results in no views. It doesn't last long though, as something draws my attention, more specifically the red sign on the chalet with name Ropička. To my big surprise, it is a beer ad sign which I am seeing first time in my life. The brewery is called Radas, the beer served there is half-dark Special Honey 14° 😜
After good beer good view is supposed to follow. Here it is. Yep, in the brightest sun, but you cannot command sun to go away for a moment :-P
Anyhow, the vertical axis of this view, the highest summit of the Beskydy Mountains, Lysá hora (1323m a.s.l.), rises. Also, that tiny unrecognizable pin at top of it is a TV transmitter tower.
Passing by this melting little snowman.
Look at that beast, maintaining our woods!
It leaves these bumpy and kind of wide tracks in the woods.
Last important and planned stop is at lower peak Malá Prašivá (707m a.s.l.). There is the Prašivá chalet with a lookout tower and the wooden Church of St. Anthony of Padua from 1640. The church was closed at the time of my visit.
Here comes quite a nice spot for view hunters from Malá Prašivá, how else other than with bright sun. No wonder this slope is popular by local paragliders. The highest peak in the photo is Lysá hora too.
If zoomed a bit, you will see contours of Lysá hora's TV transmitter tower.
Feel free to have a swing with this view.
Now slowly descending as train is leaving soon. Here is a quick view of local manufacturer of cars, Hyundai Motor ...
Truly unexpected. Some 3.5km ahead of the final stop of this journey, the train station Dobratice pod Prašivou, at Kamenité tourist trail signpost, I see restaurant called Kohutka with own brewery? I cannot resist. Here it is, one of out of 6(!) their own beers on tap: 15° Uprchlík (loosely translated as someone who escapes from something/somewhere). That was exactly how I felt after I emptied the drinking glass quite quickly. A sprint across the muddy fields to catch the train leaving in a bit!
Yes, they let me get on
PS: Not far away from there another craft brewery is situated I learnt later. So it is my destiny to return to these parts one day 😏
As usual, here are some journey facts:
Distance: ~30km
Steps count: ~39k
Elevation: ~950m ⇅
Hope you enjoyed reading this. See you on the trail ;-)