BOU AVENUE
Babia Góra
On 14 August 2023, Zosia Zgolak and I hiked up Babia Góra located on the boundary between Poland's Babiogórski Park Narodowy (Babia Góra National Park) and Slovakia's Chránená krajinná oblasť Horná Orava (Horná Orava Protected Landscape Area).  The mountain is the second highest of the 28 Crown of Polish Mountains but is easily ascended via a number of different trails with probably the most direct one being the Main Beskid Trail along the east ridge.  According to summitpost.org, the name of the mountain can be translated to "Old Women's/Witches' Mountain", and the highest summit is known to Poles as Diablak (Devil's Peak).  The most fiendish aspect of the mountain though would be trying to find a parking spot at the trailhead.

Spending the previous night in the nearby Polish village of Skawica, Zosia Zgolak and I departed early to drive to the trailhead at Krowiarki Pass.  There are a couple of pay lots here, but we managed to find a spot in a free pullout along the highway about 350 metres east of the pass.  After stopping at the trailhead ticket/souvenir kiosk to pay our entrance fees (7 PLN or ~$ 2.32 CAD per person), we set off along the Main Beskid Trail marked by red and white blazes.  The trail is wide and easy to follow but climbs steadily right from the start, and it was not long before I was sweating profusely.  Thankfully, most of the trail is initially in forest which helped to shade us from the already hot sun.  Beyond the first viewpoint at Sokolica, the forest gives way to stunted hedges, and we got our first good look at the rest of the east ridge.  Although we lost the shade of the forest, a refreshing breeze now helped to keep us from overheating, and the remainder of the ascent was little more than a long but pleasant walk along a broad ridge.  Numerous signs, monuments and a large stone windbreak clutter the otherwise spacious summit, and although there were lots of other hikers there, it did not feel overly crowded.

Zosia and I snapped some requisite photographs before finding a spot beside the windbreak for a relaxing break.  When we had enough of a rest, we simply retraced our steps down the Main Beskid Trail and returned to the trailhead without incident.  We subsequently embarked on a lengthy drive to our next destination--the Polish spa city of Kudowa-Zdrój.
Where's the tailgate party? The parking lot at the trailhead is already full.
The uphill grind will get you warm pretty quickly.

The Main Beskid Trail climbs moderately but unrelentingly for the first couple of kilometres.
Most of the hard work is done by this point! Trees give way to some views of the east ridge near a viewing platform at Sokolica.
Would be tough bushwhacking--thank goodness for the trail!

Much of the upper mountain is covered with dwarf pine trees.
I thought this was a salamander! A viviparous or common lizard attracts some attention beside the trail.
You could play football up here! The upper east ridge is very broad and gentle.
Almost there! The summit is within sight.
Pozdrowienia!

Zosia and Sonny present the Polish flag atop Diablak (Devil's Peak) on Babia Góra (1733 metres).
It's ironic that they honour the Pope on Devil's Peak! Zosia stands beside a monument erected near the summit in honour of Pope John Paul II.

Everything looks so far away when you're on top of the most prominent mountain in the area.

The panorama to the south includes the Tatra Mountains (left and central horizon), Orava Reservoir, and Veľký Choč (far right horizon).

 

Easy-peasy!

Zosia heads back down the east ridge.
Smacznego! Many hours later, Zosia enjoys a beer, salad and leftover pizza at Willa Dunajec (bed & breakfast) in the city of Kudowa-Zdrój.
A relatively stress-free and enjoyable hike if you can find parking! Total Distance:  10.3 kilometres
Round-Trip Time:  4 hours 54 minutes
Cumulative Elevation Gain:  716 metres

GPX Data