Beskid Slaski: Bystra -> Szyndzielnia -> Klimczok -> Magura

For the next trek, I chose a loop that I had already photographed in 2020: from Bystra village, through Szyndzielnia and Klimczok peaks, to Magura peak. The route seemed long enough for this time of year, considering my post-winter fitness level, but also interesting enough to revisit some great shots from familiar places. To avoid repeating the exact same path, I modified the approach to Szyndzielnia and descent from Magura to see the viewpoints along the yellow trail.

The ascent to Szyndzielnia already provided a little adventure when, in the middle of the gorge trail, we encountered a spotted salamander. I had no idea that salamanders exist in Poland! Unfortunately, by the time I took out my camera, the creature had almost disappeared under the tree roots. The only shot I took was blurry, with part of the salamander obscured by a root. Bravo for my timing! Oh, and here’s the interesting part: another salamander was hiding under the same tree roots! You can see its tail in the lower right corner of the photo. Perhaps these two salamanders are enjoying a springtime romance?

Throughout the hike, we had nearly cloudless skies. The colors you see in the landscape photos are thanks to a circular polarizing filter. Under favorable conditions, this filter enhances the blue of the sky and the green of nature. I’ve been using it for about two years now, practically keeping it permanently attached to my landscape lens. It’s one of the best photographic investments ever!

Click here to see the exact route. Although I’m puzzled why Polish trail map site shows a trail length of 14 km, while our two independent measuring devices indicated a distance of just under 18 km. Were we zigzagging like tipsy hikers?