I spent last Christmas and New Year's Eve alone because of covid-19 which I apparently suffered (experienced many common symptoms). January 1st, this is the date my isolation is up. Besides, I feel quite Okay (which later on corona-testing supports). So I cannot miss the offer of a good friend of mine to join the first day hike of the year 2021. There is no better place where to hike but the legendary ridge of the Jeseníky Mountains (=at least for us, local mountains lovers)!
Cover photo (took at Ztracené kameny) of this post: Some see a wolf in the photo. What's your take on it? 😀
Alright, let's start. After standard climbing from Skřítek parking lot, we get to Ztracené kameny (loosely translated as Lost Stones) at 8 o'clock. This is the view from just underneath this famous point of interest.
Today, it is going to be awesome weather - 0ish temperature, sunny and inversion at the lower altitudes.
First views look promising. The visibility is splendid! Those peaks way behind, these are Králický Snežník. For sure I have visited these cool mountains too. You can read more about here.
Vista from this rock formation which is 1250 m.a.s.l.
Look at the opposite side. Yeah, it is not that easy to take a clear shot as these Lost Stones are very crowded spot.
On the road now.
Busy beaten footpath in the snow. Stuck stick determines the path when there is *** of snow 😁 (The mountains remember times when there was +2m of snow cover).
Bright sun over the horizon where you could see another major mountains - Beskids - which are, wait for it, more than one hundred kilometers as the crow flies. Wicked!
That's where we are headed. Praděd in the middle.
Obviously my camera is not that capable, but behind the Beskids, another significant mountains peep through (you must believe me), Malá Fatra (which I covered in this post if interested). We are blown away by such fantastic visibility.
It's 10 o'clock, slowly approaching the spot where we can have a snack.
But before that, we must fill up a bottle with fresh and cold water at 1311 m.a.s.l. at Jelení studánka (loosely translated as Deer spring).
One has made a good angel in the snow there.
Just reached the ultimate point of our journey - the magnificent mountain of the Jeseníky mountains - Praděd (1491 m.a.s.l.). With its radio tower, it is the highest fixed artificial point of Czechia (~1637 m.a.s.l.). Hurray!
Nope, we are not going there. Extremely crowded place 😆
Alright. Now headed back. It is noon, the wind gets stronger. Halo phenomenon above the weather station.
If you zoom in and focus your eyes on the mountains on the horizon, you could see white smudged something - these are the Malá Fatra mountains.
A shelter made out of stones. Actually it is quite nice inside. Handy place during harsh weather conditions.
On our way back. Sun, visibility, clouds. Just superb.
One panoramic photo.
This kind of view leaves me speechless.
A glimpse in the rearview mirror - Praděd.
With such visibility like we do have today, perhaps the highest peak of Czechia - Sněžka (1603 m.a.s.l.) - is visible? Hard to tell, it is some 130 km away.
My camera cannot stop taking pictures.
It is 14 o'clock. Enjoying last breathtaking views.
Now finally descending. Need to get to the parking lot as I heard they might have some beer on tap?! Careful though, the path is very slippery (yep, I nicely slipped).
Whoa, it is true. Their serving hatch (very common these days, isn't it) is open! I am pretty sure I can have one as a reward - Huhňák, a descent Czech beer in these tough corona-times.
That is all. Thank you for reading this post. If you want to revive this trail in the spring conditions, check this out😀 Don't forget to check out my Pinmapple profile to see all places I have visited on the map!
PS: Next time, we are going to explore some other cool mountains. See you on the trail 😉
