Bieszczady or Zakopane?

kskasiaThreads: 8 Posts: 2 Joined: Aug 12, 10 ♀	Aug 18, 10, 18:02 #1
If you were able to only go to one mountain area which one would you pick Bieszczady or Zakopane?

OscarSilThreads: - Posts: 5 Joined: Aug 17, 10 ♂	Aug 18, 10, 18:09 #2
I think zakopane it has lakes hitchhiking in the summer, skiinig in winter ,and cable car

pgtxThreads: 48 Posts: 6,268 Joined: Feb 14, 09 ♀ [Moderator]	Aug 18, 10, 18:14 #3
kskasia: Bieszczady or Zakopane? ah, that's hard!

dtaylor5632Threads: 48 Posts: 4,344 Joined: May 2, 09 ♂	Aug 18, 10, 18:19 #4
kskasia: Bieszczady All the time. Zakopane is too over-crowded and too expensive. Views are nice but I would prefer the wildness of Bieszczady every time.

pgtxThreads: 48 Posts: 6,268 Joined: Feb 14, 09 ♀ [Moderator]	Aug 18, 10, 18:22 #5
dtaylor5632: Zakopane is too over-crowded and too expensive. Views are nice but I would prefer the wildness of Bieszczady every time. i must agree here...

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,410 Joined: Aug 29, 07 ♂	Aug 18, 10, 22:42 #6
still, that's a hard decision.. flip a coin and have fun wherever you go.. both places are superb.

AjbThreads: 12 Posts: 340 Joined: Jul 14, 08 ♂	Aug 18, 10, 23:10 #7
dtaylor5632: I would prefer the wildness of Bieszczady every time. i agree pluss its very close to home for me :)

Kasha83Threads: - Posts: 8 Joined: Aug 3, 10 ♀	Aug 18, 10, 23:25 #8
I have never been to Bieszczady but I happened to be in Zakopane several times...it is over crowded indeed especially in the summer but if you accomodeate yourself in a calm place (suburbs of the town or any village nearby) and avoid Krupowki street during rush hour than you will find yourself enjoying the place a lot:)...the Tatras have irresistible charm and are certianly worth it!

Marek11111Threads: 49 Posts: 1,857 Joined: Aug 6, 09 MEMBER ♂	Aug 19, 10, 00:12 #9
Bieszczady everytime

♂

Aug 19, 10, 00:39 #10

dtaylor5632:

Views are nice but I would prefer the wildness of Bieszczady every time.

The problem is that the wildness of Bieszczady is becoming no more. I was there this summer - and the amount of unregulated building in places like Wetlina is completely destroying the area. Polanczyk is nothing more than a seaside resort now, and even places within the park such as Wolosate are now becoming clogged with tourists. The national park appears to be completely unable to respond to the problems except by increasing fees - but let's be honest, 6zl per person isn't going to break anyone's bank.

However, apparently the Ukranian side is absolutely beautiful and wild.

♂

Edited by: jwojcie Aug 19, 10, 13:51 #11

kskasia:

If you were able to only go to one mountain area which one would you pick
Bieszczady or Zakopane?

Well, hard choice, those are two different kind of the mountains actually... It depends how much you like trekking...
As a trekking type of a man I can offer a few hints:
a) If you prefer smaller version of Alps like mountains go to Zakopane and Tatra mountains
b) If you prefer more hills like mountains choose Bieszczady.

Ad. a) Tatra mountains in the summer are terribly overcrowded but there is a way to avoid this, but maybe a little chalenging. The thing you should do is to not even stop in Zakopane or maybe just for one day. Instead of that go with your backpack straight into the mountains and Tatra National Park. There is a couple of nice refuges there. So if you start trekking from the refuge early enough in the morning, the feel of emptiness, wild and beauty will be your reward. Personally I see no point in other approach to the Tatra mountains in the summer, there is just to many people. As for refuges there is probably no way you can book anything right now, but at least in last year, except from refuge "Piec Stawow", in every refuge you will find shelter but sometimes on the floor.. It is a hazard, but when in last year I was doing backpacking through refuges line, we get some beds everytime...

Ad. b) I've not been to Bieszczady for ten years but I've heard it tends to be overcrowded in the summer to in those days... But if you go there it is not a bad idea to spend a couple of days around Solina lake.

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,410 Joined: Aug 29, 07 ♂	Edited by: plk123 Aug 19, 10, 15:00 #12
jwojcie: refuges meaning mountain huts there is also a way to camp but you have to be a member of PTTK or a reciprocal mountaineering club of another nation.

jwojcieThreads: 3 Posts: 801 Joined: Jan 3, 09 ♂	Edited by: jwojcie Aug 19, 10, 15:16 #13
plk123: meaning mountain huts Well, I don't really know how to call it in English. It is not hotel, rather not hostel, it is better than refuge or chalet... I propose to visit and eat "szarlotka" in every one of them ;-)

tow_stalinThreads: 2 Posts: 72 Joined: Jul 21, 10 ♂	Aug 19, 10, 15:17 #14
dtaylor5632: All the time. Zakopane is too over-crowded and too expensive. Views are nice but I would prefer the wildness of Bieszczady every time. bieszczady rulez...

Kasha83Threads: - Posts: 8 Joined: Aug 3, 10 ♀	Aug 19, 10, 15:20 #15
plk123: there is also a way to camp but you have to be a member of PTTK or a reciprocal mountaineering club of another nation. Presumably it has to be agreed/confirmed/booked in advance and I believe there are some determined spots as I doubt that you can pitch a tent anywhere you want, correct?

jwojcieThreads: 3 Posts: 801 Joined: Jan 3, 09 ♂	Aug 19, 10, 15:24 #16
useful site with maps online about polish mountains: http://www.e-gory.pl/index.php/Mapy-online/

♀

Aug 19, 10, 15:47 #17

Thanks for the advice.
Although I would love to backpack (The best trip I ever took was a backpacking trip in California from Toulume Meadow to the high sierras for 8 days back in 2002) I have a 3 years old daughter so that's not going to happen. A few more years until that happens.
I think we will definately go to Bieszczady as my husband wants to fly-fish the San River which apparantely is awsome for that. The girls will be left alone to sight see and take some shorter hikes around the area. Maybe rent a kayak for an afternoon.

Are there any spas - natural spring type places to go to in that area?

If we have the time we may stop in for a day to Zakopane but the majority of the trip will probably be in Bieszczady.

♂

Aug 19, 10, 15:53 #18

Kasha83:

Presumably it has to be agreed/confirmed/booked in advance and I believe there are some determined spots as I doubt that you can pitch a tent anywhere you want, correct?

correct.. camping only at the few disignated "campgrounds".. not sure about reservation, however.. probably wouldn't hurt??

jwojcie:

Well, I don't really know how to call it in English.

i told you.. huts

kskasia:

Are there any spas - natural spring type places to go to in that area?

yup.. can't recall the names at the moment.. you may be able to google them though.

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