Giewont part 2

Giewont - one of the most recognizable mountains in Poland, a symbol of Zakopane city. In the summer, this mountain attracts a lot of tourists - but in spite of our trip in August, we managed to avoid crowded routes and this expedition get us great enjoyment.

The oldest documents mention the existence in the sixteenth century copper mine in the Gyewant. It has not been so far explained finally the origin of the name of the mountain. The mountain name probably derives from German, the word Wand (wall rock). The original form was, probably Gewand (rock group) or Gähwand (crag). However, according to Mariusz Zaruski like many other names Tatra mountains, this name comes from the surname Giewont.

Giewont is mount-symbol, whose outline is often associated with the silhouette of a sleeping knight. One version of the legend of the knights sleeping in the Tatra Mountains, who wake up when Poland will be in great danger, places them just under Giewont. This is due to the fact that in the walls Giewont are numerous caves, including Cave Juhaska, Goat Cave and Hole in the Valley Strążyska.

Cross on Giewont (1894 m asl) put the Highlanders from Zakopane in 1901 from the initiative of the then parish priest Kazimierz Koszelewski. The cross is 17.5 meters high, 2.5 lies under the rocks

Cross at Giewont is also an object of religious pilgrimages. August 19 (the anniversary of the placing of the cross) and 14 September (the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross) takes place with the Church of St. Cross in Zakopane pilgrimage to the cross on Giewont

Since May 2006, a replica of the cross stands in Pustkowo, Kozienice and in the fields of Lednica

From the North Giewont is steep and inaccessible, whereas the southern side of its slopes are gentle

On the Giewont happens to a lot of accidents. Since 1886 Died here approx. 50 tourists, of which 5 by lightning

To the Giewont leads three different ways on the foot, and then one at the top. One of them leads through the Valley Strążyska, the second route tends to Giewont by Hala Kondratowa, and the third, the most difficult, runs through the Valley Mała Łąka

From Przełęcz Kondracka at an altitude of 1725 meters a. m. s. l. begins a difficult trail leading through Wyżynia przełęcz Kondracka 1789 meters to the summit of Giewont

Just before the summit we were greeting through mountain chamois :)

Close to the summit begins the most steep climb protected steel chains and movement takes place here only in one direction, the descent follows on the other side.

I would recommend anyone to go to the Giewont, beacuse views from the top are spectacular, you can see all the mountain ranges in the distance of 150 km and can even a little further. I think that the expedition is not too complicated and the view at the top rewards all the difficulties.