KiczeraSki

Photo: SN Kiczera Puławy. Only a dozen or so years ago, Puławy Górne was known only to those who happened to walk the Main Beskid Trail through the remote valleys of the Beskid Niski. Today the ski resort built there not so long ago aspires to be the best not just in the area but in the whole Podkarpackie province. Thanks to smart investment and the commitment and inventiveness of its owners, the season here often lasts as long as in Białka Tatrzańska. And although the two resorts cannot really be compared, there is no denying that it is hard to find a better place for downhill skiing in the area. Puławy Górne is a small settlement in the valley of the Birdok stream, a tributary of the Wisłok, in the eastern part of the Beskid Niski. It sits on the edge of civilisation: to the south begin some of the most sparsely populated areas of Poland, full of vast beech forests and abandoned valleys where Lemko villages once stood. When a chairlift was built here in 2004, few skiers from Podkarpacie probably expected that within a few years a small but thriving and well-run ski resort would grow up here. The backbone of the resort is still the two-seater chairlift climbing to the top of Kiczera. Alongside it runs the main piste, fairly steep at the top and wide and easy lower down, as well as an easier blue run that takes a longer way round and a narrow, winding and in places steep run through the forest. In the lower part of the resort there is also a button lift with an easy piste beside it; it also links to the lower part of the main piste and serves a rather good snow park. A completely separate slope for beginners and children is served by a button lift and, when needed, a short rope tow. In all, skiers have more than 3.5 km of pistes at their disposal. At the valley station there is a self-service restaurant and a ski equipment shop. The resort has two rental shops and a ski school. Two free car parks fully meet demand even at the height of the season. Interestingly, the resort is an alcohol-free zone, which clearly adds to its appeal for families with children. The drawback is the low capacity of the chairlift: on winter weekends it can get crowded, while outside weekends there is usually only a short wait or none at all. All in all, this is one of the most interesting and pleasant ski resorts in the Podkarpackie province, especially recommended for family holidays.