Szklana Góra

Harbutowice is a large village stretching along the valley of the Harbutówka stream, which squeezes between the northernmost ridges of the Beskid Makowski (sometimes also called the Beskid Średni). On the western slopes of one of them, Szklana Góra (578 m), the first stage of a completely new ski resort was completed in January 2014; it advertises itself as "the chairlift closest to Kraków". Unfortunately, owing to unfavourable weather and the warmest winter in many years, the pistes could not be prepared, so the ski premiere will only take place in the 2014/15 season. For now, then, we can only give the basic figures for the new resort. A four-seater chairlift made by Tatrapoma has been built, fitted with the KID-STOP® system for the safety of the youngest skiers. The lift is 760 metres long with a vertical drop of 170 metres. Two pistes, graded red, run down on both sides of the chairlift, floodlit, covered by snowmaking and groomed, of course. At the valley station there is a bar serving home cooking, an equipment rental shop, a ski service and a ski school for children. A snow park and a lift for the youngest are planned for the 2014/15 season. Time will tell whether the new resort becomes an attractive place to ski for people from Kraków and the surrounding area. We are waiting impatiently for the chance to make the first turns on this untouched terrain.