Skrzyczne – Salmopol – Solisko for the Start of the Season

The route starts in Szczyrk at around 530 m a.s.l. and leads to the summit of Skrzyczne, the highest peak in the Silesian Beskids (1,257 m). The first surprise comes right at the bottom: the ski slope is ruled by machine-made snow. Instead of a soft surface for your skis, you find hard, uneven chunks of ice. The ascent is bearable, but skiing down this way is a real slog. Your skis chatter and jerk as if you were riding over concrete bumps. Then again, that's part and parcel of early-season touring. If you want powder, you'll have to wait until December. Things change completely higher up. On the traverse near Skrzyczne, a reward awaits: pristine, untouched snow that almost nobody has reached yet. Spots like this are a real treat in the first weeks of the season, and worth the climb on their own. The route then heads toward Przełęcz Salmopolska (Biały Krzyż) at around 930 m a.s.l. If you're planning a break here, be sure to stop by Bikej Cafe. The coffee and cake are great (not sponsored), and just what you need before the next stretch. Logistics warning: the 120 bus no longer goes up to Przełęcz Salmopolska. The last stop is "Szczyrk Salmopol Solisko", which can be misleading. The result? Instead of a relaxed ride out, you have to put your skins back on and go back over Przełęcz pod Malinowem to Solisko, then ski down that concrete-like machine-made snow once more to the new bus loop. The extra kilometers and vertical at the end of the day make themselves felt. For a first tour of the season, it's a pretty decent warm-up. Your legs get a proper workout, but the satisfaction of the snow up high and the coffee at Biały Krzyż make up for everything.