3. Babia hora (1725 m)

Today I will introduce you to a mountain that, by the way it dominates the landscape, is somewhat reminiscent of Kilimanjaro. It is a mountain where the mystery of remoteness and the miraculous unknown mingles with the hustle and bustle of an attractive tourist destination. Yes, one of the most fascinating mountains in the Western Carpathians, which is called Babia hora (1725), can still be characterized that way. It is the highest peak of the mountain range, which on the Slovak side is called the Slovak Beskydy. From the southern side it is an uninhabited wilderness, but from the northern (Polish) side it is part of the high mountain national park, where a busy tourist life pulsates. And the differences can also be seen in the topologies of the terrain. While the south is made up of huge wooded, rhododendron and stone slopes, the north is wild, reminiscent of a mountainous relief. While the ascent from the south - from Slaná vody is long and tiring, because it is mostly in the forest, the ascent from Krowiarske sedlo on the Polish side is not only less strenuous, but the path goes along the ridge, and thus during the ascent there are constantly amazing views in all directions. Krowiarske sedlo can be reached by car from Námestov via Bobrov along the northern arm of Lake Orava. Near the village of Jablonka, there are exciting panoramic views of the Tatras from the unconventional northwest side over the landscape, which is as flat as a table. One of the largest bogs in Europe is located here, and the forest that can be seen in the photo is also called the forest of death, because in the past it happened that not only people but also entire herds of cattle disappeared there. You can climb the mountain at any time of the year, and when the visibility is good, you can see the entire Tatras.