| Skrzyczne | |
|---|---|
 The top of Skrzyczne, June 2005 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,257 m (4,124 ft) [1] [2] |
| Prominence | 585 m (1,919 ft) [2] |
| Listing | Mountains of Poland |
| Coordinates | 49°41′04″N19°01′48″E / 49.68451°N 19.03012°E [1] |
| Geography | |
  Skrzyczne Location in Poland  Skrzyczne Skrzyczne (Silesian Voivodeship) | |
| Location | Silesian Voivodeship, Poland |
| Parent range | Silesian Beskids |
Skrzyczne is a mountain in southern Poland, in the Silesian Voivodeship, close to the town of Szczyrk. It is the highest mountain of the Silesian Beskids [3] and the fifth most topographically prominent peak in Poland. [4] [a]
Skrzyczne is one of the peaks which make up the Crown of Polish Mountains, a list of the highest points in each of Poland's 28 mountain ranges. [5] The peak can be reached by hiking paths, and there is also a gondola lift which starts in Szczyrk and comes up to around 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above sea level. [6] The slopes of the mountain are also known for the many blueberries which grow on them and which are frequently collected by hikers and other visitors. [7]
A mountain hut, PTTK Skrzyczne, is located very close to the peak of the mountain. The first hut, built in 1933, was destroyed in a fire. [8] A second hut was built in the late 1930s, and stands to this day. [9] There is likewise a tall (87 metres (285 ft)) radio and television tower atop Skrzyczne, [10] which makes it easy to recognise the peak from afar.
In addition to multiple hiking trails, the Skrzyczne area also hosts a ski resort with several pistes, [11] as well as mountain biking trails. [12] Several trail races also cross the peak, most notably Zamieć, a 24-hour race which takes place in the winter. [13]
Legend has it that Skrzyczne takes its name from the croaking of frogs (in Polish: skrzyczenie), which supposedly inhabited the (now nonexistent) ponds near the peak. [14]
