Bieszczady in Poland

If you count yourself among those who are crazy about skiing, but not necessarily crazy about the crowds at the ski lift, the tipsy show-offs on the slope and the endless school-trippers, you should definitely come skiing to Bieszczady. Although there are no modern ski-lifts, snow canons or slopes with flood lights, Bieszczady make up for that with the beauty of their landscape, and throw in all-encompassing peace and wild flora and fauna as a bonus. Beginner skiers will love the mildness of the slopes, and fans of cross-country skiing will have several trails to choose from, like the ones in Wola Michowa, Wetlin and the vicinity of Ustrzyki Dolne. Also increasingly popular is snowgliding, a  sport invented in Bieszczady, which involves skiing with the aid a special sail.
However, if you still recognise the superiority of your own two feet as a mode of transport, you should go for a hike on the famous red trail, which cuts along the whole of Bieszczady and passes through the ridges of Jasło and Tarnica, famous for the spectacular views they offer. Bieszczady have never been the sort of place which offers manicured footways, but should the snow get seriously deep, you can always brave the trails with snowshoes which are available for rent. Crossing the sprawling mountain pastures covering the mountain ridges , which Bieszczady are famous for, has a taste of real adventure about it, especially when the tree-less summits open up to spectacular views over the whole area.

The mildness of the trails, the small tourist traffic and the opportunity to experience nature at its wildest constitute  a great alternative for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of popular resorts, and instead of posing for a photo hugging  the unrelenting bear mascot from Zakopane, prefer to encounter a real deer, lynx or wildcat.