Krzesanica

Krzesanica stands at 2,122 m above sea level. It is the “queen” of the Czerwone Wierchy. It is the highest of the four summits in this massif and the most spectacular in geological terms. Its name comes from “krzesanie” - falling stones striking the rock and throwing sparks.

It is a mountain of paradoxes. Standing on the summit, you feel as if you were on a flat football pitch, but take a few steps north and you will see a 200-metre drop beneath your feet.

Trail description: a walk on the roof of the Western Tatras

Krzesanica lies in the middle of the ridge, so to reach it you have to come either via Ciemniak or via Małołączniak. We recommend the loop from the Kiry side:

1. Ascent to Ciemniak (red trail): From Kiry we climb to Ciemniak. It is a solid warm-up.
2. Traverse of the ridge (Litworowy Ridge): From Ciemniak we continue on the red trail towards Krzesanica.
   • This is one of the most beautiful sections in the Western Tatras. We walk along a broad, comfortable ridge with a “birds-eye” view on both sides of the border.
   • The path gently descends and then climbs to the stony dome of Krzesanica.
3. Summit: The summit is flat and covered with small stones (hikers build hundreds of little cairns from them).
   • Mułowa Valley: What you see below on the Polish side is the hanging Mułowa Valley. It is a raw place, filled with snow until late summer and… a cemetery of chamois that fall from the cliffs.
4. Descent (via Małołączniak): From Krzesanica we descend to Litworowa Pass and climb to Małołączniak, from where we descend (blue trail through Kobylarzowy Żleb) to Dolina Małej Łąki and on to Kiry (or Gronik).

Safety: a deadly trap in fog

Krzesanica is technically very easy (a normal path), but the accident statistics here are merciless.

• Fog: The flat, wide summit loses all points of reference in fog. Hikers lose the trail and instinctively go “down”. If they head north, they fall into the Mułowy Cirque.
  • Rule: In fog, cling to the trail and the stone cairns. If you lose your orientation - do not wander blindly!
• Edge: Do not approach the very edge of the cliff to take a “better selfie”. The rocks at the edge can be brittle, and the wind gusts strong.

Nature: rock gardens

The summit of Krzesanica is famous for its so-called “gardens”. Between the limestone boulders grow unique alpine plants (stemless campion, alpine rock jasmine) that withstand extreme winds and frost. It looks like a carefully planned rockery.