It is a summer sunny day, weather forecast looks promising. Ideal for hiking and perhaps sleeping in the air, isn't it? This time in the Orlické Mountains (Czechia) which can be translated as the Eagle Mountains 🦅
Cover photo of this post: Green meadows over the village Olešnice v Orlických horách (you can find more villages with name Olešnice in Czechia).
Now, let us start the journey. It is early Thursday morning. Waiting for connection to Olešnice from where to start the hike.
Passing this tempting beer menu of a train station restaurant at Zábřeh na Moravě. Well, it is just before 6 AM. I kind of doubt they have open. My judgment is correct, later I find out. I need to recollect this stop on my way back - CANNOT miss this beer experience! I wish I tried that Chlebák-beer - a beer brewed using bread 😮
It is almost 11 AM. Outside Olešnice, green meadows sprawl. On the horizon, there is a lookout tower at Feistův hill. Perhaps next time.
View from a mountain Ostružník (982 m.a.s.l.).
Just got at the ridgeway, it is time for a snack. This place looks deserted, plus, it offers nice view. In this direction, there are the Krkonoše Mountains with the highest mountain of Czechia, Sněžka. Maybe you can recognize it.
Sun-drying sweaty socks and insoles. GoreTex is evil in summer 😈
Now going through the protected area called Bukačka. Toxic but rare flower aconite grows there.
A little fungus - Ramaria.
Alone.
Not alone. This is very busy spot - Masaryk´s chalet (1013 m.a.s.l.) at Šerlich (1019 m.a.s.l.). Easily reachable, besides, trippers from Poland also like this place. It's 2 PM, better to set out!
Four kilometers away, there is this destination of majority of people - a lookout in the mountain Velká Deštná (1115 m.a.s.l.). It was opened in 2019, it cost 4,753,702 CZK (in today's Euro rate, it is some 182k Euro). Eager to hear more details? 😆
19 meters tall.
Without the tower, you would not see over the forest 😃
From the top of the tower. A splendid 360-degree view I must say! This is the direction Prague/Krkonoše I think? I am not local, sorry if I am wrong. Feel free to correct me :-)
Polish site. But, behind the mountains over the horizon, there could be again Czechia (Králický Sněžník/Rychleby, both covered in my previous posts😇).
Looks like this sunny, warm place is popular with bumblebees.
Interesting enough, I have met (same?:-D) buddy at totally different location. It was a lookout tower too. A coincidence? You can check it out here (just a couple of photos). Alright, moving on.
I better take a side, unmarked trail (=my favorite) to avoid crowd of people. Do you recognize the look out at Velká Deštná?
This is how they protect rare plants. They surround it with this pen (if you zoom in, actually there is extra wire).
Meet this butterfly from the Lycaenidae butterfly family.
Yummy nano-wild strawberry.
On my way to find any suitable place where to stay overnight. This is unexpected! By luck I come across this cool bar - Kačenčin šenk Pod Homolí (I better avoid translation). It is self-service bar - you have whatever you want, you pay, you go. Simple as that.
This is their main menu list 😄
You leave your coins at this cash box.
They currently offer beers by Primator brewery (local larger industrial one). This beer is called... Mother in law 😆
It is nearly 6 PM, need to find a good spot where to spend the night 😀
What a nice round chapel! This is the Kunštát chapel (1037 m.a.s.l.), likely built in ~1671.
Its interior.
😮 Forgot to mention that this hike imitates the borderline with Poland. It is characterized by immense number of pillbox like this one. Spoiler: There is going to be shown more pillboxes/bunkers in the next follow up post (which is not yet published).
Getting nervous now. Almost 7 PM, sun goes down in a bit, still not having the nice spot where to spend the night. Forest, trees everywhere. Need to find some open space 😄
Map shows a ski slope. Slopes usually do not have trees. Bingo! This is where I am going to spend the night, mountain Zakletý (991 m.a.s.l.). My bed (mat + sleeping bag) is ready.
Before I go to sleep, need to finish up this Mother in law, poured at THE bar, remember? 😆
It is midnight. Do you see the Big Dipper (ignore the red spot, it some transmitter tower)? Good night. See you in the morning 😉
Itinerary:
This was Thursday of August 20, 2020. Thank you for reading this post. If you like it, stay tuned as more cool stuff (including second day of this hike) will definitely come 😁 And don't forget to check out my Pinmapple profile to see all places I have visited on the map! See you on the trail 😉
