Babia Góra, Mountain summit in Western Carpathians, Slovakia.
Babia Góra reaches 1,725 meters (5,659 feet) and sits on the border between Poland and Slovakia in the Western Carpathians. The flanks alternate between rocky sections and forested slopes that climb up to the treeline.
The first documented ascent occurred in the 18th century by a naturalist from Vienna. Border changes after both world wars shifted the summit several times between different administrations.
The name may derive from old Slavic words referring to witches who gathered here according to folk tales passed down by shepherds. Hikers still find wooden figures and small chapels along the trails, placed by herders centuries ago.
Most routes begin from villages on the Polish side, with the ascent taking several hours and including steep passages. Weather changes occur quickly, so bringing extra clothing and sufficient water is advisable.
On some days fog drifts so low over the slopes that hikers can see only a few meters ahead. The wind shapes trees near the treeline into bent forms that all point in the same direction.
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