Go back to Polished Limestone.
Go back to Krakow And Wieliczka.
Lewy Komin.
Finally, a sunny morning on day three. We drove back to Sokolica early and hiked up 5 minutes to a via ferrata that runs along the formation’s base. The goal was a classic, 3-pitch line called Lewy Komin (Left Chimney); rated a Polish V+ (supposedly 5.9ish). Holy polish Batman! The rock on the first pitch was positively shining. Can’t say we enjoyed it. The remaining two short pitches were OK. We were planning to belay two seconds at once but given the tenuous pitch one, we took a more sequential approach. I guess this is as good as things get.
Photos
The mighty Sokolica in the morning (May 2022).
The approach; all 5 minutes of it (May 2022).
Shirley and Tom starting the short via ferrata to access the start of the Lewy Komin route (May 2022).
Shirley and Tom (May 2022).
Racking up at the base of Lewy Komin. Photo by Tom (May 2022).
Starting up the route (May 2022).
The belay station is just above that overhang (May 2022).
One more of pitch 1 (May 2022).
Shirley cursing her way up the (polished!) first pitch of Lewy Komin (May 2022).
A common Euro-style single point belay (May 2022).
Tom on pitch 1 (May 2022).
More of Tom (May 2022).
Views from Sokolica (May 2022).
Tom topping out on pitch 1 (May 2022).
First belay station (May 2022).
Starting pitch 2 (May 2022).
Shirley and Tom at the first belay (May 2022).
Tom getting artistic (May 2022).
Leading pitch 2. Photo by Tom (May 2022).
Shirley starting up pitch 2 (May 2022).
Shirley on pitch 2 of Lewy Komin. Photo by Tom (May 2022).
Views from Lewy Komin route (May 2022).
Shirley topping out on pitch 2 (May 2022).
Some a-hole at the second belay (May 2022).
Tom on pitch 2 (May 2022).
Top of pitch 2 (May 2022).
Starting the lead of pitch 3 of Lewy Komin (May 2022).
Tom and Shirley at the second belay (May 2022).
Pitch 3 of Lewy Komin (May 2022).
Shirley mostly paying attention. Photo by Tom (May 2022).
Higher on pitch 3 (May 2022).
Shirley starting up pitch 3 with Tom at the belay (May 2022).
Same spot (May 2022).
Shirley topping out on Lewy Komin (May 2022).
Bedkowska Valley (May 2022).
Shirley at the top of the route waiting for Tom to arrive (May 2022).
Tom on pitch 3 (May 2022).
Views up valley (May 2022).
Tom on pitch 3 (May 2022).
“Brandysowka” refuge – i.e. beer (May 2022).
Shirley and Tom on top of Sokolica (May 2022).
Rapping off from the top of the Lewy Komin route. Photo by Tom (May 2022).
Beer, beer, beer (May 2022).
Tom rapping off (May 2022).
Shoeing up back at the base (May 2022).
Shirley (May 2022).
Back towards the trail (May 2022).
Via ferrata. Photo by Tom (May 2022).
Tom and Shirley back at the trailhead with Sokolica in the background (May 2022).
Very Catholic (May 2022).
Back to grilling and swilling at our rented house (May 2022).
Go to Sokolica Day 2.
Go back to Polished Limestone.