Sokolica Day 1

Go back to Polished Limestone.
Go back to Krakow And Wieliczka.

Lewy Komin

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

Lewy Komin

The mighty Sokolica in the morning (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

The approach; all 5 minutes of it (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Shirley and Tom starting the short via ferrata to access the start of the Lewy Komin route (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Shirley and Tom (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Racking up at the base of Lewy Komin. Photo by Tom (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Starting up the route (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

The belay station is just above that overhang (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

One more of pitch 1 (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Shirley cursing her way up the (polished!) first pitch of Lewy Komin (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

A common Euro-style single point belay (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Tom on pitch 1 (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

More of Tom (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Views from Sokolica (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Tom topping out on pitch 1 (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

First belay station (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Starting pitch 2 (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Shirley and Tom at the first belay (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Tom getting artistic (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Leading pitch 2. Photo by Tom (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Shirley starting up pitch 2 (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Shirley on pitch 2 of Lewy Komin. Photo by Tom (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Views from Lewy Komin route (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Shirley topping out on pitch 2 (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Some a-hole at the second belay (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Tom on pitch 2 (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Top of pitch 2 (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Starting the lead of pitch 3 of Lewy Komin (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Tom and Shirley at the second belay (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Pitch 3 of Lewy Komin (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Shirley mostly paying attention. Photo by Tom (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Higher on pitch 3 (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Shirley starting up pitch 3 with Tom at the belay (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Same spot (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Shirley topping out on Lewy Komin (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Bedkowska Valley (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Shirley at the top of the route waiting for Tom to arrive (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Tom on pitch 3 (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Views up valley (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Tom on pitch 3 (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

“Brandysowka” refuge – i.e. beer (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Shirley and Tom on top of Sokolica (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Rapping off from the top of the Lewy Komin route. Photo by Tom (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Beer, beer, beer (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Tom rapping off (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Shoeing up back at the base (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Shirley (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Back towards the trail (May 2022).

Lewy Komin

Via ferrata. Photo by Tom (May 2022).

Polish Jura

Tom and Shirley back at the trailhead with Sokolica in the background (May 2022).

Polish Jura

Very Catholic (May 2022).

Polish Jura

Back to grilling and swilling at our rented house (May 2022).

Go to Sokolica Day 2.
Go back to Polished Limestone.