Lackowa

Lackowa (997 m) is the highest peak in the Polish part of the Low Beskids and one of the summits of the Crown of Polish Mountains. From a distance it looks like a gentle wooded dome, yet from the west it is climbed by one of the steepest marked trails in the Polish mountains outside the Tatras. Hikers call this section the Wailing Wall.

History: Pułaski's signal flag

The mountain originally had the Lemko name Łackowa (Polonised as Wackowa), from the personal name Łacko. During the Bar Confederation, an 18th-century noble uprising against Russian influence, the area was fortified and defended. The summit, then bare of trees, was used by Kazimierz Pułaski's troops to signal with flags between their camps in Izby and Wysowa, hence the peak's second name, Chorągiewka Pułaskiego ("Pułaski's Little Flag"). After a battle with the Russian general Drewicz's detachment on 3–4 October 1770, the confederates had to retreat across the Austrian border. Hikers jokingly call Lackowa "Police Mountain", because its height matches Poland's police emergency number, 997.

What to see

Lackowa sits on the Slovak border between Krynica-Zdrój and Wysowa, rising above the villages of Izby and Bieliczna. The highest point of the whole Low Beskids, however, is on the Slovak side: Busov (1,002 m), so Lackowa only rules the Polish side of the border. The summit is wooded and would be easy to miss without its sign; there is also a border post.

The real attraction is the climb. The red trail runs up the western slope, gaining 300 m of height over roughly 1 km. With an average gradient of about 30 degrees, the Wailing Wall alone can take as long as the rest of the route.

Tripto tip

The shortest and most popular route is the red trail from Izby; the longest starts in Wysowa-Zdrój. A gentler alternative leads from Izby via Bieliczna to Pułaski Pass, then along the border on the red trail to the top. It is easier but takes about 4 hours. Descending the Wailing Wall after rain can be dangerous, so many hikers go up the steep section and come back via Pułaski Pass.

Bring poles and boots with good grip, as the steep slope gets slippery after rain. There is no hut or snack bar nearby, so carry water and food. Combine the hike with a look at the wooden Lemko churches in Izby and Bieliczna.