Telegraf

I’d heard the name mentioned many times before, but had never been there.

Apart from lending its name to the chain of bakeries “Pod Telegrafem” it is also one of the highest peaks in the immediate vicinity of Kielce and home to one of Kielce’s two (mediocre) ski slopes. In fact I can see it from my balcony. Today I decided to make the effort to climb the peak. The walk to base camp took half an hour before the ascent could begin.

I’ve never been one for skiing, the near certain risk of injury had always put me off. But this time I made an exception and hit the slopes. Well, I didn’t exactly hit the slopes, more of a slow walk up the muddy incline which was once covered by snow. Up until about a month ago there was (apparently) and 1.5 metre covering of snow, but now all that remains are a couple of centimetres.

At the summit I was rewarded with a fine view over Kielce and probably the phone signal I’ve ever had, being within metres of the mobile phone masts. Right under the telephone masts is a charming little “house” ringed by barbed wire. And there is a handy recycling facility nearby too.

I didn’t linger at the peak for too long, apart from fear of being irradiated by the microwaves emanating from the phone masts, I’m not particularly keen on heights. I descended “Mount Telegraf” by another route, taking the path of the old ski lift. Halfway down the path I noticed some movement in the trees on a few metres away from me. The small group of deer scuttled off, hiding furtively behind a clump of trees just out of camera range, before running off into the forest.

Finally I arrived back as base camp, vowing upon my return to the summit I will be armed with a proper camera and some plastic bottles for recycling.

The view from the top of Telegraf. On a clear day you can see for miles (this was not, alas, a clear day)

What crazy designer would put a hulking great post in the middle of a ski slope. This is why I don't ski.

Des res. High security, high radiation.

The best telephone signal in the whole of Kielce and this is why.

The old ski lift.

Finally I found the recycling point. The walk to get there is rather arduous though.

No dogs. No sledging. No dogs on sledges.