Szczebel

Szczebel, also Strzebel, is a prominent 977 m mountain in the Island Beskids (Beskid Wyspowy). It stands right above the S7 «Zakopianka» expressway from Kraków to Zakopane and rises over Mszana Dolna, Glisne, Tenczyn, Lubień and Kasinka Mała. The mountain lies in the fork of the Raba and its tributaries, the Lubieńka and Tenczynka. The massif has four tops: Czechówka (721 m), Szczebel proper (977 m), Mały Szczebel and Mała Góra (883 m). Kasinka Mała is about 2.5 km away, Lubień 4 km and Mszana Dolna just over 5 km.

How to get there / trails

• The black PTTK trail Lubień – Mały Szczebel – Szczebel – Kasinka Mała: about 2 h 30 min from Lubień, 1 h 40 min from Kasinka Mała. The section from Lubień, with about 624 m of ascent and many steep climbs, is considered by many guides and hikers the hardest approach to any summit in the Island Beskids.
• The green trail Szczebel – Glisne pass – Raba Niżna: about 2 h 25 min up from Raba Niżna; beyond, it continues to Turbacz in the Gorce.

Locals call the climb from Kasinka Mała and Mszana Dolna «the ladder»: the eastern slope is very steep, with rock walls and steps a dozen or more metres high.

The view from the top

The summit and most slopes are wooded. Just before the top, when approaching from the north on the black trail from Lubień, a small glade with windthrown trees opens a wide view of Lubomir, Lubogoszcz and the Raba valley. Near the summit, by the black trail, a paragliding launch site was set up in 2011. As early as 1838 the geologist Ludwik Zejszner wrote that the view was «not extensive, but well worth seeing», widest towards Lubień and Babia Góra.

Nature and history

The massif is built of Magura sandstone, the main component of the Carpathian flysch in this part of the Beskids. On the slope of Mały Szczebel, by the black trail, is the Zimna Dziura («Cold Hole») cave, where ice sometimes lasts into summer; Zejszner described it too. Migrating bears are occasionally met here, as in the western Island Beskids generally.

On the summit stands a monument to Pope John Paul II, who climbed Strzebel twice, a Polish flag flies, and nearby a cross commemorates a priest from Kraków who died here. Since 2010 there have been tables, benches and a fireplace on the top.

The old name Strzebel, used by Albrecht Sydow, Ludwik Zejszner and Eugeniusz Janota, is still common among locals. The form «Szczebel» was popularised by modern guidebook authors through a misunderstanding: in the local dialect the cluster «strz» is pronounced «szcz». The mountain is visible from Myślenice and even from the hills near Kraków.

Safety, season and rules

The black trail from Lubień is steep and slippery after rain, so wear shoes with a good grip. Mountain rescue is GOPR: 985 or +48 601 100 300; emergency number 112.

Interesting facts

• Chroniclers following Jan Długosz wrote that gold was once mined on Strzebel and neighbouring Kotoń.
• Legend has it that treasure guarded by a rooster lies hidden in two clefts below the summit.

Photos: Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 3.0; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.