My first climbing experienceg with the Jura crags took place back in 1998, when instead of studying urgently to the upcoming exams, I went to Podlesice with my friends. At that time, you could still find quite a lot of climbing routes equipped with two or three homemade bolts. Sending such routes was kinda scarry. Numerous crags and areas, quite popular today, were still not explored. The guides books of Jan and Małgorzata Kiełkowskscy and the Rock Maniac of Andrzej Wolszakiewicz (whose routes I somehow specially liked) were still in use, and Paweł Haciski JURA topo had just appeared for the first time)
I was always interested in the history of climbing in polish rocks. I enjoyed and collecting pieces of information on the exploration of subsequent regions, routes that appeared there and the people who openedthem. Except of conversations with other climbers the real gold mine was some clubs publications, which hardly anyone heard of or still remember today. Some of their authors are still climbing and you can meet them in the rocks.
A lot has changed in the rocks since my first trip. It is 25 years today. But some important things are still the same. It is nature and people that is most importan for me there. In addition to many people I climbed with over those years, I value acquaintances with climbers who have entered the history of climbing in the rocks and left their mark “in the rock”. These are the authors of routes and sometimes the authors of the projects that serve both the climbing and local community. Certainly, Marcin, a climber operating in Jura since the 80s, as well as the owner of the Milo brand and Trafo Base Camp – a unique place in Podlesice deserves a special recognition. Marcin runs it with his wife, Aldona in a super friendly way. I always try to meet them while in Podlesice, have a coffee andchat a bit to feel “at home” again.
Many areas in the Jura are considered to be protected areasprotection. This applies to both inanimate nature and plant positions or animal refuge. It is worth realizing that Jura is a fairly complex ecosystem, and climbers are just a part of. The landscape of the Jura is changing, agriculture in these areas withdraws, and valuable habitats overgrow. Therefore, do not be surprised when you see piles of branches from a cut hazel somewhere in the rocks. Such activities are carried under the supervision of local environmental protection management or landscape parks. In addition, a locally grazing is carried out to protect against overgrowth of valuable xerophytes.
