Pec Pod Snezkou

We started the new week by taking what would be the longest journey of our trip. A four and a half hour bus trip up to Pec Pod Snezkou which would be our basecamp for our climb of Snezka. After much needed and well tasty lunch we explored the town with a view to finding the best way up the mountain. This took us about twenty minutes during which time I decided that the town was more set up for winter tourism.
With the town well seen we headed back to our lodgings where we had a few beers in their riverside beer garden. We could a bit of a shock when we found out that it was closing at around six. This gave me some doubts about what sort of nightlife we could expect here.
After a quick wash we headed out in search of a couple of pre-dinner drinks. It looked like everywhere in the town closed early but we did manage to find a bar which was open and was serving food. All be it they had a choice between gulas and pickled sausage but we didn't seem to be in any position to be picky. It was a cosy little bar, the staff were friendly and the food was good. The wife had her usual post dinner mojito but found that this one was the strongest she'd had. About three quarters of the way through she announced that her head was spinning so we moved from the high stools to a low table just to be safe.
A massive storm had blown in by this stage. There was no chance of us leaving the bar until it had passed. We found a deck of cards and passed the night sampling the local beer and playing games while the locals watched cookery shows on Czech tv.
The next morning the storm had passed leaving a bright day behind. We set off to climb Snezka. There was an option to take a chair-lift up but we passed on it. It seemed that we were the only ones who did as we enjoyed a very peaceful trek up the mountain. About half way up there is a second chance to jump on the chairlift and this time the wife decided to avail of it.
I continued on as I would be unable to look myself in the mirror if I only climbed half a mountain. I put "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" on the i-pod to aide me in my ascent. Once I turned the corner after the chair-lift station I was able to see the summit. I briefly thought the chair-lift wasn't such a bad idea. What had been a manageable gradient was about to get a lot tougher. The remainder of the way looked as steep as North Great Georges Street and about five times as long. Still I pushed on though when "Killing Yourself to Live" came on I viewed it in a different light than ever before.
The wife was waiting at the top and was surprised at my speed, which I took to be a good thing. After catching my breath we took a walk around the summit and looked into Poland. We then took the chair-lift back down which considering the fact that I am not great with heights was probably tougher on my heart than the trek up had been.
Following a well deserved lunch I had a go in a monkey park obstacle course. This comprised of making your way between various stations which had been built up in trees by way of zip lines, tight ropes, and various types of hanging, swinging platforms. It was very tough going especially as at one stage I lost my balance, got my leg tangled up in some rope and had to free myself. It was great fun and I enjoyed it immensely despite the fact that my limbs were shaking as I hauled myself through the last obstacle.
With easily the most physically demanding day of the trip behind us we boarded a bus to Jicin where the wife had managed to secure us a hotel room at a hostel price.

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