The Best of 2018

Another year is gone, so it is the high time for some summary. Actually, I had feeling that in 2018 I didn't make many valuable photos, but when I started my review it appeared that it is not so bad. Eventually, I had many problems with keeping amount of pictures limited for this entry :)

The Malá Fatra: from the Veľký Kriváň to Stoh

On the main ridge of the Malá Fatra

As always I had very challenging and impressive plan to spend whole day in the maountains from dawn till dusk, but weather verified my plans very quickly (you can find more here). But still it was beautiful!

The Veľký Kriváň

Malá Fatra

Veľký Rozsutec

Malá Fatra

Veľký Rozsutec and Stoh

The Malá Fatra (again): sunrise at the Veľký Rozsutec

Not only me was tempted by promising forecast

Fourth time lucky - I had to go there fourth times to be able to shoot "real" sunrise. Some of my previous adventures I have even described in previous entries here and here.

First rays of light at the top of Veľký Rozsutec

Veľký Rozsutec

Veľký Rozsutec

Veľký Rozsutec

The West Tatras: forgotten and forbidden Bobrovec

Bobrovec

There was still heavy winter above 2000m (and weather was rather erratic),so Bobrovec, which reaches 1663m appeared to be perfect choice. Marked trail was closed in 2008, so entering this area is officially forbidden. But views from the top are so unique, that it is rather not possible to restrain going there.

Mt Giewont, rarely seen from this side

The Kominiarski Wierch

Panorama from Bobrovec

Costa Blanca: Serra Ferrer

Serra Ferrer

Costa Blanca is famous as a perfect location rather for sunbatching, but I hadn't been me, if I wouldn't have tried to break this stereotype. Serra Ferrer is grassy-rocky ridge known as being innacessible. Suprisingly, it appeared to be quite easy, even "legendary" narrow and exposed rocky traverse leading on the edge of the ridge. For somebody who went already through some narrow ridges in the Tatras (such as "The Roháč Horse") it will be just like walk in the park. Serra Ferrer is surrounded by many other famous mountains (such as Serra de Bernia, Puig Campana and others),so it is one of the best viewpoints in the area.

Serra Ferrer

Panorama from Serra Ferrer ridge

Serra Ferrer

Costa Blanca: Pla de la Casa

Sunrise at the Pla de la Casa

The only problems in the Costa Blanca mountains is ther location: close to urbanized coast, which destroyes some of the panoramas (the best example is view from the top of Serra de Bernia). Pla de la Casa is situated not so close to the coast and its massif (called Serra de la Serella) is one of the most remote in the area. Thanks to this, when you look around from the top, you see only other mountains and views are dominated by huge north face of Serra de Aitana.

At the top

Full panorama from the top of Pla de la Casa

Costa Blanca: Penya El Castellet

Penya El Castellet Panorama

It is a perfect location for photos if you search for something that does not require too much effort. Thanks to gravel road, you can drive quite close to the top - only last few hunderd meters you have to go on foot. And views are very nice from the top.

Sun sets behind Mallada del Llop

Mallada del Llop seen from Penya El Castellet

Costa Blanca: Serra de Aitana

Just before sunrise at Serra de Aitana

The highest mountain in Costa Blanca area does not look very impressive from the coast - it is just huge pile of rocks and grass crowned by ugly military radar dome. But on the northern side, mountain drops vertically to the valley below. Thanks to this, panoramas from this mountain are really awesome (at least when ugly radar installation is behind your back).

Aitana and Serra de Bernia in the background

Serra de Aitana with Puig de Campana on the right

Polish Jura: The Jerzmanowickie Rocks

The Jerzmanowickie Rocks

When there is no time to go to the mountains, then rocks in my closer "neighbourhood" are great alternative. This time - The Jerzmanowickie Rocks.

The Jerzmanowickie Rocks

The Jerzmanowickie Rocks

The High Tatras: Mt Východná Vysoká

Afternoon panorama from the top of Východná Vysoká

I was there already one year ago, but then there was just one small break between two huge heavy rainfalls. This time, weather was way better - I went there for sunset and then - one day later - for sunrise.

Brocken spectre at the top

Evening at the top of Východná Vysoká: Mt Gerlach on the left, Mt Vysoká in the centre

Mt Bradavica in the evening...

...and Mt Vysoká at the sunrise, the day after

Sunrise at the top of Mt Východná Vysoká

Sunrise at the top of Mt Východná Vysoká

The High Tatras: The Hlinská veža

Panorama from the top of the Hlinská veža

The Hlinská veža is not so well known rock crag, from which views are quite interesting, thanks to its location (ridge of Mt Satan looks really great from here). The same day I went to nearby Štrbský štít and ust before reaching the top, clouds covered most of the views (again - just like one year ago). I am wondering how many times I have to go there to make some better photos...

The Hlinská veža

The Hlinská veža

The High Tatras: The Malý Ľadový štít and Mt Baranie rohy

Panorama from Mt Baranie rohy

Forecast in the Tatras is one thing and actual weather is completely different thing. For the most time, at the top of the Malý Ľadový štít everything was covered by clouds and mist but good for me that I was patient enough because just before sunset there was few very short moments when you could see something. The next day, everything seemed that weather will be again really bad, but despite this I went to the top of Mt Baranie rohy and I was lucky again - sun and clouds gave really awesome show there.

Mt Baranie rohy

Mt Baranie rohy

Mt Baranie rohy

The High Tatras: The Kozí štít

The Kozí štít in the see of clouds

At that day, I was planning to be actually at the top of the Jahňací štít but I overslept :) Way to the Kozí štít is much shorter, so I went there instead. Views are partially obstructed by higher nearby mountains, but dancing clouds made views magical.

Panorama from the Kozí štít

The Kozí štít

Impressive north walls of the Kozí štít

The High Tatras: The Litvorový štít

Panorama from the Litvorový štít, Mt Gerlach massif on the right

I was at the top of the Litvorový štít few months earlier, when I was going to Mt Gerlach through Martinka route but it was in the middle of the day. I remember that views from the top were very good, so I decided to go there again for a sunrise. I was "little" surprised by the amount of snow (in the moddle of September!) but I was able to reach the top.

The Litvorový štít before the sunrise...

...and few moments after

Polish Jura: The Powroźnikowa Rock

The Powroźnikowa Rock

Sometimes it is good to make some ad-hoc photo trip, for example to the Powroźnikowa Rock, which is one of the best viewpoints in my neighbourhood.

The Powroźnikowa Rock

The Powroźnikowa Rock

The Powroźnikowa Rock

Polish Jura: The Słoneczne Rocks

The Słoneczne Rocks

I do not rememeber how many times I went there in the past to make some good pictures, and finally I was able to shoot something promising.

The Słoneczne Rocks

The Słoneczne Rocks

Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland: The Kleiner Winterberg

Just before sunrise

This is one of my favourite locations for short autumn days. And another sunrise at the edge of vertical, sandstone rocks...

Just before sunrise

The Kleiner Winterberg

The Kleiner Winterberg

Autumn in Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland

The West Tatras: Mt Giewont

Mt Giewont from Szczerba pass

For us, Polish people, going to Mt Giewont is a must, at least one time in the life :). I made it finally, last Novemeber in suprisingly good conditions (it seemed that that year November swap places with September). More about this trip here.

Sunrise at Mt Giewont

Mt Dlugi Giewont

Mt Giewont and Mt Dlugi Giewont from Szczerba pass