Record Heat Fails to Stop Tourists: Hundreds Climb Lysá Hora in the Beskids

On Tuesday, a new temperature record was set at the summit of Lysá Hora in the Czech Beskids — 29.8 degrees Celsius at 3:50 PM. This is the highest reading in the history of observations dating back to 1934, according to meteorologist Petr Drobek from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute in Ostrava.

The previous record had stood since August 8, 2013, when the summit recorded 29.5 degrees. Despite the scorching heat, tourists were undeterred: at midday, around two hundred people were on the summit at once, including roughly a dozen cyclists. Estimates suggest several thousand people will make the climb over the course of the day.

"For me, this is the best weather. A hundred times better than sweating among city concrete. In the mountains, especially here, it's always a few degrees cooler than down below," said František Stolař from Olomouc, who climbed the mountain with his wife during their holiday in the Beskids.

Ostrava-based musician Igor Vašut, who climbs Lysá Hora nearly a hundred times a year, set out before seven in the morning to beat the heat. "Most of the trail runs through shade, but it will be unbearably hot at the summit at midday today," he admitted.

Two mountain chalets operate at the summit — Bezruč's Cottage and the Emil Zátopek Marathon Chalet — and, contrary to expectations, the menus haven't been adapted for tropical weather. Visitors are still offered hearty soups, dumplings, giant blueberry knedlíky, fried cheese, spaghetti Bolognese, and heavy traditional dishes such as roast meat with dumplings and cabbage, and goulash. Several people happily tucked into pork with cabbage right out on the sun-drenched terrace.

According to Lukáš Kořičan, manager of the Emil Zátopek chalet, such heat actually keeps visitor numbers noticeably lower than during more comfortable summer weather — on weekdays there are no more than a few hundred people, while on weekends the summit is literally packed with crowds.

Lukáš Humpl, a spokesman for the Moravian-Silesian Emergency Medical Service, urged people to carefully weigh the risks before planning all-day hikes in the heat. "Don't forget a hat, light breathable clothing, and, most importantly, enough fluids. Whenever possible, stick to shaded paths and take frequent breaks during a mountain hike," he advised.

Radan Jaškovský, head of the Beskid mountain rescue service, confirmed that rescuers have had to help several people suffering from heat-related illness on recent hot days. "There have been isolated issues, but nothing dramatic. It's worth remembering that heat is easier to bear in the mountains than in the city," he noted.

Read also: 9 Best Cycling Routes Around Prague: From the Vltava Riverbanks to Karlštejn Castle

Source: novinky.cz