University of Silesia in Katowice

• • 4.30–6.30 p.m. – Screening of the film Z hałdy w Himalaje (From the Heap to the Himalayas) (ul. Świętego Jana 24, Rialto Cinema in Katowice)

We will inaugurate Mountain Week with a screening of the documentary From the Heap to the Himalayas. It tells the story of the preparations and expedition of the Ulica Foundation’s charges to the highest mountain range on Earth. The foundation’s aim was to show that ’a child from a poor family can have talent and strength to exist despite adversity and difficult living conditions.’

The initiator of the action was the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice. A group of 70 children from Silesian families worked for almost a year and showed determination under the supervision of the Academy’s coaches to qualify for this expedition. Ultimately, nine teenagers were selected.

The documentary, made by Alina Markiewicz and Darek Załuski, in cooperation with the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, talks about the hardships, emotions, changes, maturation and reflections accompanying the participants of the expedition After the screening, they will tell us how the mountains and the expedition influenced their lives after 13 years.

Trailer of the film From the Heap to the Himalayas.

Registration for the event is required via the form.

• 10.00–11.00 a.m. – Workshop ‘Safety in the mountains (Kato Science Corner, ul. Młyńska 2, Katowice)

ABCs of avalanche – the threat associated with avalanche accidents. Selection of equipment and preparation for How to select equipment and prepare before venturing into the mountains.

Registration for the event is required via the form.

• 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. – Conference ’High-mountain expeditions’ (online)

The event will be held by Prof. Zbigniew Waśkiewicz (Academy of Physical Education in Katowice).

• 11.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. – Workshop ‘How to prepare for mountain expedition (Kato Science Corner, ul. Młyńska 2, Katowice)

A discussion and presentation of professional equipment, clothing, and mountaineering training.

Registration for the event is required via the form.

• 1.00–2.00 p.m. – Workshop ‘Safety in the mountains’  (Kato Science Corner, ul. Młyńska 2, Katowice)

ABCs of avalanche – the threat associated with avalanche accidents. Selection of equipment and preparation for going to the mountains.

Registration for the event is required via the form.

• 2.30–3.30 p.m. – Workshop ‘Safety in the mountains’  (Kato Science Corner, ul. Młyńska 2, Katowice)

During the event, there will be a discussion and presentation of professional equipment, clothing, and mountaineering training.

Registration for the event is required via the form.

• 1.30–5.40 p.m. – Workshop ‘The Jerzy Kukuczka Archive’  (Kato Science Corner, ul. Młyńska 2, Katowice)

Lecture by Wojtek Kukuczka and Wojciech Lemański from the Wielki Człowiek Foundation; they will talk about their work on Jerzy Kukuczka’s archive. During the event, we will learn what one of the world’s greatest mountain climbers left behind, discover new episodes from the life of Jerzy Kukuczka, and present how the work on the collection looks like – from securing, to processing, digitising and using the archives in preserving the history of Polish Himalayan mountaineering. Authentic souvenirs from the Golden Decade of Polish Himalayan mountaineering and previously unpublished archival materials will be presented.

Registration for the event is required via the form.

• 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. – Conference ‘Health in the mountains’ (online)

The debate will feature:

• • Robert Szymczak, PhD, DSc – a doctor and emergency medicine specialist. He lectures on emergency medicine (Department of Emergency and Disaster Medicine – Medical University of Gdańsk) and altitude and expedition medicine (Medical Center for Postgraduate Education – Jagiellonian University in Krakow). He works as a doctor in the Polish Medical Air Rescue in Gdańsk.  He took part in high–mountain expeditions as a doctor and climber (Mont Blanc, Elbrus, Pik Lenina, Chan Tengri, Passu Sar, Island Peak, Lobuche East, Nanga Parbat, Dhaulagiri, Broad Peak, Mount Everest). He participated as a climbing doctor in three Polish national winter expeditions: Nanga Parbat 8125 m (2006–2007) and Broad Peak 8047 m (2008–2009 and 2010/2011). He stood on the top of three eight–thousanders: Dhaulagiri (8167 m – 2008), Nanga Parbat (8125 m – 2010) and Mount Everest (8848 m – 2012). In 2008, for his participation in the international rescue operation on Annapurna, a search for the Spanish mountaineer Inaki Ochoa de Olza, he was awarded a Royal Order of Sports Merit – Medalla al Merito Deportivo. He leads trainings for the Polish national team in Himalayan mountaineering. He prepared medical support for Polish national expeditions (Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I, Lhotse, Makalu, Manaslu, Broad Peak Middle, K2). He is a member of the International Society for Mountain Medicine and the Polish Society for Mountain Medicine and Rescue.
  • Katharina Hüfner, PhD, Assoc. Prof., Medical University Innsbruck – she studied human medicine in Freiburg and Munich and completed specialisation in neurology and postdoctoral studies in vertigo and oculomotor disorders at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. In 2013, she moved to the Innsbruck Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology. Her clinical interests focus on stress and trauma-related disorders. Her research interests focus on the impact of physical activity and the alpine environment on mental health, the impact of altitude exposure on mental symptoms and diseases, and psychoneuroimmunology, with particular emphasis on psychiatric aspects in the post–COVID period.
  • Prof. Miłosz Czuba – graduated from the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, where he received a doctoral and postdoctoral degree in the field of physical culture sciences. In 2021, he received the title of professor of medical and health sciences. His main scientific interests concern primarily the impact of hypoxia on human exercise capacity, diagnostics of the training status of athletes, and supporting human exercise capacity. He managed and was the contractor of many ministerial and National Science Centre grants.

• 10.00 a.m. – 2.00 p.m. – ’Limbo’ climbing workshops  (ul. Piotrowicka 90, Katowice)

The groups will be divided according to age. Registration required.

• • Registration form at 10.00 a.m. for children (7–12 years old),
  • Registration form at 11.00 a.m. for children (12–18 years old),
  • Registration form at 12.00 p.m. for adults (18+ years old).

     

• 5.00–7.00 p.m. – Long-distance mountain trails  (Rawa.Ink, ul. Teatralna 17 a, Katowice)

Lecture on long–distance mountain trails, such as the Little Beskid Trail, the Main Sudetes Trail and the Main Beskid Trail. During the event, there will be a sleeping bag assembly competition for everyone.

The lecture will be held by Wojtek Kłapcia, PKN and ISO expert, designer, journalist, researcher, technology expert in the outdoor industry. In his youth, he was a scout and runner, participant in mountain marathons. In the early 1990s, he created some of his equipment himself. The products he designs are distinguished and awarded mainly for their technological solutions and design. In his free time, he travels a lot, occasionally doing something ‘bigger’: from high mountains to long-distance trails.

Registration for the event is required via the registration form. Limit: 50 people.

• 12.00 p.m. – Lecture ‘Post-hike recovery, preparation and injuries’

Online lecture on medical issues related to recreation and sport in the mountains. The speaker will discuss threats (injuries, overloads, external factors), preparation of the musculoskeletal system for mountain activity and regeneration in conditions of limited resources.

The lecture will be delivered by the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice graduate, Jakub Kamiński, PhD. He has 14 years of professional experience in the field of orthopaedics and traumatology of the musculoskeletal system. He carries out his professional tasks at the Clinical Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of the Musculoskeletal System and at the ‘Galen’ Orthopaedic Clinic.

• 5.00 p.m. – ‘Mountains give, mountains take away’ (Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, ul. Mikołowska 72A, Katowice)

The meeting will be held by Beata Tomanek and feature a Himalayan climber – Krzysztof Wielicki; Rafał Śpiewak, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof.; and an alpinist – Aleksandra Dzik.

• • Krzysztof Jerzy Wielicki – one of the most outstanding Himalayan climbers in the world. Climber, alpinist, mountaineer, the fifth man in the world who conquered the Crown of the Himalayas and the Karakoram – 14 eight-thousanders of the Earth. Member of the nearly hundred–year–old Explorers Club, which awarded him the prestigious Lowell Thomas Award. Co-founder of the Jurassic Mountaineering Club. In October 2018, together with Reinhold Messner, he received a prestigious distinction in sports – the Princess of Asturia Award, popularly called the ’Spanish Noble’. He took part in four K2 expeditions, all in a pioneering style. He was the first to climb three of them: Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and Lhotse. He stood alone on Lhotse on New Year’s Eve in a corset he wears after damaging his spine in the mountains. He climbed Broad Peak solo in one day (the world’s first ascent of an eight-thousander in 24 hours). He climbed Dhaulagiri (in 16 hours) and Shisha Pangma himself, paving new routes. He still organises expeditions and sets new, bold goals. He is a continuator of the Polish idea of winter exploration of the Himalayas.
  • Aleksandra Dzik – alpinist, international UIMLA mountain guide. She co-runs the BluEmu high-altitude travel agency, organising mountaineering and trekking expeditions to the mountains all over the world as well as mountain trainings. She conducts presentations, workshops and trainings in mountain activities and travelling. Her credits include, among others: the ascent of the eight-thousander Gasherbrum II. Moreover, she was the first Polish woman to conquer the dangerous Pik Pobiedy and to complete all five seven-thousanders of the former USSR, giving her the title of Snow Leopard.
  • Rafał Śpiewak, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof., University of Economics  – media expert, historian, philosopher; long-time academic chaplain, founder of a home hospice in Rybnik, poet and painter.

Host:

• • Beata Tomanek – journalist of Polish Radio in Katowice. She deals with social issues, referring to human nobility and goodness in the broadcast ‘Somewhere Near Us’. She also participated in many expeditions to remote corners of the world and authored radio reports. Each Saturday on the radio, together with her guests, she sets off on a journey “Beyond the Horizon”. She talks about her fascination with life and people, also in the past tense. Every Sunday, she asks the question – ‘Is it true that?’ – discovering forgotten episodes of the regional history. You can meet with Beata Tomanek in person at the ‘Afternoon Teas at the Museum’ in Siemianowice, where she encourages people to tell family stories over coffee and cake, arguing that everyone should be a chronicler of their times.
    A passionate music lover, and member of the Society of Friends of the National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice. She likes escapades, sittings, conversations and singing together in a friendly company.

• Mountain hike

A trip to the mountains, on the Kocierska Pass–Chatka na Potrójnej–Łamana Skała–Rzyki route, combined with a lecture in the shelter. The event will be hosted by Oskar Placek, MA and Katarzyna Jakubik, PhD.

The approximately 13 km long route starts at the Kocierska Pass in Beskid Mały (718 m above sea level) and leads along the red trail towards Chatka na Potrójnej, where you can warm up, rest and enjoy a buffet. Then the trail leads through the Zakocierska Pass to Chatka Studencka pod Potrójną (open seasonally), to Łamana Skała (929 m above sea level), from there, it goes down the yellow trail to the town of Rzyki–Czarny Groń.
An additional attraction will be the rock formation Zbójeckie Okno, which is a natural monument, passed along the way. The rock is considered the most interesting outlier in the entire Beskid Mały Mountains.

Walking time approx. 4–5 hours. The proposed route may change depending on weather conditions.

Equipment and clothing:
For the trip, we require winter tourist clothing, trekking shoes, a warm jacket, hat, buff and gloves (optionally gaiters). We recommend taking Hand grips, trekking poles, a headlamp and a thermos with warm tea are recommended.

The event is addressed to adults. Limit: 50 people. In order to participate, you have to sign up via the registration form.

• 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. – Climbing workshops for children (Climbing wall Poziom 450 in Sosnowiec)
• 12.00 – 2.00 p.m. – Climbing workshops for children (Climbing wall Poziom 450 in Sosnowiec)

The workshops are addressed to children aged 7-10. Limit: 15 people.

While the kids are climbing, parents will be able to watch the documentary films Expedition Everest and From the Heap to the Himalayas.

Registration for the event is required via the registration form:

• • Register for 10.00 a.m.,
  • Register for 12.00 p.m..

• 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. – Climbing workshops for children (Climbing wall Level 450 in Sosnowiec)
• 12.00–2.00 p.m. – Climbing workshops for children (Climbing wall Level 450 in Sosnowiec)

The workshops are addressed to children aged 11 to 14. Limit: 15 people per turn.

While the kids are climbing, parents will be able to watch the documentary films Expedition Everest and From the Heap to the Himalayas.

Registration for the event is required via the registration form:

• • Register for 10.00 a.m.,
  • Register for 12.00 p.m..

• 11.00 a.m. – ‘Let’s talk about the mountains’ (Dolina 3 Stawów, Katowice)

Short lectures and skill sharing. The event will include a demonstration of first aid in the mountains. The event will be held by Wojciech Kłapcia – PKN and ISO expert, designer, journalist, researcher, technology expert in the outdoor industry. In his youth, he was a scout and runner, participant in mountain marathons.

The entrance is free.