On your wanderings around Špindlerův Mlýn and its surroundings, you will meet a number of signs and indicators that you probably haven't met before. Therefore, let us familiarize you with some of them.
Marking of hiking trails
Since the 19th century, so-called belt marking has been used in the Czech Republic for marking hiking trails.The color of the middle strip of the marker has nothing to do with the difficulty of the route, but with its meaning:
WINTER
red: Main Krkonosska ski route
green: cross-country ski trails
blue: competition ski tracks
In I. and II. It is forbidden to enter the national park zone outside the marked routes. For better orientation on routes especially in bad weather and especially in winter also serves silent signs and bar markings.
SUMMER
red: long-distance or ridge route
blue: more significant route
green: local route
yellow: short route, connecting route, abbreviation
Krkonošská magistrála
The Main Krkonoska ski route runs across whole of Krkonose. The central part is 71 km and the trails can be found from Harrachov to Žacléř. The Krkonose ski trail is divided info several stages. The entire 71 km is subtile for physically fit and experienced cross-country skiers. For less skilled cross-country skiers it is better to choose some part of the Main Krkonoska ski route.
Route points - Harrachov - řeka Mumlava - Krakonošova snídaně - Vosecká bouda - rozcestí U čtyř pánů - Vrbatova bouda - Horní Mísečky - Špindlerův Mlýn - skiareál Svatý Petr - Krásná Pláň - Klínovy boudy - Rozcestí - Dvorská bouda - Liščí hora - Lesní bouda - Pec pod Sněžkou - Lučiny - Kolínská bouda - Černá hora - Velké pardubické boudy - Modré kameny - Krausovy boudy - Weissovy boudy - Horní Maršov - Rýchorská bouda - Horní Albeřice - Lysečinská bouda - Pomezní boudy v Malá Úpa - Žacléř
Silent signs
The silent marks of the Krkonoše Mountains, also called "muttichovky", are tourist orientation marks carved from sheet metal into the appropriate shape and painted red. They are usually placed on top of a wooden rod of the Krkonoše rod marking. Their purpose is to ensure the visibility of road markings even in poor visibility or icing, where common signs may not be legible or even detectable.
Significant mountain huts, peaks, settlements and other places (total 30 buildings) in the Giant Mountains have their own red symbol. Here we mention only those that are located near Špindlerův Mlýn. Silent brands have been in use since 1923. They were created by Kamil Vladislav Muttich (sometimes mistakenly referred to as Kamil Vlastimil Muttich) (1873–1924), an academic painter and skier, founder of the Himalaja Ski Association in Mladá Boleslav.
The silent marks also prevented national disputes that took place at the beginning of the 20th century on the language version of the signs on the tourist marks. Standard strip marking was introduced on both sides of the mountains in 1945, but silent marks were preserved.
Bar marking
Bar marking is a type of road marking designed for periods with snow cover. Several meters high wooden poles are spaced along the road at regular intervals, so that the direction of the route is visible even with high snow cover and closed tracks. It is used mainly as supporting or main tourist marking of ski hiking trails on ridge trails and forest-free plains. In some sections the winter route runs differently from the summer marking. Unless there is snow on the route, it is not allowed to enter the route marked with a bar marking unless there is also a standard strip marking at the same time.
The length of the bars is 4 meters; The Mountain Rescue Service, which takes care of the pole marking, resolves the situation by inserting new poles into the snow. Rods are exported to the mountains on scooters or worn on the shoulders. During the summer, the bars are replaced by cones, cone-shaped constructions resembling a shelter or tipi that you can meet on the road. Bar marking of ridge roads in the Krkonoše Mountains is already shown on maps from the 17th century.
In the Giant Mountains, the rod marking is complemented by Muttich's silent marks - red tin symbols of important places in the Giant Mountains.
Boundary stones
The main Krkonoše ridge lies on the Czech-Polish border. The boundary stone or the boundary is usually a concrete or stone block protruding from the ground and indicating a point on the state border between neighboring states. On the sides of the boundary stone there are letters indicating to which state the respective side of the state border belongs - on the Czech side "C" to the Polish "P". Usually the boundary is formed directly by the connection of individual stones.
The Czech border stones are numbered and this marking is given eg in the maps of the Czech Tourist Club, which facilitates orientation along the border.
In winter, of course, there are many border landmarks under snow, but you will find some even at high snow cover.
Krkonose National Park
The green sign with the Czech national emblem marks the boundaries of the Krkonoše National Park (Krnap) in the terrain. The purpose of the park is to protect the unique landscape of the Krkonoše Mountains.
It was proclaimed on May 17, 1963, four years after the Polish Karkonoski Park Narodow, which was founded on January 16, 1959 on the Polish side of the mountains. In 1986, the national park was extended by a protective zone. In 1992, both national parks on the Czech and Polish sides were jointly included in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Network under the Man and the Biosphere Program. That is why today you can find the MaB mark on the Krnap emblem and on the signs in the field.
The National Park is divided into three zones - Zone I (most strictly protected), II. zone and peripheral. I. and II. the zone is also marked with signs in the terrain (see picture). In I. and II. There are very limited tourist activities in the park area, for example, it is not allowed to cycle outside the marked cycling routes and to enter outside the marked hiking trails.
You can find out more about the national park, its nature conservation and visiting rules at the Krnap Information Centers.
Headquarters KRNAP headquarters is in Vrchlabi, field service is located in Spindleruv Mlyn.
MaB - Man and the Biosphere
In 1992, both national parks (on the Czech and Polish sides) were jointly included by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the Man and the Biosphere Network of Biosphere Reserves. Therefore today you can find the abbreviation MaB - the brand of this project on the Krnap emblem and on the signs in the field.
The Biosphere Reserve is a large area declared under this international UNESCO program. The world network of biosphere reserves is spread to include all the Earth's basic biomes. These areas represent representative examples of cultural and natural landscapes in which man and his activities play an important role.
Most of the biosphere reserves include not only naturally close areas, but also areas marked by human activity - in the Krkonoše Mountains we can find both types of areas. This makes it possible to study the interrelationships between man and the natural environment and to promote biodiversity enhancement in such areas.
