PTTK Shelter on Miziowa Glade

The PTTK Shelter on Hali Miziowej, located at an altitude of 1,274 meters above sea level on the slopes of Pilsko, is one of the key points in the Beskid Żywiecki range, especially for hikers using the Main Beskid Trail. Its history dates back to the early 20th century when, at the initiative of Kazimierz Sosnowski in 1912, plans for its construction began to take shape. The outbreak of World War I halted these plans, but in 1927, the Babia Góra Branch of the Polish Tatra Society decided to build the shelter, which was officially opened on July 20, 1930. It was a two-story wooden building in the highland style, featuring a glass-enclosed veranda with panoramic views of the Beskid Żywiecki. The shelter offered 125 sleeping spots in summer and 60 in winter. In 1936, numerous improvements were introduced, including a water turbine, a telephone line, and even postal services. After World War II, the shelter was taken over by the Polish Tatra Society, which set up a buffet there. Unfortunately, in 1953, the building burned down, and the fire destroyed most of the structure, which was never rebuilt in its original form. Instead, temporary infrastructure was erected, which remained in use for many years. It was not until 1989 that construction of a new facility began, and it opened in 2003. A decade later, in December 2018, the remaining part of the old shelter also burned down. Today, the shelter offers 90 sleeping places in various configurations, a restaurant, a bar, and a conference room. Nearby, there are also ski lifts and a GOPR (Polish Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue) station. The Hala Miziowa Shelter blends tradition with modernity, serving as an important element of the cultural landscape of the Beskids, and its rich history continues to attract mountain hikers and tourism enthusiasts.