Tourist Shelter of the BdPN "Puchatka's Hut"

The BdPN Tourist Shelter "Chatka Puchatka" on Połonina Wetlińska is the highest located mountain shelter in the Bieszczady Mountains, situated at an altitude of 1228 meters above sea level. It was formerly known as "Tawerna." Its history dates back to the post-war period when the facility was built by the military as a Border Guard observation post, and in 1956, it was transferred to the ownership of the PTTK District in Rzeszów. From 1967, it operated as a year-round accommodation facility, although sanitary conditions were not always adequate. In 2009, the shelter ranked last in the classification of mountain shelters due to its low standard. A dispute over ownership status lasted for many years until, in 2015, the court awarded the facility to the Bieszczady National Park, changing its classification to a Tourist Shelter. In 2020, a comprehensive reconstruction began, which lasted until September 2022. The new facility features modern amenities, including rainwater tanks and a sewage treatment plant. The shelter no longer provides accommodation but houses a seasonal Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue outpost, a Meteorological Station, and a base for park rangers. It is a popular stop on hiking trails, including the Main Beskid Trail, making it a significant part of the cultural and tourist landscape of the Bieszczady. It offers beautiful views and access to local nature, attracting tourists from all over Poland. An interesting fact is that the shelter's original name was the idea of sailor Leonid Teliga, and its construction at such a high altitude and in challenging terrain reflects the complexity and determination associated with the development of tourism in the Bieszczady Mountains.