Winter Karkonosze Ultramarathon
in memory of Tomek Kowalski
Szklarska Poręba – Karpacz, Karkonosze
The Winter Karkonosze Ultramarathon, run in memory of Tomek Kowalski, is one of Poland’s hardest winter mountain races — and one of very few ~50 km winter ultras of its kind in this part of Europe. Point to point, across the whole Karkonosze ridge, over the summit of Śnieżka, through snow, wind and fog. There are 400 places. Every year, far more people want them.
The race starts in Szklarska Poręba and follows the main ridge — past Hala Szrenicka, the Śnieżne Kotły, the Karkonosze Pass, over the summit of Śnieżka, then along the Black and Kowary ridges to the finish on the promenade in Karpacz. No loops, no doubling back: a single line across the entire range, in full winter conditions. It isn’t a race for everyone — it demands experience in long mountain runs, winter equipment, and resilience to conditions that can stop you.
While the field is still mostly Polish, runners from more than 20 countries have stood on ZUK’s start line — and it’s the international ultra community we’re opening the race to more and more. A winter ultra across the Karkonosze ridge is a rarity on the European calendar. After the pandemic break, demand returned stronger than before and hit a record in 2026. This isn’t an event holding its ground — it’s an event gathering speed.
400. No more.
The Winter Karkonosze Ultramarathon is about 48 km in winter, point to point along the whole Karkonosze ridge — from Szklarska Poręba, over Śnieżka, to Karpacz. Snow, wind and fog, a 10.5-hour time limit and only 400 places on the start line. The race is a memorial to Tomek Kowalski, and every year several times more runners apply than there are places.
See it for yourself
Join the race
13th edition: 27 February 2027. Registration runs from 27 October to 3 November.
A winter that stays with you
The Giant Mountains in winter: from Szklarska Poręba to Karpacz, through sun, wind and blizzard on the ridge — and that moment at the finish arch when everything becomes simple. Photos: Andrzej Olszanowski, Oleszak Fotografia, Jan Nyka, Pietruszka Fotografia, Karolina Krawczyk, BikeLife.
The start & the ridge in sunshine
And we're off — Szklarska Poręba
Śnieżka on the horizon
A line of runners on the ridge
Into the sun, uphill
Above a sea of clouds
The emptiness and silence of the Karkonosze
White to the horizon
Along the trail poles
A long climb through the snow
On the rim of the cirque
Between snow-laden sprucesWhen the blizzard comes
Above the Snow Cirques
Visibility: a few metres
A frost-covered hut on the ridge
Past the rocks in the blizzard
Wind strong enough to knock you over
Hi, anyway!
Snow in your face
Thumbs up in the whiteout
Ice on the eyebrows
Frost on the beard, the smile stays
Climbing along the rope
The Śnieżka observatory in swirling snowFinish in Karpacz
Who was Tomek?
The Winter Karkonosze Ultramarathon is a memorial to Tomek Kowalski — an ultrarunner, alpinist and traveller who did not return from a winter expedition to Broad Peak in March 2013.
In a short life, Tomek visited more than 30 countries across 6 continents and made an 18-month journey around the world. He raced Poland’s toughest trails — the Rzeźnik Run, the 7 Valleys Run — and abroad, from Canada to Borneo. He became the first Pole to climb South America’s three highest peaks in a single expedition, traversed the Denali massif in Alaska, and in 24 days summited four of the five 7,000-metre peaks of the Snow Leopard challenge.
His greatest dream came true in the winter of 2013: he became one of the first people in the world to stand on the 8,000-metre Broad Peak in winter. He never came back from that expedition. ZUK was created so his story — and his conviction that nothing is impossible — would keep running, every year, across the Karkonosze ridge.
Frequently asked
What's the time limit?+
10.5 hours to cover roughly 47.5 km across the entire Karkonosze ridge.
Is experience required?+
Yes. To qualify, you must have finished at least two mountain marathons within their official time limits. The race also requires proper winter equipment — a mandatory gear check takes place before the start.
How do I get to the start?+
The organiser provides transport from Karpacz (finish) to the start in Szklarska Poręba. Showers and baggage storage are available at the finish.
How many places are there, and how does entry work?+
There's a cap of 400 places. Registration usually opens in late October / early November and closes within a few days — every year far more people apply than there are places. The 13th edition takes place on 27 February 2027 — registration runs from 27 October to 3 November 2026.
Are there feed stations?+
Yes, five: Hala Szrenicka, Schronisko Odrodzenie, Śląski Dom (hot meal), Przełęcz Okraj, and the finish in Karpacz (hot meal).
Documents
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