Krušné hory nejsou krušné

Krušné hory nejsou krušné translates to “The Ore Mountains are not harsh,” a name that challenges the region’s past perception as a desolate and challenging area. This is a long-distance hiking event held in Ostrov, Karlovy Vary Region, Czechia, offering 60 km and 104 km routes in late July. The courses are primarily on roads. The timing is significant: July is typically the warmest month, with average temperatures between 15-25°C. Rainfall is common, so participants should anticipate variable weather. The route incorporates the Ore Mountains beyond just scenery. It crosses a town historically linked to silver, radium, and uranium extraction, former labor camps, and the birthplace of the tolar currency. The course also reaches the highest Czech summit outside a designated nature reserve, passes through abandoned villages, and descends into the Ohře River valley. The event's name derives from “krušiti,” an archaic term for mining, crushing, or grinding ore; iron and silver extraction defined local existence in the 16th century, and evidence of this industry remains visible. The region also holds a difficult past: post-war population shifts disrupted local traditions, and industrial pollution devastated the ridge forests. Currently, the Ore Mountains/Erzgebirge mining district is recognized by UNESCO, lending the event a narrative of healing alongside its physical challenge.