Karłowicz Stone

The Karłowicz Stone is a monument carved in granite in the form of a boulder, commemorating the composer Mieczysław Karłowicz (1876-1909). He died on 8 February 1909 in an avalanche that came down from the eastern walls of Mały Kościelec.

Inscription and symbol

An inscription is carved on the stone: “Mieczysław Karłowicz tu zginął porwany śnieżną lawiną d. 8 lutego 1909, Non omnis moriar” (Mieczysław Karłowicz died here, swept away by a snow avalanche on 8 February 1909; “I shall not wholly die”). Beneath it is a highlander swastika, Karłowicz's favourite sign, with which he marked new trails. It is a Slavic symbol found in highlander decoration, called in Podhale the “unexpected little cross”. The stone was set up in the summer of 1909.

Who Karłowicz was

Karłowicz was a lover and promoter of the Tatras and died during a solitary ski trip. Together with Mariusz Zaruski he was one of the main advocates and co-founders of TOPR (Tatra Volunteer Rescue Service). Finding his body under the avalanche is considered the first TOPR rescue operation.

Where it stands

The monument stands on a rocky scree overgrown with mountain pine, about 30 m below the blue trail from the Murowaniec mountain hut to Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy.

Practical information

• Location: Gąsienicowa Valley, Tatra Mountains.
• Mountain terrain in a national park; check the conditions on the trail before setting out.