The Great Ancient Forest of Boubín

More than a hundred and fifty years ago, the slopes of Boubín were covered by one massive, ancient forest. Those continuous old forests, almost untouched by the human activity, descended from the top of the Boubín mountain down to Idina Pila. They passed through the valley of the Kaplický stream, continued over the Basum ridge and Červený vrch (hill) to Jilmová skála (Elmtree rock) and Medvědí hrb (The Bear Hill) above the settlement of Zátoň. The forester Josef John still experienced them. The fatal to the great forest was a massive windstorm in 1870 and then by a bark beetle calamity. A subsequent massive logging have shrinken a wild forest for a long time and closed it within borders. But trees regain strength and they a breathing again, no longer mindful of boundaries. The forest remnants, which fortunately are numerous in neighbouring stands, know this. And I know it too, when I pass through. The trees themselves told me so.