More than 8,000 skiers are set to participate in the 59th edition of the Jizerská padesátka, a legendary cross-country ski race in the Jizera Mountains. The event, starting on January 29, 2026, commemorates a tragic 1970 mountaineering expedition in Peru. The main 50 km race will take place on Sunday in Bedřichov.
The Jizerská padesátka, one of the Czech Republic's most iconic winter sporting events, traces its origins to January 1968. It began as an endurance test for Liberec mountaineers preparing for the climbing season. Historian Jan Kotland explained to Czech Radio: “At the time, the mountaineers would take part in a nationwide relay race. And because they were fairly evenly matched in terms of performance, Karel Trousílek, who was the spiritual leader of the Liberec mountaineers, came up with the idea of organising a qualifying race.”
The race's history took a somber turn in 1970. Fifteen mountaineers, who had competed in the third edition, perished in an avalanche while attempting Mount Huascarán during Expedition Peru 1970. Triggered by a powerful earthquake, the disaster marked the first Czech mountaineering expedition with no survivors. Following the tragedy, the event was renamed the Memorial of the Peru Expedition, boosting its profile and drawing international participants.
Long-time competitor Ladislav Míka, who raced in every edition from 1968 to 2019, recalled its early days: “In fact, the first three editions were more like small, friendly races among friends. Someone would say, ‘Hey, come and try it,’ and that’s how the number of participants gradually grew. In the first year, 51 people took part... But before the fourth edition, the tragedy in Peru happened, and the race was renamed the Memorial of the Peru Expedition. That’s when it really gained wider recognition, and people came to honour the climbers’ memory.” A tradition of retaining race numbers emerged that year, and Míka has preserved artifacts, including his original skis, known as 'sapory'.
This year's four-day program features professional men's and women's races alongside a hobby category for amateurs, fostering an accessible atmosphere. Capacities for the main events are full, with shorter races planned over the weekend. A special historic skis race honors the 1970 expedition tonight. Organizer David Douša anticipates record participation exceeding 9,557 from 2024, praising ideal conditions: “Snow conditions are absolutely perfect. All routes are currently passable... the outlook for the coming days is very optimistic.”
