Most of the inhabitiants of Krkonoše made their living by agriculture, brought by the colonists from the Alps in the second half of the 16th century. A demanding climate and low fertility of the soils did not make possible a cultivation of many products in higher altitudes. The local inhabitants were dependent on animal husbandry, and the animals fed mostly on hay. This commodity was of crucial importance for the inhibitants of Krkonoše and influenced, among others, their economic activities, the way of management of grasslands, and also the landscape.
This paper summarizes the present state of knowledge of the vascular plants endemic to the Krkonoše Mts. The species given in previous lists but excluded from the present one are also discussed together with the history of opinion of their status. Some endemics are of Holocene age, e.g. Sorbus sudetica is the result of a past hybridization while others originated from continuous differentiation of small populations over time. Some endemic species of other genera, for example, Hieracium, Taraxacum and Alchemilla appear to be older in origin, representing relict populations which occurred at low altitudes at least during the last glacial period. Their age is unknown, because it is unknown, when and how they evolved.
This text deals with the traditional methods of carrying materials on frame packs in Krkonoše. Like sleighs or wagons, frame packs were a traditional means of transport, used mainly in the mountains or rugged and hilly regions. Three different types of frame packs
were used in Krkonoše. Frame packs with a shelf were the most common type: they featured atypical shelf onto which the load was placed. Frame packs with a board featured a simple wooden board as the main structural element. The latter type was equipped with straps used to affix the load. It was used by professional porters who often carried 100+ kilogram loads. The third type, known as the bench frame pack, was mostly used for transporting hay. The tough
work of a porter was commonly passed from generation to generation. Porters worked in all seasons and under any and all weather conditions.