"I conquered Hoverla" (c)

17 September 2013 Travel time: with 14 September 2013 on 15 September 2013
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Only mountains can be better than mountains, and the highest of them is the top of the world in Ukraine - Hoverla (2061 m).

For me, the Carpathians have always been winter, skiing, snowy, sunny and crowded… A short autumn trip opened them from a completely different angle, but everything is in order.


I did not expect that when I wake up in the morning, I will feel refreshed, although the muscles, of course, hurt… Memories are chaotic, but bright as flashes. Rise. Stones. Mountains. Captives. Fog. Snow. Top… Only a few days later it all merged into one. But time is not waiting, there is nothing to linger on, because our tour is active. The bus takes us to Yasenya, where we change to GAZiki (the only vehicle that can travel along the route) and go to Dragobrat. The sun is shining, Gazik is jumping on the road, the forest is dense and dense, but on the way we meet local mushroom pickers with full meadows. It is said that this year is especially good "harvest" of white mushrooms. About forty minutes we climbed to Dragobrat (the top of the mountain Stog), there was even some charm in this duck (about the fact that it's scary to drive over the cliffs, I'll keep quiet : )). The sun was shining on the top, the panoramas were fabulous, and the guide told us wonderful stories and legends from the life of the locals. Amazing people, these are Hutsuls! I even envy their way of life a little, and I respect that they love their land, their people, and know how to preserve traditions like no other! Then GAZik takes us to Lake Gereshaska, which has a glacial origin. As we rise higher and higher, it gets colder, the fog descends, I am silent about the wind, because the mountains. The lake is very beautiful, located in a hollow, but we do not dare to go down to it, as the weather is rapidly deteriorating. We drive almost close to the next lake, but we see it approaching the edge of the water. Fog… for safety reasons decided to return. The fog is getting thicker, we have to close the windows in the gazebo, it's not fun to go, and it's even scary, because around us it's just a white veil. Even a cheerful and lively guide somehow calmed down . . but in 20 minutes the fog dissipates, and we are again on Dragobrat, from where the road takes us to the mountain for a delicious lunch. Soup on the fire (a mixture of goulash, borscht and something else - very tasty, filling, but also very fatty), croutons with lard and garlic, banosh, herbal tea! And even such an ardent supporter of healthy eating like me, just crazy about all these delicacies! This lunch was enough for the rest of the day, as it is very filling.

All good (as well as bad) ends. Our trip has come to an end. GAZs have been replaced by buses, and here we are passing Yaremche, Nadvirna, and already on the way to Ivano-Frankivsk… My head is empty, my body is tired, I have no thoughts, only a deep sleep.

Now, a couple of days after this rather extreme (by my standards so accurate) trip, I really miss the fresh air of the mountains, which is impossible to breathe, the indescribable beauty of the slopes, the space… And the question of whether I will go to the mountains, whether I will conquer Hoverla once again, I will answer with confidence - yes! But already in the summer, to be sure to enjoy all the natural beauties… because, I repeat, we do not conquer Hoverla, and Hoverla conquers us. This is love for life!

Translated automatically from Ukrainian. View original
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о. Герешаска
ГАЗики
о. Герешаска
о. Герешаска
Полонына (где-то между Драгобратом и Говерлой)
Полонына (где-то между Драгобратом и Говерлой)
Полонына (где-то между Драгобратом и Говерлой)
Полонына (где-то между Драгобратом и Говерлой)
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