That’s why choosing this classic route was a no-brainer for me. My trip took place at the turn of the seasons, from August 30 to September 4, when nature begins to paint its most amazing pictures.
The beginning of fall greeted us with a pleasant contrast: summer warmth by day and cool, invigorating nights. The weather was also a delight—for the Carpathians, it turned out to be surprisingly stable.
It rained only once, so we were truly lucky to catch perfect conditions. The crisp September air made the horizons crystal clear, revealing endless panoramas stretching for tens of kilometers in every direction.
But perhaps what we’ll remember most isn’t the weather or even the peaks themselves, but our group—open, reliable, and positive people with whom we quickly became a close-knit team.
Together, we climbed all of Ukraine’s 2,000-meter peaks, witnessed mesmerizing sunrises, and watched the sun sink below the horizon.
For six days, we were side by side—conquering ascents, getting tired, resting, talking a lot, and gradually becoming more than just a group of people on the same route.
As I was preparing for this trip, I kept hearing from friends: “Are you going with anyone you know? Isn’t it hard to be around strangers the whole time?”
But this isn’t the first time I’ve caught myself thinking that, aside from majestic peaks and wild adventures, such journeys offer something far more valuable—people.
For me, there’s a special magic in this: listening to life stories you’ve never heard before, marveling at unique professions or hobbies, and simply drawing genuine inspiration from other people.
It’s during these conversations by the campfire that plans and itineraries for future trips take shape. Perhaps it’s especially in the mountains that you quickly feel a kinship with people you didn’t know at all just a few days ago.
We’re united not only by a love for the mountains, but also by some mysterious pull toward the unknown—the desire to escape the gray monotony of everyday life, step out of our comfort zones, and test ourselves.
Having hiked more than one trail with Kuluar, I’m always amazed by how diverse the people are who choose this path. Everyone has their own story, their own reasons, and their own special reason for being here and now.
Each such encounter enriches, recharges, and gives me new strength to keep going. Special thanks to team leader Olia Zapalova for her high level of professionalism.
She knows the route inside and out, distributes the workload wisely, keeps a close eye on the group, and knows how to keep morale high during the toughest moments.
And after an exhausting day of hiking, she even cooked delicious, hearty home-style meals—a real treat after hours of trekking. The route itself didn’t allow for much relaxation. L
You certainly couldn’t call it a light stroll: at the start, my backpack weighed 20.4 kg. So now I have a clear incentive to work on my physical fitness and take a more serious approach to optimizing my gear.
However, the Chornogora Range revealed new vistas at every turn: green slopes, the first hints of fall colors, mists shrouding the peaks, and the vast expanse all around. Each peak offered unforgettable experiences.
Especially the high-mountain lakes of Nesamovite and Brebeneskul, hidden beneath the ridge’s crest, like two deep blue pearls amid the wild mountains. Looking at the scale of the panoramas, you feel particularly keenly just how small a person is in the face of nature’s grandeur.
One moment the sun would bathe the mountains in warm light, and a few minutes later everything could be hidden by clouds. I just wanted to stop and gaze as far as the eye could see. When you find yourself in the midst of this beauty, all fatigue fades away.
You no longer think about the weight on your shoulders or the kilometers you’ve covered.
A picturesque trail, six action-packed days, a wonderful team, sunrises and sunsets over the mountain peaks—all of this left behind not just memories, but a special feeling that’s hard to put into words.
And it’s only after returning home that you begin to realize just how much you’d grown accustomed to it. Sometimes you catch yourself thinking that you miss the morning chill, the heavy backpack, the tired legs, and even those endless climbs.
You miss the evenings in the mountains, the conversations by the campfire, the silence, and the sky, which is almost invisible in the city. It’s then that you realize this hike left you with something more than just photos and kilometers traveled.
But the journey doesn’t end here—this is just a brief pause to recharge.
New horizons lie ahead, because the best journey is the one that awaits us. A huge thank you to Kuluar and my incredible team, without whom this experience wouldn’t have been so memorable.
Hugs to everyone, and I’ll see you soon on the trails!