Lately, it has been so hard to feel the real winter with snow and frost that you have to go to the mountains to do so.
So, with a small group of extreme sports enthusiasts, we went to the heart of the Carpathians - Chornohora.
On the way to Vorokhta, we were delighted to see the winter forest and snow-covered slopes around us. And we had to climb from the village of Dzembronia to the shelter in knee-deep snow.
When we got to the shelter, we were amazed by the beauty of the surrounding panoramas that opened up from the meadow.
And we liked the shelter itself - warm, cozy, with a spacious dining room and a comfortable kitchen.
In the dining room, we were hospitably greeted by a local celebrity, Viva the St. Bernard, who allowed us to pet her and gladly posed for photos.
After a short lunch, we went out to train with the cats and snowshoes. Some were learning to put on and walk in them for the first time, others were recalling last year's experience.
It was fun to walk in circles in the fresh snow until our team leader was sure that we had mastered the technique and let us go to dinner.
They planned to leave at 6 am to finish the climb in a short winter day. And the forecast was not good - frost and blizzard were promised.
And so it was, it was snowing thickly in the morning, and the sky was overcast. To minimize the risk of avalanches, we climbed the slope straight up. The higher we went, the more snow it became.
Finally, we put on snowshoes and walked through the forest with flashlights. When we came out of the forest, it was already dawn, but we still couldn't see anything because of the snowfall.
In addition, on the open slope, we felt the full force of the wind. It seemed to be blowing from everywhere and blowing snow into all the holes in our clothes and backpacks.
So we had to quickly warm up and put on all our spare clothes. We couldn't even stop for a snack or a rest, because without moving we immediately felt the piercing cold.
In such conditions, we reached the top of Smotrych, but still could not see anything around us.
We took a general photo at the top, and then laughed for a long time that it was difficult to determine where we were because there was a continuous snowstorm around us.
Although we were cold and tired, we still tried to climb Pip Ivan Chornohirskyi, a famous two-thousand meter peak.
When we got to the bridge, we realized that due to the zero visibility, there was a great risk of losing our way and going out onto a snowy ledge, which would lead to a breakdown and a fall.
Of course, we didn't want to turn back just a kilometer and a half from the goal, but that was the guide's decision and no one protested.
Later, after thinking it over, we came to the conclusion that it was the only right decision in those weather conditions.
Moreover, climbing Mount Smotrych in winter is also a remarkable achievement, and we had something to remember.
The next day we started from the Hajyna meadow, where we stayed in another mountain shelter. Here, the weather compensated us for all the previous inconveniences.
It was a sunny, frosty day without a single cloud. According to the plan, we had to reach the top of Mount Shpytsia, so our path ran through the Mriie stream and past the Dovbush Well.
From our trail, we saw the not very popular but interesting tract of Kizi Ulohy with a waterfall.
We also had a good look at the northern slopes of Mount Rebra, which fall down steep rocky cliffs.
But we were most impressed by the rocky walls of Mount Spikes, decorated with sharp and harsh stone towers.
Against the backdrop of a snowy mountain, illuminated by sunlight, they seemed like a fairy-tale scenery of a giant stage.
While climbing, we did not forget to enjoy the views and stop to take pictures of the surrounding beauty.
But when we reached the top, we were stunned by the picture that opened before us. Everywhere you looked, you could see an incredible view of the Carpathians.
The highest peaks seemed to be at arm's length. Hoverla, Petros, the Chornohora ridge and the Gorgany could be seen in detail.
But the most interesting thing is that the sun was shining on our side of the massif, and the mountains on the other side were covered with thick clouds, so it seemed that we were standing and looking at the sea.
The perfect time and place for filming and photography, so we rushed to our cameras with enthusiasm. This wonderful day gave us a lot of impressions, but it was time to return.
The descent was also difficult, because despite the snowshoes, from time to time someone fell into deep snow. On steeper slopes, we even had to wear crampons.
After the sunset, nature gave us another unforgettable sight - the full moon rising in a cloudless sky, which made us want to take some more wonderful pictures.
We returned to the shelter, where a delicious dinner and a hot sauna were waiting for us.
Our program was coming to an end, so we were in no hurry to leave after dinner, looking at and exchanging photos, recalling the most interesting moments of the climb, and sharing our impressions.
The next day, we had to go down to the village of Bystrets, where the bus to Ivano-Frankivsk was waiting for us, have a traditional dinner at Ten and say goodbye until we meet again.
I have no doubt that there will be, because going to the mountains is the best way to find new friends. And it is always easy and convenient with the Backstage.
The organization of hikes is at the highest level, the team works well together.
That's why I want to thank Kuluar once again, and especially our wonderful team leader Natalia Shelepyuk, who supported us in the most difficult moments, led us, taught us, fed us and protected us.
At the same time, she never lost her humor and told us many stories from her travel life. I am also grateful to all the group members, without you the trip would not have been unforgettable.
Everyone with different experience, but with a great desire to achieve the goal, beautiful, cheerful, energetic, positive. Each of you contributed to our common adventure. See you in the mountains!