Climbing Hoverla

The next morning I woke up with no real place to be. I didnt have a good plan oh where to go or what to do. I started driving and saw a sign for the highest mountain in Ukraine. So I headed that way. You have to pay a 25 Greiven, $1.00, entrance fee then drive about 10km on a fairly horrible road to get to the starting point. From there its a 3km hike.

You start by scampering up a trail covered in tree roots again.

Just when you think that is coming to an end, there is more....

So I ascended into the dizzying heights, a little over 2,000 meters, as I went it got colder and the wind picked up. There were probably 100 people or so all doing their best Edmond Hillary as we huffed and puffed while still crawling forward. Finally the trees stopped and then you just tromped uphill through some rocks. Then just uphill and up hill and up hill. Then 2 hours later the top!

It was odd to be there. The clouds came and went. It was rather cold and the wind was pretty strong also. The strangest thing for me though was as people would get to the top they would scream "слава Україна!!!!", Glory to Ukraine!!!!. I have mentioned this to many people but I find it incredibly odd. As a foreigner it just doesnt process in my head. If a guy climbs Mt. McKinley in Alaska when he gets to the top does he scream "God Bless America!!" I have discussed this with my Ukrainian friends and most find it to be acceptable and even smile with a far off glare in their eyes to think about it. I still find it strange but so be it to each their own.

Here I am thankful that all that exercise I get, like waking up in the morning and breathing, has paid off!

Then it was time for me to go

There were 2 routes to the top. One was 3.5 km but recommended because it was not so difficult. The other was 3km but supposed to be steeper and more difficult. I went up on the 3km difficult route and down on the easy route. Who ever decided which was easy and hard should be shot.... The easy route was CRAZY!!!! Boulder jumping and sliding down mud slopes was the name of the game.

About half way down there was a group resting. They asked me if it got easier.... I laughed and said nope only worse from here! I am not sure if me being honest was the best thing for them but no point in getting their hopes up for an easy way.

I made it down no problem it took 2 hours up and 2 hours down. I was tired so I drank some tea then headed out. A ways down the road was the geographical center of Europe, or at least at some point someone said that.

I believe it was the Germans who said it first

From there I trucked on forward! I was looking for a good camping spot next to some water so I could swim. I wasnt having any luck though so finally I stopped at a roadside hotel. I asked the young lady, in Russian, for a room. She said ohh just wait. She came back in a bit with an old man..... She didnt know Russian or English. We were close to the Romanian border her native language is Romanian. She can do Ukrainian or Hungarian also.... The old man helped me out no problems we chatted a bit then I called it a night!