Hiking in the Gorgany range

Thorn Tree forumCountry forumsEastern Europe & the CaucasusUkraine
Enter custom title (optional)
This topic is locked
Last reply was
1.6k
…
Send as an e-mail
Send as an e-mail
etcap
etcap

I have been considering Gorgany for a multi-day hike in early July. I haven't been able to find much information online, mostly because I don't speak Ukrainian, but as we have some posters with good knowledge of the Ukrainian Carpathians on TT, I thought I'd ask some preliminary questions here.

  1. If I want a mix of open spaces and forests, not many ski-lifts, and no crowds on the trails, is Gorgany a good choice?

  2. We are two experienced hikers, familiar with the Carpathians in other countries, but on their first visit to Ukraine. We rather like the comfort of marked trails when possible. Are there any in the range? On a past TT thread, I found a link to this map, that seems to show some marked trails exist. Can anyone confirm or infirm this? I found the map legend unclear, but some of the routes look very appealing (especially that East Carpathian Tourist Path).

  3. What would be a good departure point for a 5 to 6-day trek? Yaremche is an option if starting from the south, but what about the other end? My Bradt Guide 2004 suggests Osmoloda as a possibility, and this helpful thread by activeukraine mentions Bystrytsia, which is between the two. I would quite fancy starting in Osmoloda and walking in the general direction of Yaremche if that was realistic. It seems we could get to Osmoloda by public transport from Dolyna, which could be convenient to us as Dolyna isn't too far from Stryi on the Budapest to Lviv train line - we'll be arriving from Hungary.

  4. We'd carry a tent and cooking equipment but are there any other options for accommodation in the range? And in which villages supplies would be available?

  5. Does anyone know a better map than this one? Also, where can I buy such a map on the ground, if at all?

I'll stop here for now. Thanks in advance to anyone who replies. Any info and suggestions welcome.

View last reply
Report
1
andrewua
andrewua

If you have a gps device, take it with you, it may be helpful.

I'd say a GPS device is a must for the first time visitors. The Carpathians are one of the most difficult mountains for orienteering due to absence of the master range.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
2
yurko_uk
yurko_uk

Hi Etcap,

Here you can find information on B&Bs and guesthouses in the area, including Osmoloda, Bystrytsya and many more interesting places.
http://www.karpaty.info/en/uk/if/rn/osmoloda/
http://www.karpaty.info/en/uk/if/nd/bystrytsya/houses/lyubava/

Also when you're in Ivano-Frankivsk city, which is the gateway city to Ukrainian Carpathians, you can visit Tourist Information Centre in the centre of town.
You can get all the information there, maps, etc.
http://rtic.if.ua/en/

Should you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Yurko_uk

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
3
andrewua
andrewua

You also can check the detailed weather forecast here:

http://pogoda.meta.ua/en/Ivano-Frankivska/Rozhniativskyi/Osmoloda/
http://pogoda.meta.ua/en/Ivano-Frankivska/Nadvirnianskyi/Bystrytsia/

The weather is a very important matter in Gorgany due to wildness of the area.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
4
etcap
etcap

Thanks, you've all been very helpful. I appreciate all the links and advice.

Aquatarkus - special thanks for your detailed reply. I was interested in having a look at your future route but my computer couldn't open the kml file.

About the marking of trails - if I understand the map linked in my OP well, and all these solid lines represent trails that are already marked, that's a lot more than I was expecting. And that's certainly enough for our purpose of crossing the length of the range. In this case, we would be aiming to follow the East Carpathian trail southward from Osmoloda. Am I to expect the same standards of marking as in Slovakia for example - clear signs painted on trees and rocks every couple of hundred metres - or just signs at major intersections?

By the way, if the trails are well marked and I am able to get one of the good 50:000 Czech maps, is there really a need for a GPS device? I am used to hiking without one, and they don't come cheap, but I suppose I could consider getting one for the occasion if it made such a difference.

I also have a question about public transport. Is there any way of finding out what regular buses get to Osmoloda? Some sources say there are buses from Dolyna, others only from Kalush and only in the morning. Is there a reliable online resource to consult? Also, I'm guessing getting from Stryi to Dolyna or Karush by public transport (marshrutkas?) shouldn't be too difficult around mid-morning, am I right?

Again, thanks for all the help so far. I'll be grateful for any additional info about the area.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
5
andrewua
andrewua

I was interested in having a look at your future route but my computer couldn't open the kml file.

kml files should be opened in the GoogleEarth application for example (http://www.google.com/earth/)

By the way, if the trails are well marked and I am able to get one of the good 50:000 Czech maps, is there really a need for a GPS device? I am used to hiking without one, and they don't come cheap, but I suppose I could consider getting one for the occasion if it made such a difference.

In case of good sunny weather - no, you don't need a GPS. But in case of rains or fog - it is reeealy easy to get lost in the Carpathians even for an experienced hiker :) So it's another reason to pay attention on the weather forecast.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
6
etcap
etcap

Thanks andrew, it worked with google earth. Good link for the weather forecast too.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
7
andrewua
andrewua

My pleasure :)
Btw, I should warn you it’s usually too rainy in June and the first half of July in the Carpathians. I would recommend you the second half of May or August.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
8
andrewua
andrewua

Congrats! May we see your photoalbum?

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
9
etcap
etcap

Thanks andrew. Sorry, unlike you, I am not much of a photographer.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report

This topic has been locked by a moderator.

Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner