This report is about the tour: Ghost Valley
Route “Water and stones” Crimea, May 3-8, 2011.
We salute the organizers of the hike, who compiled the route so well, prepared provisions... We express special gratitude to the instructor who accompanied us on this hike. Thank you for his responsiveness, responsibility and attentiveness to each member of our group, regardless of physical fitness.
I highly recommend that everyone who wants to go on a hike does not put their idea on the back burner! Go and you won't regret it! The feeling of carefreeness, freedom and a unified team is nowhere known as far from civilization, far from home and in overcoming oneself.
I would like to immediately greet all the organizers of the hike, who compiled the route so well, prepared provisions, greet all the participants in the hike who met the goal of reaching the end of this route, as well as those who left the route, because even making the decision to go on a hike is already a big act, my friend and I made the decision and were going to go on a hike for exactly three years!
We express special gratitude to the instructor who accompanied us on this trip. For his responsiveness, responsibility and attentiveness to each member of our group, regardless of physical fitness.
The idea of going on a hiking trip came to our minds three years ago after we met on a horseback riding trip in the Ural Mountains, and also on the recommendation of a friend. Moreover, if you think for even a second about the hike and choosing a route, then no matter what route you decide on, Crimea and the mountains are the most magnificent place with stunningly beautiful views of nature from the inside, which absolutely every vacationer who arrives in Crimea just to lie on the beach will not see. Everyone has their own opinion and their own view, so even if they are on the same team, each of the participants sees the same thing differently.
Even before we arrived at the meeting place, we already began to have difficulties overcoming and solving problems. We managed to miss the plane to Simferopol and had to catch up with the group when the whole group was already on the way. The quick response and efficiency of the group instructor to our problem allowed us to catch up with them in the evening at the parking lot near the Marble Cave. Desire overcame all the problems that arose along the way, and having changed plane tickets, we arrived in Simferopol in the evening, picked up the necessary equipment specially prepared for us from the station and, with the help of responsive natives, reached the place indicated by the instructor. The warmth of the welcome after a difficult day surprised and pleasantly pleased, because... We were greeted with a hot dinner and tea.
The understanding of the whole group that we were late allowed us to visit the Marble Cave right from the early morning, which we finally managed to visit after six visits to Crimea. The Marble Cave is a very worthwhile sight, as soon as you go down there you realize how diverse and powerful the power of nature is to create such an age-old wonder of the world. A certain feeling of mystery and fairy tale arises, and among all this you seem to be just a small ant in a large natural chain.
The first day of the hike seemed endlessly long to us with its winding paths up and down the mountains. In the evening, exhausted, we collapsed into the tent to sleep with the thought that in the morning, every muscle in our bodies would probably ache and we would have to force ourselves to get up and move on.
All subsequent days of being in nature flew by completely unnoticed, since nature and the clean mountain air gave strength, and the endless variety of beautiful views created by nature finally cured all the adversities that stood in the way.
Hiking is a wonderful feeling of the movement of life, because you walk slowly, you don’t run anywhere, you’re not in a hurry, as is often the case in everyday life, and accordingly you have time to look at everything around you in detail! Indescribable freedom from thoughts, you don’t have to think about anything, you just go and relax from the bustle of the city. You only think about the road, about nature, about what you need to go, about the fact that there is a goal ahead, although you think more visually with your eyes, contemplating the indescribable nature of Crimea!
I would also like to note the purity and beauty of the mountain rivers and the majesty of the Jur-Jur waterfall with clear water from which you can take a drink and swim. By the way, the water is certainly not warm, but it is definitely very soft and pleasant to the skin. If you are ready to splash around in water with a temperature of 8-10 degrees, then grab yourself a swimsuit.
I highly recommend that everyone who wants to go on a hike does not put their idea on the back burner! Go and you won't regret it! The feeling of carefreeness, freedom and a unified team is nowhere known as far from civilization, far from home and in overcoming oneself. Nothing can overshadow the state of mind that will accompany you throughout the entire hike, although one cannot help but notice that the weather conditions that accompanied us were not the most favorable! Most of the time it was damp, humid and raining! Every evening I had to dry my clothes so I could wear them the next day! After such a march, you begin to appreciate and respect Mother Nature, who created such inhuman beauty with all its pros and cons. And it’s also incredibly nice at the end of the route to realize that you did it!
Regarding tips and requirements for clothing... …..To each his own: for some, two suitcases of junk will not seem enough, and for others, even modest belongings will be enough, but keep in mind every extra gram in your backpack will hinder you on the route like a kilogram!
Personally, the following list was enough for me: A pair of T-shirts, a pair of pants (FABRIC quick-drying), a sweater (FLEECE), a raincoat (IMPORTANT), two pairs of (COMFORTABLE) shoes, a cap, a tent (rented for three), a backpack, a flask, a rug (also for rent), a knife and fork (which was taken away when boarding the plane), wet wipes, toilet paper, a mug, a flashlight (headlamp), soap (take one for two, by the way, it’s quite possible to wash your hair with soap), toothpaste (one tube for two), toothbrush, medium-sized towel, warm socks and plain socks (two pairs), swimsuit. That's it! So don’t overwork yourself by carrying a couple of suitcases with you; you won’t use them anyway! Are you weak?
P.S. Dedicated to the campaign in Crimea and to my most understanding friend
There is no more wonderful nature anywhere,
How far away in the wilderness in the mountains,
Where you are one with nature together,
Where do you walk on two legs?
Where cars can't go
Where the lazy can't go
And where will you feel freedom,
At the level of your soul!
Where you breathe clean air
And you drink from the source of the spring
Team spirit is meaningful
The dampness of the rain is not scary,
Where the fire smolders so warmly
Having gathered people around him,
Where would you like to return?
More, next year.
Where will you test your strength?
Where do you set goals to achieve
To feel worthy
At the end of the journey!