Don’t forget that the “Over the Sea” route, although not categorized, nevertheless remains one of the most difficult in our collection. This is not a walk, it's a hike. And in this campaign we have to overcome the following difficulties:
Long transitions
The route runs along the crest of the main ridge of the Crimean Mountains. We are going to the top. And there is little water on the peaks. The springs here are quite far from each other. As a result, day trips on this route are longer than in our other Crimean hikes (on average 16 km instead of 11).
Crimean sun.
There is not only little water on the plateau, but also little shade. Most of the way we will be walking in open space. In the summer, this means encountering an incredible amount of solar energy. Headwear (hat, Panama hat, baseball cap) is required. Sunscreen (with a protective factor of at least 20) and light, loose clothing with long sleeves are advisable. Sometimes, when the heat becomes unbearable, we practice night treks. During the day we sleep somewhere in the shade, and in the evening we go out on the route and walk by the light of flashlights. The path there is wide and well-trodden (a real road) and such a crossing is absolutely safe.
Reserve.
The Babugan plateau, which we will cross on the second day of the hike, is part of the reserve. Officially, it is prohibited to be there. Nevertheless, many tourists visit this plateau and its peak, Roman Kosh, every year. They do this at their own peril and risk, since it is almost impossible to obtain permission to pass through the reserve (unlike permission to travel, which is “done” without problems). We most likely won’t have this permission either. Therefore, meetings with foresters are undesirable, although not fatal. You can come to an agreement with everyone (usually).
Temptations of civilization.
About halfway through the hike we will come to the battlements of Ai-Petri. To date. Ai-Petri is, first of all, shopping arcades, kebab and cheburek shops, suspicious wine on tap, and similar delights of a civilized holiday, and secondly, a beautiful mountain peak. And therefore, it is my duty to warn you that there is no more dangerous obstacle on a hike than a piece of “civilization.” It attracts fragile tourists into its network, seduces them with comfort and food, attracts them with the proximity of the sea (20 minutes by cable car), and deprives them of the desire to go further. If you know that you won’t be able to resist, it’s better to notify the instructor in advance, and the group will bypass Ai-Petri on the tenth road. Honestly, it’s not a big loss (may the mountains forgive me).
