Gorgani Mountains - a wildlife area and reserve in the Ukrainian Carpathians
The unique Gorgany reserve (massif) is a very specific mountain range of the Ukrainian Carpathians that cannot be confused with any other. The Gorgany Mountains are numerous gray stone placers covered with yellow-greenish lichen and fine moss, lying on almost every peak. And such Gorgan trails, intertwined with roots, and mushroom moss forests probably do not exist anywhere else...
The Gorgan massif (translated from the Romanian word "gorgan" means "mound") is one of the most forested and least traveled Carpathian mountain ranges, located in two regions - Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattia.
The highest and most famous peak of the Gorgan massif is Mount Velyka Syvulya (1836 m). Equally popular among outdoor enthusiasts are Mount Mala Syvulya (1818), Mount Igrovets (1804), Mount Vysoka (1803), Mount Bratkivska (1788), Mount Gropa (1763), Mount Dovbushanka (1754), Mount Grofa (1748), Mount Velyka Popadia (1740), Mount Vedmezhyk (1735), Mount Parenky (1735), Mount Moloda (1723), Mount Strymba (1719), Mount Chorna Kleva (1719), Mount Durnia (1709), Mount Borevka (1694), Mount Bushtul (1691), Mount Yayko-Ilemske (1679), Mount Korotkan (1679), Mount Bert (1666), Mount Sinyak (1665), Mount Yayko-Perehinske (1595), Mount Gorgan Ilemske (1587), Mount Hamster (1542), etc.
Peculiarities of the Gorgany Mountains
The Gorgany Mountains are a rather peculiar massif with its own peculiarities. The massif is characterized by not very high altitudes (in the middle 1400-1500 m), but by significant differences between them.
Almost all the peaks have very steep slopes covered with mixed deciduous, fir and beech forests. Ridge crests and mountain tops are mostly treeless, covered with yellow stone placers, which are undoubtedly a real calling card of the Gorgan.
Another feature of the Gorgany massif is its extraordinary picturesqueness. Indeed, in good weather conditions, the ranges and peaks offer incredible views of the Carpathians and part of Prykarpattia.
Stone placers make the Gorgan Mountains unusual and unique. Over time, yellowish lichen and fine moss, green-brown in color, grow on the stones, which together create the impression of some kind of cosmic, extraterrestrial origin of those stones.
It is worth noting that in rain or thick fog, the "Gorgan space stones" become very slippery, so when walking in such conditions, one should be especially careful and weigh every step. Better yet, if bad weather is predicted in the coming days, it is better to refrain from such a hike.
Speaking of the Gorgani reserve, it is impossible not to mention the "favorite" tourist spot - dense thickets of wild mountain pine, almost inaccessible shrubbery. The height of the bushes is quite different - from 1 m to 2-3 m. There is a stallion on almost all the ridges and peaks of the Gorgan massif, so you should remember this when planning a hike and take appropriate shoes and clothes to minimize the number of scratches and not to twist your ankle on the trails intertwined with stallion roots.
The Gorgany Mountains are popular with tourists
There are a lot of marked hiking trails in the Gorgany Mountains, and their number is growing every year. Therefore, guides and rescuers recommend not to look for your 5th point of adventure, not to plan and lay your own routes, but to use the marked and tested ones. And given the steep slopes and numerous stone placers that can become impassable in bad weather and very dangerous to life and health, it is better to follow the advice of experienced tourists and stick to marked Carpathian trails.
The best time for hiking in the Gorgan Mountains is summer and the first half of autumn: in spring, some slopes are covered with snow until early June, and in the second half of autumn, prolonged rains begin. And let's not even mention winter, as the depth of the snow cover can reach 2 meters or even more, making it almost impossible to move.
Due to the steep slopes, stone placers, dense dense forests and thickets of horsetail, it is no coincidence that the Gorgany are considered one of the least accessible Carpathian mountain ranges. Perhaps that's why you can often meet wild animals here - wild boars, deer, roe deer, wolves, and even bears.
Holidays in the Gorgan Mountains
It is believed that due to the inaccessibility of the Gorgany Mountains, a huge number of outdoor enthusiasts and extreme sports fans come here every year. Due to the peculiarities of the landscape, the Gorgany Race is held here every year. Participants of the competition have to cover 90 km in 30 hours, and there are all kinds of natural obstacles on the way - icy water, high walls, steep descents, etc.
The Gorgan massif is inhabited mainly by Hutsuls and Boikos. These are friendly and kind people, hospitable hosts who will always welcome guests and offer comfortable cottages and estates, conduct excursions in the mountains, and introduce them to local life and customs.
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