Mount Mala Blyznytsia

Mala Blyznytsia is a 1,566 m summit in the Svydovets range, in the Rakhiv district of Zakarpattia Oblast. It sits on the ridge climbing from Rakhiv to the range’s highest peak, Blyznytsia (1,883 m), about 2 km to the north-east. The nearest villages are Trostianets (about 6 km) and Kvasy (about 7 km); Drahobrat is about 8.5 km away.

From Mala Blyznytsia both tops of Blyznytsia are in full view — the southern one (1,872 m) about 1.7 km away and the northern one (1,883 m) 2.3 km away — with the rocky Zhandarm peaks (1,710–1,785 m) further north. To the south-west the ridge drops to Pereslup (1,452 m, about 1.2 km) and Stara (1,472 m, about 2.7 km). Svydovets is a range of broad mountain pastures, and glacial cirques with lakes survive on the northern slopes of the main ridge, among them Drahobratske (Ivor).

How to get there

20 of our routes cross Mala Blyznytsia or pass right next to it — nearly all those leading to Blyznytsia from Rakhiv and Kvasy. The classic ascent is Rakhiv – Blyznytsia (23.2 km). You can also cross Svydovets: Rakhiv – Mount Blyznytsia – Kvasy (31.7 km) or Rakhiv – Mount Blyznytsia – Drahobrat (29.7 km). A loop from Kvasy is Kvasy – Stara – Blyznytsia – Lake Ivor – Kvasy (25.8 km, about 1,830 m of ascent). For a multi-day hike take Krasna – Tempa – Troiaska – Blyznytsia – Rakhiv (62.5 km).

Water, shelter and safety

On our map the nearest spring is about 390 m to the south-west (at about 1,500 m, condition unknown); two more lie 900 m and 1.05 km in the same direction, one of them marked as working. About 1.3 km to the south stands a hut on the Shesa pasture, and two drinking-water taps are marked 1.3–1.4 km away. Shelters on the Flantus pasture and below Blyznytsia are about 2.1 km to the west and north-west. The ridge is completely open: thunderstorms, strong wind and fog are dangerous here, and the eastern part of Svydovets belongs to the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve — follow its rules. For the forecast see the weather on Blyznytsia, the nearest summit with our forecast (about 2 km). In an emergency call 112 or 101 — contacts of the nearest units are on our mountain rescue page.

Interesting facts

• The cliffs of the two tops of neighbouring Blyznytsia form the “Blyznytsia Rocks” botanical monument — one of the few places in Ukraine where edelweiss grows.
• The main ridge of Svydovets curves in an arc about 25 km long, from Mount Kinets over Tempa, Unhariaska and Stih to Blyznytsia.

Photos: Senchyna, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.