Polonyna Gadzhina

It seemed that the Chornohora massif was literally crowded with people, but sometimes you can come across places that either locals or tourists who have eaten the dog on hikes know about. We are talking about the Hajyna meadow.

Hajyna meadow is probably the most picturesque meadow in the Ukrainian Carpathians. It is located on several levels, occupies three hanging valleys and more than ten carriages, circuses, amphitheaters, trog valleys, boilers, and catch basins that were formed as a result of the ancient Pleistocene glaciation. It is very rich in relict and endemic vegetation, unique subalpine and alpine landscapes, rock walls of the Rebra, Shpytsia, and Brebeneskul peaks.

It is hidden between the mountains of Shpytsi and Rebra, and the Kedrivaty Pogorelets ridge "girdles" this tract. You can go down to the meadow from Mount Shpytsi. However, this can only be done by climbers with considerable experience, because even looking down from this mountain is eerie: you involuntarily get the impression that the steep cliffs are falling down somewhere.

And those who are not looking for extreme sports can go down the trail that runs from the Rib Mountain. We warn you: the descent will not be easy, but everyone can do it. When you get down, you will be rewarded - three mountain streams rapidly merge into a raging river.

It is at this place that you begin to believe that the shadows of forgotten ancestors are floating around, and that Ivan eventually reunited with Marichka.

A hut in the Hajyna meadow

In the warm season, this is a shepherd's hut located in a glacial kar on Chornohora. It is popular among tourists in winter, especially because of the stove. According to legends, it was in Hajyna that the famous leader of the Oprishka, Oleksa Dovbush, spent the winter hiding from military units.

The Hajyna meadow is a unique and almost mystical place. It is a real challenge to get there. Not everyone likes to walk along the stones, along barely visible paths in the middle of the forest. But the feeling that a tourist gets in these places is incomparable.

There are some interesting things here: Dovbush's well and Dovbush's chair. It is said that every large stone in the Carpathians is called Dovbush's, but according to legend, it was on Hajin that he was born, hid his treasures (they were never found), and was buried here.

The starting point of the route is the village of Bystrets. Getting here is not an easy task. On the Verkhovyna-Vorokhta road, you need to turn in the village of Iltsi in the direction of Krasnyk. This road leads along the Black Cheremosh, a favorite river of extreme water sportsmen. There are especially many people here during the May holidays: it is at this time that the river is the most full and fastest, and catamaran rafting is a favorite pastime for many tourists. If you wish, you can combine a hike to the Gadzhina tract with such a rafting trip.

After traveling about 8-9 km along Cheremosh, you need to turn to the village of Bystrets. Now the path will go past the stream of the same name. Transport is very rare here, so most likely you will have to walk from Iltsi or hire a car. The village begins at the turn from Cheremosh, but it stretches for a very long time. You have to walk along the Bystrets for almost 8 kilometers.

Two marked tourist routes lead from the center of the village: yellow and green. Neither of them leads to Hajina, so it is difficult to get there. The green route leads to Mount Shpytsi, and then to Rebra - through the Maryshevska meadow. It is also picturesque and interesting, and you can choose it for the way up, and go down to Hajina from Rebera.

The trail to the valley leads directly from the top of Mount Rebra. Those who don't know the way or are afraid of a sharp drop in altitude should not go down here. Although anyone can overcome it without the help of special equipment. The main thing is to know the way well. A small hill in front of the Ribs divides the valley into two cauldrons: large and small. Going down to the small cauldron, you can admire the steep slopes of Mount Spikes, which will be right in front of your eyes. And in the large boiler, which is located between Rebry and Kedrivatym, there are two charming small mountain lakes. The water in them is so pale blue that they are also called "the eyes of heaven".

If you know the path, it will take no more than 2-3 hours to get to the meadow from the village of Bystrets. You need to focus on the mountains Ribs and Spikes - the cauldron between them is where you need to get to.

The forest turns into alpine pines, the stream becomes swift, and cascades of waterfalls are visible in the distance. We come to a meadow, the size of the couloir between Spikes, Ribs and Kedrovatyi is strikingly large - it's all Hajyna.

The Hajyna tract is not an easy place. Those who want to feel all the power and beauty of the Ukrainian Carpathians in its purest manifestation, without the shadow of civilization, without the fuss and noise of resort towns, without dozens of tourists and guides, should go here. The beauty of this place is striking and fascinating, and you want to come here again and again.