Polonyna Runa

Within the military – national agenda "Find the button on an old military object and launch a missile at Washington", we went to the most pop Mecca of Transcarpathian tourist paradise – Runa. Locally it is also called "Polonyna Runa" (the mountain meadow "Runa" - "plain") and "Polonyna Rіvna". The way which we have chosen, is worthy of a true traveler: Lumshory - Komsomolske Lake - Betonka - Polonyna Runa.

Why is it worthy? Because 99% of guys reach Polonyna on their cheap Opel, Lada, Mercedes and other two- and four–wheel self – propelled machinery, worning on the old military concrete road ("Betonka") like mad, despite holes and the impossibility of passing in some places. They even create the traffic jams and beep. At first it's funny, then it begins to strain and annoy.

I’ll begin immediately with the lake. The road behind Komsomolske Lake, skirting it to the left, goes up roughly. It is difficult to say whether it is hard to climb. Rather no than yes. But the fact is that it is a bit steeper than the interval Lumshory - Lake. There are a few posh glades by the way from which Polonyna is seen. We gathered 15 young boletuses on thick legs and a few aspens during 10 minutes at these glades - there was smart-mashed potatoes with julienne in the evening.



We pass 1.9 mile to the meadow and admire the first picture of chic. There is a bald spot of Lautanska Holytsa on the background. Local people sometimes call it Lyutyanska Holytsa, but it's not correct.



We had no enough time to enjoy the beauty of Holytsa when I heard the noise of engines; several domestic Jeeps appeared from the turning. Guys with serious rap were ahead, chicks in sporting spectacles, caps and fashion spectacles were behind.



In 600 meters of our way we reached "Betonka", an old military road laid down by the village Lypovets (Incidentally, my favorite Likitsary is situated nearby) to a military facility - Tracking Station - on top of the mountain meadow.



Actually, here everyone should understand that Polonyna is a whole bald spot (1100 m above the sea level at the lowest point, and 1480 m - at the top). So, you have to walk 600 meters + 3.8 miles of Betonka to get from the start of the mountain meadow to the point where everyone wants and calls “Polonyna Ryna". It is total 4,4 km along the chic road with minimal lifting and simply stunning views of the surrounding area.

The ruins of the old "object" are in the photo below. I do not know whether they’ve belonged to the military at one time or have not, but it's probably the saddest thing I saw at the very Polonyna.



Oh how beautiful local paragliders are soaring over the mountains. We stood and admired.



Honestly, I love mountain meadow landscapes. The layer of blueberries (locally - "yafyn") is so densely rooted and grown on Polonyna, that has superseded all other plants in fairly large areas, and "lies" as a thick rigid cover. Stone removal punches through blueberries, and the landscape is shocking for its beauty.



Well, I could not resist, and climbed the nearest hill and made photo of such beauty...



...And again I could not resist at the next turning. The "expansion" of blueberries on the poor meadow grass is seen on the photo...



Here is one more destroyed object.



And here is one more...



Here is a stunning view of the mountain Menchul (1294 m. above the sea level).



Here is a gorgeous view over Lautanska Holytsa from the top of the mountain meadow.



Here is one of the buildings of the "object X"



One more building...



Here is a cross on top of the peak. It is a traditional Transcarpathian fun.



Here is the monument to the Soviet skydivers - saboteurs. I can not imagine how it is still standing there...



There's no denying how it is beautiful in our native Transcarpathia. Simply elegant panorama opens. It is village Lyuta on the left, beyond the edge of the photo, in the valley. The peak, which is slightly right of center, is the mountain Ostra (1405 m. above the sea level). The chine (if it is visible in the background) – the chain Bunyuska Polonyna with the peak Velykyy Verkh (1309 m. above the sea level) - not to be confused with Velykyy Verkh (1598 m. above the sea level) of Polonyna Borzhava in Volovets area . The mountain Pikuy (1408 m. above the sea level) ends the chine.



Let’s sum up. The total length of the way - 22,5 km. Time spent on the trip - 8-9 hours. It's rather much for the inexperienced novice travelers. Nevertheless, this way is not so exhausting, as the way to "Sokolets" is. Taking into the consideration the beauty of nature and views - the route is STRONGLY recommended to visit.

19.04.2011. 09:34

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