I wouldn't go there without you

I've trained to perfection organising flights, connections, trips etc. And so, on Tuesday night I took flight from Dubai via Frankfurt to Warsaw. On Tuesday already I've had this wonderful feeling of arriving holidays although I was not planning any holidays. Extended weekend only. Was it because of the first day of the summer on Tuesday (21st of June)? I even had this song in my head which is taught in the kindergarten:

Lato, lato, lato czeka,
Razem z latem czeka rzeka,
Razem z rzeką czeka las,
A tam ciągle nie ma nas

On Wednesday night I've flew home. I was in Warsaw at 9 in the morning, I had another working day there, but working from home was rather painless and pleasant. Much more efficient than working from the office would be. Traveling there, meeting with all the people, having coffee with everyone, going for lunch would require too much time.
In the evening I've packed my bag, did some shopping and I was ready to get back on the way. Direction Bieszczady. The wildest mountain chain in Poland situated at the South-East. At the border to Slovakia and Ukraine.

We've left Warsaw late in the evening. With Marta, Faz, Doris and Mati we took a minivan to Rzeszow where we've arrived at 3a.m. and we were waiting and sleeping at the bench at the bus station. We had  to catch a bus to Czarna Gora and next get somehow to Polana where I was planning to start our hiking.
We did manage all of that and made a 3 hours trek to Chata Socjologa at the Otryt. That was just enough after sleepless night (two for me in fact).
In Chata Socjologa two more people joined us and what was funny almost everyone's met there people that they already knew. That was surprising. Almost end of the world, no running water, no electricity, about 30 people on site and they know each other form somewhere else.

Fasola sleeping at the bus station in Rzeszow at 4a.m.

Don't forget to follow the blue marks

From behind Fasola's shoes

Chata Socjologa on the Otryt. This hut burned down some years ago and was rebuild in the pretty much the same shape. Still there is not electricity and running water.

Cytrynowka in Dubai shot glasses on the Otryt. What a mix!

Tomek, Marta, Fasola, Mati and Doris hidden in a hammock on the porch of Chata Socjologa

Guitars and songbooks make the best party in the mountains

On Friday and Saturday we've made really good hiking. On Friday we went down to Dwerniczek, climbed up to Magura Stuposianska which was a real challenge due to the timber cutting around and heavy vehicles which made the path incredibly muddy. It guess that it took twice as long to climb up as it would normally take. Anyways searching for a way and slipping down was fun. Every step as a challenge, especially that our boots got so much heavier from the whole mud that stuck to our soles.
When we've passed Magura it was so much easier. We went down to Koliba hut and next up to Polonina Carynska and down to Ustrzyki Gorne where we've spent the night. What's more we've been sleeping there in border guard quarters.
We've been meeting again with Tomek and by the time we got to Ustrzyki Gorne he arranged a place to sleep for us. That was lovely, especially that we've arrived there rather late.

In Dwerniczek at the foot of Magura Stuposianska. All the way up looked pretty much like that, just steeper.

Tomek and Mati are resting on the lodges before the way up

That was one of the few nice spots on the way up. No mud, what a pity.

Tomek and myself in the woods

Magura Stuposianska. 1016 m.

Doris and myself on Magura Stuposianska. She's very pleased that we've made it.

Polonina Carynska. Jana is a girl from Germany who I've met via some friends couple of years ago and I've met her now on the way in Bieszczady. Coincidence?

What's the hell going on down there???!!!!!

Pierogi after long hiking taste always delicious

To get fully into the groove of that place we turned on famous Polish Movie shot/placed in Lutowiska which is a village in Bieszczady. The Dark House is a gloomy thriller giving insight into the machinations of small town corruption Polish style.
Unfortunately I was too tired to watch it and instead I took BeforeGoingToBedNap. Anyways I've seen that movie already.

On Saturday we made a hike without our big bags. We've left them at home and took only two bags with water and waterproof jackets. Weather was very unstable. Sun, rain, fog, hail...Till we got to the Szeroki Wierch it was pretty much ok, only there it got foggy but when we got to the top - Tarnica (1349)- the highest peak in Bieszczady it got sunny again.
This was what we've wanted, as we planned to dress up into swimming gear and take some photos under the cross which is at the top.
People thought probably that we must be some freaks when they saw us undressing but that's made the whole thing even funnier. Tomek even had fins. The only missing thing was a snorkel.
Just when we dressed into proper clothes it's started to be cold, foggy and hail started again. The problem was that we were at the open space at the top of the Bukowe Berdo which is more or less a ridge. Maybe not very sharp (flat even, like alpine meadow) but completely open. We were completely soaked and cold from the wind and hail.
Luckily we got home safe and sound and happy.

Getting ready to climb Tarnica. But why do they pack swimming googles, fins and swimming hats? Let's see....

On the way up

Lovely.....

Smile everyone!

Fins, googles, bikini on the Tarnica peak. Let's go swimming!...



... but where's that lake?



Probably the last moment of good weather on Saturday

Whole team on Tarnica

Bukowe Berdo in fog

Bukowe Berdo

Doris and Fasola did not go with us via Bukowe Berdo. They went down to Wolosate and at least they've had good weather.

Fasola tries to get some water from the well I guess....

Made by Fasola. My favourite one.

Unfortunately that was the last day of a long trek. On Sunday we made only quick hike to Mala Rawka and back. We've divided into couples and made our way back to Warsaw. Doris and Fasola were lucky as they've managed to catch a car from Lesko to Warsaw, so they were back at home quite early. Tomek and I hitchhiked too but we were rather unlucky and in the end we had to take bus to Rzeszow (where at the market square we had a pint of beer), next minivan to Tarnobrzeg where we were picked up by his dad who drove us to Sandomierz, where in turn we got a lift from some of his friends to Warsaw. Unexpectedly it was rather pleasant and relaxing journey. Probably one of the least trodden trails from Bieszczady to Warsaw.
The least lucky was Marta and Mati as they got home only in the morning, but still everyone made it and everyone had fun hiking and hitchhiking.



View from Mala Rawka

Rest

Team

Yo, yo

Stork that we've met hitchhiking on the way to Rzeszow



Rzeszow marketsquare. My bag was to heavy and pulled me back when I was squating.